Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  In California, both parents have a statutory obligation to meaningfully contribute to the support of their children.  When parents divorce, typically one parent must pay the other parent child support as a result of that statutory obligation.  Generally, this obligation continues, by law, until (1) the death of the child, (2) the child’s 18th birthday (or 19th birthday, if the child has not graduated from high school by the age of 18), or (3) the child’s emancipation.  There are very limited circumstances that allow a court to extend support beyond an adult child’s 19th birthday. In those circumstances, the adult child must be “incapacitated from earning a living†and must be “without sufficient means†for his own support.  Children who are attending college, even if they have no income, are not entitled to child support and their parents have no legal obligation to contribute to their college tuition. However, it is not uncommon for divorcing parents to stipulate (agree) that one or both of them will assist their children with college tuition and expenses. Â
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Understandably, parents may fear the process of determining child custody. The reality, however, is that most parents are able to reach equitable agreements with the assistance of their attorneys and/or through county or private mediation services.
• Adoption
  Ford Family Law is dedicated to the practice of family law in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. We provide mediation, litigation, and consulting services in the areas of marital dissolution, child custody and support, spousal support, paternity, domestic partnerships, stepparent adoption, and complex property division. LEARN MORE
• Paternity
  A paternity action is required to legally recognize parental rights of unmarried persons, to establish enforceable custody and visitation schedules, and to ensure that a child receives financial support from both parents. Without a Judgment of Paternity or a Declaration of Paternity, a person may permanently lose any legal standing as a child’s parent and/or a child may go without support. Once paternity is established, a paternity action is similar to a divorce case with regard to how custody and support decisions are determined. In paternity as in divorce, custody is determined based on the best interest of the child. In paternity, as in divorce, child support is determined by use of the statewide guideline calculations. As a result of the sensitive nature of many paternity cases, unlike in a divorce action, paternity pleadings (case documents) are not available to the public.
• Premarital Agreement
  Yes. Parties may opt out of California’s community property system by entering into a valid prenuptial agreement. Prenuptial agreements have historically been frowned upon and are often difficult to enforce. While the courts have been more willing to uphold prenuptial agreements in recent years, careful planning, expert drafting, and strict adherence to the provisions of the prenuptial agreement are still necessary to ensure its enforceability.
• Spousal Support
  Spousal support is one of the most emotionally charged issues in a divorce. The attorneys at Ford Family Law have negotiated many complex spousal support settlements and have litigated dozens of spousal support matters.
• Legal Separation
  In instances where the legal termination of a marriage could severely impact one or both parties financially, so long as both parties are willing, there are alternatives available to terminating a marriage. Alternatives include post-marital agreements where the parties remain legally married, but enter into an enforceable contract that modifies their rights to marital property. Another option includes a Judgment for Legal Separation rather than a Judgment for Marital Dissolution. A Judgment for Legal Separation allows parties to settle their property rights and financial obligations, while the parties remain legally married.

Business and Corporate Law

• Mergers and Acquisitions
  There are many different methods used to determine the value of a community business, these methods include: (1) Book Value; (2) Comparable Sales/Mergers and Acquisitions; (3) Capitalization of Cash Flow; and (3) Excess Earnings.

Employment Law

• Employment Litigation
  Complex family law matters often intersect with business, tax, estate, and employment issues. We collaborate with our experienced network of professionals when subject-matter experience is required in a specialized field. These relationships enable us to provide strategic advice and help us create integrated, innovative solutions. Virtually all of Ford Family Law’s new client inquiries result from referrals—a testament to our expertise and the strength of our relationships.