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Park Family Law, APLC is pleased to announce our new partner: Brian I. Friedman, Esq.

Brian is Board Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California, with over thirteen years’ experience in Family Law. Since becoming a licensed attorney in 2012, he has practiced exclusively in Family Law. Some would say he has the Family Code memorized, and that he lives, breathes, and dreams Family Law. 

He is a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists and has chaired seminars for the Beverly Hills Bar Association, as well as written articles that have been published in Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine. He previously held positions as Senior Counsel at a large law firm in Pasadena, CA, and Managing Associate at the Law Offices of Robert J. Friedman.

In addition to his practice, Brian volunteers as a Family Law Daily Settlement Officer at the Los Angeles Superior Court. His accolades include being named to the Super Lawyers list, as well as the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list. He has also been recognized as a Top Lawyer in Pasadena Magazine.

Brian holds a JD from the University of La Verne and a BA from California State University, Northridge. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 2012.

We are proud to welcome Brian to the partnership and look forward to the expertise, leadership, and dedication he brings to our firm and its clients.

Holidays with Kids and Ex-Spouse

Though we typically think of the holidays as a time of joy and togetherness, the reality for divorced couples with kids is slightly more complicated. Even if you have an amicable relationship with your ex, finding a holiday visitation schedule with your kids that works for everyone can sometimes seem impossible.

That's why some couples do what many might think is highly unorthodox: spend the holidays together for the sake of the kids.

Is it a bad idea? As always, it depends on the family.

Ex-spouses arguing with each other in front of their children

It's not a small decision. The choice of school your child will attend will significantly impact the direction and shape of their life. But what happens when your ex-spouse is at odds with your decision?

The divorce is final; you have settled on the agreement and are receiving alimony payments. But what happens if your ex-spouse loses their job? Your agreement may need a modification.

Custody rules are designed to protect the health, well-being and best interests of the child and for the child to grow and maintain their relationship with both parents. Ideally, both parents might have an equitable visitation schedule.

However, sometimes, the court may perceive that one of the parents may come with risks that require more protection for the child. In such cases, the court will sometimes require that visitation by one parent be supervised by a third party.

Picture this.

Your divorce is settled and done, and as you rebuild your life, you discover a horrifying secret—your ex-spouse hid significant assets from you during the divorce! You had a legal right to claim a portion of those assets, which could have changed your entire divorce agreement!

But the divorce is over and done. What do you do now?

It's not too late. California Family Code section 2556 provides a legal remedy, and the penalty to the spouse who hid the assets can be severe. 

Proving what is in the best interest of your child is crucial in determining which parent gets legal and physical custody and how visitation schedules will sort out. In addition to your solid arguments and evidence, should you bring in an expert to bolster your case? In some cases, yes.

California is a community property state, meaning any debt acquired during a marriage must be equally divided between the spouses upon a divorce. So regardless of any agreement you may have made in your divorce decree, there is always the possibility that your ex won't pay their fair share of your joint debt—and that can be a big problem.

So, what do you do?