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LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 553-0801 | Fax: (408) 553-0807 | Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126
Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.
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Grandparents Have Rights Too: Grandparent Visitation
/in Family Law /by Mitchell EhrlichThe relationship between a grandparent and a grandchild can be one of great happiness and importance for both the grandparent and grandchild. However, sometimes events such as divorce or a parent’s death may strain loving relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren. As a result, the grandchild’s parent(s) may block any further contact with grandparents. However, all 50 states now have some type of grandparent visitation law that allow grandparents to ask the court to give them the legal right to maintain their relationships with their grandchildren.
In California, a statute grants visitation rights to grandparents only when they have a preexisting relationship with their grandchild “that has engendered a bond such that visitation is in the best interest of the child.” Cal. Fam. Code § 3104. In addition, the statute directs the court to balance the interest of the child in visitation with his or her grandparent against the right of the parents to exercise their parental authority. Id. Finally, the statute provides a rebuttable presumption that grandparent visitation is not in the best interest of the child if the parent objects.
However, in a recent case, Stuard v. Stuard, the Third District found that even though Family Code section 3104 provides a rebuttable presumption that grandparent visitation is not in the best interest of the child if the parent objects, the parent’s right is not absolute. Stuard v. Stuard (2016) 244 Cal. App. 4th 768. According to the Stuard court, the law “reflects a legitimate state interest in preserving an already existing grandparent-grandchild relationship that is threatened but in the best interest of the grandchild to safeguard.” In other words, even though there may be rebuttable presumption, it may be overcome. The grandparents will need to show in some detail what it is that they add to the grandchildren’s lives, not just a general statement that they have a close relationship with the children and that continuing that relationship is in the best interest of the child.
In a time when families are constantly changing, grandparent visitation laws have become increasingly significant. If you have any questions about grandparent visitation and would like to speak to an attorney, please contact Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information. Keep in mind that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results. While this post may include legal issues, it is not legal advice. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
“Always has the best advice for you” -AVVO reviewer
/in Firm News /by Riley PenningtonGina Policastri, partner at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri, has gained a reputation for being a compassionate but strong advocate for her clients. She has worked with clients involved in long and difficult divorces. One AVVO reviewer recently noted that after a lengthy divorce of 6 years that seemed to be going nowhere, Gina was able to finalize his divorce in only 8 months! As the reviewer stated, “She is extremely organized, a hard worker and always has the best advice for you and knows what is needed to do to move your case forward!”
Gina Policastri is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She handles all areas of family law including high conflict custody cases, complex business valuation and asset division issues and complicated child and spousal support matters.
For more information or to schedule your free ½ hour consultation, please contact Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri. Please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/95126-ca-gina-policastri-233500/reviews.html
Smith/Ostler Order: Accounting for Bonus Income’s Impact on Support Payments
/2 Comments/in Family Law /by Virginia LivelyWhen calculating spousal or child support, courts look to a wage earner’s monthly income to determine an appropriate support amount. However, what if the wage earner spouse or parent receives bonus income in the years after the initial support order is entered? Support orders can be altered, but the process involves a court room, lawyers, and more legal fees. In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith offers an alternative answer—the Smith/Ostler order.
A Smith/Ostler order takes into account a spouse or parent’s unearned or prospective income, detailing when and how any future, additional earnings should be incorporated into a support order. However, because bonus income is prospective only, it may never be realized. Calculating support based off an unknown and/or unguaranteed dollar amount can underestimate or inflate a support order. Therefore, to account for the speculative nature of bonus payments, courts deal in percentages.
For example, in the seminal In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith case, the court awarded Wife 15 percent of Husband’s future cash bonuses. If Husband received a bonus, he would give 15 percent of whatever amount he earned to Wife, but if Husband did not receive any cash bonuses, he would not pay additional support. Importantly, the original support order would remain intact, and the parties would not need to argue over how much of the bonus income the supported spouse should be paid—the court order took care of those details and created a more easily administered support order.
In addition to cash bonuses, a Smith/Ostler order can account for future stock option income. For example, in In re Marriage of Kerr, Wife and Husband, while married, improved their standard of living by exercising stock options that had increased in value. Subsequently, during divorce proceedings, the court award Wife, through a Smith/Ostler order, a percentage of Husband’s income from any future exercise of those same stock options.
However, In re Marriage of Kerr presented an exceptional case where an additional measure besides a percentage amount was necessary to ensure that Husband’s spousal support order was not inflated. The value of Husband’s stock had increased exponentially after he divorced Wife. A specified percentage of the stock’s value would have increased Husband’s payments to a point that far exceeded the marital standard of living he shared with Wife. Thus, the court concluded that under special circumstances, such as the case at hand, use of a Smith/Ostler order is permissible only if the court caps the amount of future income a spouse can receive at a number proportionate to the martial standard of living.
If you are considering a divorce or legal separation and would like more information about how either action may affect your finances, please contact the experienced family law attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri. We can help you understand and manage any spousal or child support issues that may arise.
Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results. While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Sources:
In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33
In re Marriage of Kerr (1999) 77 Cal.App.4th 87
Mediation: Taking control of your divorce
/in Family Law /by David PattonThe underuse of the mediation process seems to be largely attributable to the fact that many people are unaware of what a mediation session is and how beneficial it can actually be. In family disputes, mediation can be extremely rewarding, saving parties time, money and sanity.
The rules of mediation: you create them
In mediation, parties are not bound by many of the rules that govern judges’ decision making. As a result, parties can reach solutions that might not otherwise be available from a court. For example, if there is a dispute over child support or child custody, rather than having a judge decide the amount of support or amount of visitation based on guidelines and factors required by statute, parties are free to negotiate an amount or time deemed reasonable to both.
The outcomes: you decide them
In mediation, you are free to discuss with your spouse what is important to both of you and try to reach a mutually acceptable agreement. It differs from litigation in that parties avoid the uncertainty, time and stress associated with going to trial. Parties are able to hear and understand the other’s point of view and with the guidance of a mediator, this enables parties to reach a middle ground . Because the mediator does not have the authority to make decisions, it is ultimately the parties making their OWN decisions over their OWN lives.
However, a good mediator should have some family law experience and be able to offer practical guidance to the parties. A mediator with family law experience can offer parties insight as to what might and might not be granted in court, ensuring that no request is unreasonable or disadvantageous to the other spouse. This can make the mediation session much more productive.
Progress: in the mediation room and beyond
Lastly, even if you don’t settle all your divorce issues, chances are you did resolve some. Even having resolved one issue is progress. Further, the tenants of mediation promote cooperation and communication. Thus because parties are provided the opportunity to resolve their own case, mediation tends to reduce hostility and preserve ongoing relationships.
While divorce mediation works in many situations, it is not always appropriate. Litigation is often the best option in situations where there is domestic violence, one party refuses to cooperate in making required disclosures, or communication between the parties is impossible. If you have any questions about divorce mediation and would like to speak to an attorney, please contact Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information. Keep in mind that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results. While this post may include legal issues, it is not legal advice. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Estate Planning for Millennials
/in Estate Planning /by Gina PolicastriWhile estate planning may sound like an activity reserved for the baby boomer generation, even Millennials can get in on the fun! Further, estate planning is not only for people with ample assets—planning for your future can extend to healthcare decisions and even your Facebook account. Of course, thinking about death—especially one’s own—is hard, but there are many benefits to be reaped from laying out a few guidelines for your loved ones.
To begin, estate planning at a young age may not involve complex financial considerations, but there are two key areas to focus on: healthcare and personal property.
First, once you turn 18 years old, family members no longer have the legal right to access your medical records, and should you become incapacitated, your family would not be able to speak to your doctors or make medical decisions on your behalf. Estate planning ensures that in the event of your incapacitation, your health is taken care of according to your wishes and by people you trust—
1) Advanced Healthcare Directive: A legal document in which you detail what medical actions should be taken if you are incapacitated or unable to make decisions on your own. This document can be used to record your preference (or not) for a “do not resuscitate” order.
2) Durable Power of Attorney: A legal document which, should you become incapacitated, gives power to a person of your choosing to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf. A durable power of attorney works in conjunction with an advanced healthcare directive to ensure that your health preferences are understood and heeded.
3) HIPPA Release Form: This form allows people listed on your advanced healthcare directive to access your medical records. Access to your records makes it easier for your designated caregivers to make informed decisions regarding your health.
Second, you may not have a lot of assets, but most likely, you do have some treasured possessions. To prevent your assets from being waylaid by intestacy (in which state laws determine how your property is distributed), consider making a will or trust—
4) Wills and Trusts: A will and/or trust details to where and to whom your assets will go after your death. While you may be content to let intestacy laws distribute your estate, creating a will or trust can streamline the process and assure your relatives that they are honoring your true wishes. Importantly, besides money, you should consider other cherished aspects of your estate. First, your pet—who will take care of your beloved fur friend? Second, consider family heirlooms passed down to you through grandma and grandpa—a will or trust ensures that those items fall into the right hands. Third, do you want to allocate any assets to a significant other? If you and your partner are not married, he or she is not entitled to any of your assets and will likely receive nothing through intestacy either. Whether you want to leave money or possessions—valuable or sentimental—a will or trust ensures your significant other receives a piece of your estate.
5) Digital Assets: Social media accounts and digital files need postmortem management, especially if you would like your family to shut down your various online accounts. Federal law does not require that websites permanently delete the account of a deceased user. Therefore, designating a digital “executor” and creating an inventory (with updated usernames and passwords) of your online accounts that details what you would like done with them can ensure your online presence is handled according to your wishes.
Death is a difficult subject, but estate planning ensures that your family is not left without direction for how your final wishes should be carried out. Therefore, if you are interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact the experienced attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri. We can help determine what documents would best safeguard your assets and/or your medical wishes.
Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results. While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice. Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.