When Eva Longoria, star of "Desperate Housewives", filed for divorce from husband Tony Parker, she indicated that she wishes to receive spousal support from him - but will not pay any to him in return. She is citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for their impending divorce. The star filed her papers in the Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday.

Since her husband is a NBA star with a multi-million dollar contract, as well as many large sponsorships from famous companies, it is likely that her request for spousal support be granted. In addition, she has asked that both she and Parker be responsible for paying their own legal fees.

Their divorce still comes as a shock to those who are close to the couple. Parker and Longoria dated for four years and then married in 2007. Since they have no children together, that could influence whether Longoria's request is granted or denied.

If you are interested in obtaining spousal support during your divorce, you need a Los Angeles divorce lawyer who can help you win your case.  Contact our law firm now!

After five years of marriage actress Laura Dern and rocker Ben Harper have decided to seek a divorce. However, the split appears to be friendly at this time, as the pair was spotted out recently with their children last Sunday in Brentwood. It was the Grammy winner that filed for divorce in a Los Angeles court last month, stating that their marriage had reached a point of irreconciliation.

However, Harper has specifically asked the judge to deny his soon-to-be ex-wife Dern spousal support, insisting that the pair split in January.

For the time being Dern and Harper are attempting to maintain a normal lifestyle for their children, Ellery and Jaya, while the divorce is finalized.

If you are considering divorce and want to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of spousal support, contact us to speak with a Los Angeles family lawyer today and get the advice you need during this difficult time.

This week, it has been announced that rock star Slash is terminating his marriage.

According to court documents, the lead guitarist filed for divorce on Monday from his wife whom he was married to for nine years. 

Slash's real name is Saul Hudson and he was well-known for playing with bands Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver. 

In the filing, it is stated that he and his wife Perla separated in July due to irreconcilable differences.  They share two sons, ages 8 and 6.  Slash is planning to seek joint custody of his children and asking a judge to determine the amount of spousal support he will have to pay.

TMZ was the first to break the news about the celebrity divorce and filing.

If you are planning to file fordivorce in Los Angeles, it is important that you hire a Los Angeles divorce lawyer who can help you get through your proceedings and obtain positive and results. To speak with a lawyer that handles divorce cases in California, contact Claery & Green now.

Alimony in California is referred to as spousal support. It is money that one spouse pays to the other to help support them after a divorce. The spouse receiving such support is required to pay federal and state income taxes on whatever they receive, and the spouse making such payments is entitled to a tax deduction. A Los Angeles divorce lawyer should be consulted to verify that the orders are drafted correctly, ensuring that such deductions can be made legally.

If neither party currently needs spousal support, either can ask the judge to reserve jurisdiction to order spousal support at a future date, such as when a job is lost or health deteriorates. Again, a judge will be more likely to grant this if the marriage has lasted over ten years. Under some circumstances, the person receiving support may go back to court to ask for a change in the amount of support. A judge can also order a wage assignment so that a spouse's employer pays spousal support directly.

If you have questions about spousal support and your other options when getting divorced, contact Claery & Green today!

When registered domestic partners decide to separate or terminate their domestic partnership, they should speak with an attorney about their rights to palimony, also referred to as “ Marvin Actions.” Palimony works very much the same way as spousal support.

As with traditional marriages, sometimes in a domestic partnership one spouse stays home to care for the family. Other times both partners are working, but one spouse clearly is the bread winner. In these types of situations it is particularly important to speak with a California domestic partnership attorney at Claery & Green. You may be entitled to palimony and a lawyer at our office can advocate your legal rights and represent your interests. The courts like to ensure both parties are able to maintain the same standard of living they shared during their relationship, which means if one partner makes significantly less money, the higher-earning partner may be ordered to support the other.

Whether you are the one seeking support or your ex-partner is seeking support from you, an attorney at Cleary & Green can represent you during any legal proceedings and help you secure a palimony settlement that suits your financial interests. Our goal is not to break the bank on anyone, but rather help our clients reach a settlement with their partner that ensures both parties are financially sound going into the future.

Contact Claery & Green today for more information about Marvin Actions.

It's natural for a divorced couple's circumstances to change after their divorce has been finalized. Depending on the change in circumstances, it may be necessary for one or both parties to change or modify a court order. Judges understand that people's circumstances change, and are usually willing to modify an order as long it does not compromise the best interest of any children and the changes in circumstances are "significant." For example, seeking a modification of a child support order after quitting your job is not likely to going to happen. However, if you show that you've been laid off and have been diligently looking for a new job but just haven't had any luck, the judge is more likely to lower your child support obligations.

At Claery & Green, we have experience representing clients throughout Southern California in all areas of family law, including post-judgment modifications. Whether you want to modify a  child support order, a child custody order, an  alimony order, or some type of marital contract or settlement agreement, an experienced Los Angeles divorce attorney at our office can assist you in filing the necessary paperwork and argue your case before the judge. Furthermore, we can also help you gather the documents and evidence that prove you have indeed experienced a significant change in circumstances, which might include a sudden job loss, physical injury or disability, family emergency, relocation, etc.

For more information about post-judgment modifications, please contact a Los Angeles family law attorney at Claery & Green today!

If you have been served with a petition for dissolution of your marriage(divorce), you are likely wondering what you need to do.  It is imperative that you respond to the petition in a timely manner and that your response is filed and served properly.  Otherwise, you will be at risk of being defaulted.  This means that the petitioner may obtain orders in your absence (a Default Judgment); and they will likely be unfair orders.  It is imperative to take a proactive approach in any litigation you are involved in.  In addition to properly filing a response, you may want to pursue temporary orders to address issues while the divorce process occurs.  This is especially important if you need temporary child custody and child support orders, spousal support orders, exclusive use and possession of the home you and your spouse live in, and order for any other issue that must be addressed promptly.  To obtain these orders an Order to Show Cause  request must be filed with the court.   

  A divorce will ultimately result in final orders set forth in a Judgment.  These orders will dissolve the marriage and the issues related to the marriage.  These issues include child custody, child support, spousal support, division of the marital assets and debts and many other issues.  The paperwork filed with the court must be prepared properly, filed timely and served in the correct manner.  In addition the discovery process may be initiated to investigate the existence and value of assets, debts, the opposing party's income and compensation and to uncover the opposing party's position regarding the issues, among other things.

It is critical to avoid a passive, "wait and see," approach in a dissolution.  Do not rely on the opposing party's advice on what you are entitled to.  Also, keep in mind that if your spouse has an attorney, that lawyer is advocating for your spouse and only your spouse.  The best approach is to immediately consult with an attorney.  If you feel comfortable with that attorney, he or she can help you get through this difficult time.  An attorney will make sure your documents are prepared properly and filed and served in a timely manner.  Most importantly, you will be advised as to your rights and what you are entitled to.  You make the decisions; however you should be well informed throughout the process.

Our attorneys are passionate about family law and dedicated to making sure our clients feel like they have an aggressive team of advocates on their side.  It is important not to feel alone during the emotionally charged and stressful divorce process.

Lance Claery, Partner
Attorney at Law
Claery & Green, LLP