Blog

  While most understand that the  Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“the Act”) has had a major impact on tax rates and deductions, it is important to note that it will have a  […]

New Federal Law Eliminates the Alimony Deduction by Peter M. Walzer   Published in Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine – June 2018 The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act[1] (“the Act”) has a [...]

The recent Kamgar case (17 DJDAR 11672, 11/17/2017), published in November 2017, answered a question that  comes up in divorces “What if my spouse lost our money in the stock market, gambling, [...]

#metoo The #metoo movement has spurred a lot of women (and some men) to come forward to “out” their abusers, both on social media and via the traditional media. This, in turn, has dashed many [...]

Peter Sloan says he is William Shatner’s long lost son. Shatner denies it.  As a result, Sloan filed a lawsuit—and not for what you think. Mainstream journalists are reporting a paternity suit [...]

Tax Day is coming up fast.  These ten tips might help you avoid tax nightmares and save you money:     1.  Alimony payments are tax deductible if they are paid pursuant to a court order or […]

Palimony Persists Last year, my associate, Steve Yoda, and I successfully defended a multimillion dollar palimony suit (aka Marvin action) in federal court.  Our client (“Phil”) died [...]

Steal Your Kid, Get a Full Evidentiary Hearing Parents steal their children.  Sometimes it is from one state to another and often parents bring their children from another county.  International [...]

Beyoncé and Jay Zee had a prenup.  So did Lamar and Khloe, but do you need one?  Prenups are not for everyone.  Prenups are drafted to protect wealth. Unless you have wealth or expect to […]

Is your marriage on shaky grounds? Are you concerned that your partner has ‘checked out’ and that you might need to contact an experienced family lawyer to discuss your options and your future? [...]

Not a week goes by and there is another celebrity divorce. Never mind that I had not heard of Stephanie March (Law and Order) or Bobbie Flay (celebrity chef). What caught my interest is that […]

It is not uncommon for your client to claim their spouse has assets hidden “offshore”.   Perhaps during the ski trip to Switzerland or the dive vacation to the Cayman Islands, a spouse visited a [...]

Since the Supreme Court rulings in United States v. Windsor and Hollingsworth v Perry, many states allow same-sex couples the freedom to marry. As of November 20, 2014, 35 states allow same-sex [...]

An athlete involved in a paternity battle is at risk. His reputation and lifestyle are threatened. His play may deteriorate as a result of the stress of litigation.  A dropped ball or missed play [...]

On December 18, family law attorneys Peter Walzer and Christopher Melcher of Walzer Melcher LLP will be giving a one hour presentation on “Bias: The Enemy of Persuasion”. This topical and [...]

On Saturday, January 17, family lawyer Christopher Melcher will be presenting at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers’ (AAML) ‘SoCal Chapter 22nd Trial Institute’. This three day seminar [...]

Divorce is not a walk in the park. It can feel like never-ending battle that puts your children in the middle.  You will question whether or not you are making the right decisions.  While only [...]

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014 family law attorneys Peter M. Walzer and John Harding will discuss “The Business of Family Law”. The webinar starts at 9:30am PST. During this informative and [...]

Premarital agreements are a touchy subject for many, but they are becoming increasingly common as couples of all ages, sexual preference and income brackets continue to join in holy matrimony. [...]

On Friday, December 5, 2014, seasoned family lawyer and speaker Peter M. Walzer will be presenting at the 23rd Annual Seminar of the Utah Fellows, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and the [...]

Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of a long divorce process. After months in court and depending on your situation, there is a judgment in place for child custody, visitation, property [...]

In a recent article in Family Advocate Magazine (Fall 2014), Los Angeles family lawyer Jennifer M. Riemer discusses the deductibility of attorney’s fees in family law cases. The Family Advocate [...]

Premarital agreements are ice water on romance, which is one reason they are often put off to the last minute. Sometimes, a couple waits too long and their premarital agreement, or prenup, must [...]

Jurisdiction issues in divorce are complex. For example, a court may have jurisdiction to dissolve a marriage, but not be able to issue binding judgments regarding support or custody. This could [...]

There are many myths about child support.  In the dictionary, child support is defined as an on-going, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of their child.  Even though [...]

Halloween can be one of the most fun times of the year.  Who doesn’t have fun memories of dressing up as a kid and overdosing on sugar? As we get older, haunted houses and horror […]

The thought of a divorce, let alone how you’re ever going to pay for it, is enough to cause a migraine. Thankfully, you can ask the court for an award of attorney’s fees and costs […]

The Pew Research Center recently reported that a record number of Americans aged 25 and older – about 42 million people – have never been married. Those who say one should never get married [...]

There are several financial decisions to consider when filing for divorce in California.  One you may not be thinking about, but will likely have long-term monetary consequences, is whether you [...]

Over the last 20 years, premarital agreements (informally known as prenups) have become increasingly common between engaged and soon-to-be-married couples.  Premarital agreements allow you to [...]

Walzer Melcher Managing Partner Peter M. Walzer will be speaking that the San Fernando Valley Bar Association’s Family Law Advocacy Training workshop entitled “Motions: Child Custody Issues”. [...]

There are many reasons why you might want to relocate after your divorce. Maybe you have a great job opportunity in another part of the state. Perhaps you need help from your family to take […]

Family lawyer and managing partner of Walzer Melcher LLP Peter M. Walzer will be installed as Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Family Law Section.  The installation of officers [...]

20 years ago, prenuptial agreements began to catch on as a way to protect property when entering marriage.  Today, post nuptial agreements are gaining momentum with couples that are already [...]

Parenting can be challenging under any circumstances, much less as a divorced parent. Even if your marital relationship ended well, tension can run high, especially when determining child custody [...]

In today’s society, where more and more couples are having children outside a traditional marital relationship, men are increasingly being called on to take legal and financial responsibility for [...]

Sometimes, when it comes to the often-sensitive topic of divorce, it is just as important to know what NOT to say as it is to know what to say. This article will focus on the […]

The gay rights movement has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade.  Eleven years ago, Massachusetts became the first jurisdiction to allow same sex marriage.  Since 2003, 13 states have [...]

Lately, the news has been filled with stories involving professional athletes and allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. What are the signs of child abuse? And what do you do if you [...]

You’re going through a divorce in California and your soon-to-be-ex is claiming that half of your business is theirs. And they just might be right. Under California community property law, and [...]

Premarital agreements are another name for prenuptial agreements. An engaged couple generally enters into this agreement before marriage and the agreement takes effect when they get married. By [...]

Does a grandparent have grandchild visitation rights in California? What if one of the parents is not involved in the child’s like, is that parent’s parents (aka the grandparents) still able to [...]

Considering filing for divorce in California? If you and your partner have started a business together, or if one of you has contributed to a business owned by the other, you might want to keep [...]

Even when divorce is amicable, it can be a very stressful time for the children who are involved.  Children have to adjust to parents living separately, moving between homes, and their family [...]

The Los Angeles family law firm Walzer Melcher LLP is currently interviewing applicants for an associate position within the firm. Who Are We Looking For? We are looking to hire an associate [...]

Sexting and your marriage. Is it acceptable? Especially if you have fallen out of love or are considering filing for divorce or legal separation? Lately, it seems that incidents of high profile [...]

Divorce can be difficult enough, and sometimes, divorcing spouses become spiteful, making decisions just to hurt or antagonize the other person. And sometimes, when it comes to property division, [...]

The issue of taxes, and what is deductible and what is not, often comes up between divorcing couples. This article will address the transfer of assets between spouses. While most asset transfers [...]

Divorce and taxes… These two often intertwine, particularly when it comes to determining what is able to be written off during and after a divorce and what is not. Do Spousal Support Payments [...]

Change can be difficult for many people, and children of divorced or legally separated parents are no exception. As summer draws to a close and the new school year is on the horizon, this likely [...]