California Family Law Guide-California family law guidance

Example

A parent asks, "What does the Family Code say about the ‘best interest’ standard and the domestic-violence presumption?" The Guide maps the framework: best-interest baseline (Fam. Code §3011, §3020), placement preferences (§3040), the rebuttable presumption against custody to a perpetrator of DV within the past 5 years (§3044), what evidence can rebut it, and how courts read LaMusga for move-aways and Montenegro v. Diaz for modification standards. It then gives a short checklist: facts to gather, declarations to draft, and records to subpoena.

Scenario

You’re preparing for a custody mediation. The Guide explains legal vs. physical custody, joint vs. sole, typical parenting-plan structures, and how child safety and continuity weigh in practice. It flags evidence that tends to matter (police reports, medical notes, school attendance, third-party communications), offers neutral sample language for a 2-2-3 or week-on/week-off plan, and warns about the §3044 presumption where applicable. Result: you walk into mediation knowing the legal standards and the proof you need.

Example

An attorney needs a fast, reliable brief on a new published decision involving spousal-support modification and Gavron warnings. The Guide produces a one-page bench memo: Issue, Procedural Posture, Facts, Holding, Reasoning, Standard of Review, Rules/Quotes, and Practice Pointers (e.g., how the court treated career-change evidence, imputation of income, or the weight given to §4320(a)–(n)).

Scenario

On the morning of an RFO hearing, you upload excerpts of a recent opinion. The Guide synthesizes it with controlling statutes, extracts quotable passages for your points and authorities, distinguishes contrary authority, and adds a short argument roadmap: (1) jurisdiction/threshold; (2) burden and evidentiary standard; (3) application to your facts; (4) proposed order language. This lets you argue with crisp citations and a clean theory.

Example

A self-represented litigant asks how to seek a domestic-violence restraining order (DVRO). The Guide outlines forms (e.g., DV-100, DV-109, DV-110), filing and service requirements, the temporary-orders timeline, evidence organization (photos, messages, medical records, 911 audio), and hearing prep. It includes a declaration skeleton (facts in chronology, specific incidents, dates, witnesses), exhibit indexing, and a short script for direct testimony.

Scenario

You need to modify child support. The Guide walks you through the FL-300 request, supporting Income and Expense Declaration, pay-stub/ledger attachments, and how to frame a material-change-in-circumstances argument. It explains the guideline structure (Fam. Code §4055, §4062 add-ons, timeshare effects, imputation principles) and provides a what-to-say outline for the calendar call and evidentiary hearing. It also suggests order language that matches local practice (e.g., wage assignment, health-care add-ons, exchange of year-end tax documents).