Pasadena Family Law Blog

When it comes to mediation and divorce, misinformation abounds. California spouses often fail to understand the ins and outs of divorce mediation, and often overlook the option when considering how to proceed with their divorce. One recently published piece aims to educate and inform spouses about the methods and potential benefits of using a mediator to move through the divorce process.

One common misconception is that mediation is a 'one-stop' divorce solution, meaning that couples who choose this path must be able to complete their divorce through mediation alone. Spouses who are drawn to mediation but fear that they will encounter difficulty with their spouse on certain issues can be dissuaded from divorce mediation based on the belief that it is an all-or-nothing approach. This is absolutely untrue. Many couples go through mediation to address many of the issues within their divorce, and complete the remainder of the process with an attorney, parenting coordinator or other professional.

California readers may have been made aware of media coverage of a recent child custody issue involving notorious actor Charlie Sheen and two of his ex-wives. The case is unusual in that the children at the center of the matter have been removed from the custody of their mother and placed in the home of a non-relative. However, the story demonstrates the flexibility that California courts have in making a child custody determination that serves the best interests of the children involved.

Sheen shares two twin boys with former wife Brooke Mueller. Mueller has struggled with drug addiction, and has sought rehabilitation on multiple occasions in recent years. The 4-year-old twins were in her care until recently, when the Department of Children and Family Services removed the boys from that home.

As some Pasadena residents know firsthand, divorce is not always an easy choice to make. Maybe you think you should put in a little more time into your relationship to make sure you've exhausted your options for trying to make it work. Or maybe you think your children will benefit if you and your spouse stay together. When considering your marriage and the possibility of divorce, however, it's important to think about how it all affects you, too.

According to a recent study, an unhealthy relationship can affect your mental health -- more so than being single. The study, conducted at the University of Michigan, followed the relationships of more than 4,600 people for 10 years. Researchers asked the participants about how the spouses treated each other, including questions about criticism from spouses and a spouse's reliability. Their findings present an interesting comparison between unhappy married life and single life.

On Wednesday we discussed the importance of updating the beneficiaries on all of your accounts during divorce. An example of a current case showed how problematic it can be if you forget to make that quick change. Today, we are going to examine another specific but important factor in many California divorces: your mortgage.

In order to address your mortgage during your divorce, you will first have to decide what you want to do with the house. Do you want to sell it? Do you or your spouse want to continue living in it? Selling it is a good way to take care of the mortgage and have it off of your hands, but if one of you wants to stay in the home, you'll have some more work to do.