Recipient spouse meeting with career counselor about Gavron warning self-sufficiency obligation in California

Spousal Support Step-Downs and Gavron Warnings: The Self-Sufficiency Mandate

Leave a Comment / calculate child support California, Family Law attorney LA, Family law mediation, Hermes Law Group, Mediation process, Peter Hermes / By Family Law Attorney

California spousal support carries a sometimes-overlooked feature that surprises many supported spouses years after the divorce: the legal duty to make reasonable efforts to become self-supporting. The state’s public policy is clear—spousal support is intended to bridge the supported spouse to financial independence, not to fund a permanent lifestyle. The mechanism by which courts enforce […]

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Frozen embryo storage cryotank at California fertility clinic during divorce-related embryo dispute

Frozen Embryos in Divorce: Who Decides What Happens Next?

Leave a Comment / Divorce, Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Mediation, Family law mediation, Hermes Law Group, Mediation process, Peter Hermes / By Family Law Attorney

Few questions in family law are more emotionally and ethically charged than what happens to frozen embryos when a marriage ends. The couple began the IVF process united in a future they hoped to share. By the time of divorce, that future has dissolved—but the embryos exist, waiting in cryostorage, and someone must decide their

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Married couple reviewing financial statements together at home joint bank account

Can My Spouse Take Money From Our Joint Accounts? Find Out Now

Leave a Comment / Child Custody, Cost expectations, Divorce Mediation, Divorce scenarios, Family law mediation, Hermes Law Group, Mediation process / By Peter Hermes

Ever wondered what happens if your spouse quietly empties your joint bank account overnight—do you have any control, protection, or legal recourse? Understanding the rights attached to joint checking and joint bank accounts is crucial for anyone sharing finances in a marriage or partnership. Whether you’re concerned about day-to-day withdrawals or facing a potential separation,

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Tense middle-aged couple consulting with a divorce attorney concerned about what drives divorce legal fees higher, seated in a modern law office with detailed documents on the desk

What Drives Divorce Legal Fees Higher? Avoid Costly Traps

Leave a Comment / Cost expectations, Divorce Mediation, Family Law attorney LA, Family law mediation, Hermes Law Group, Mediation process / By Peter Hermes

Picture this: A couple enters a divorce attorney’s office expecting to split peacefully and simply. Surprise turns to anxiety as legal bills begin piling up, and unexpected complications increase costs at every turn. Without a clear understanding of what drives divorce legal fees higher, many people find themselves mired in preventable financial stress. In this

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