Family Law

Los Angeles Court Published Self-Help

Los Angeles Superior Court offers a great array of services through its Family Law Self Help desks. The court has been handling much of the self help services remotely during the pandemic by appointment.

The public can request self-help online appointments by calling the court at (213) 830-0845 to schedule a time to be assisted online by court staff. Services include child support, domestic violence, civil, or elder abuse restraining orders, dissolution (divorce) or parentage cases, or modifications to existing judgment and orders.

You can click the following link to obtain a copy of the court’s Self-Help Services Flyer.

Who gets the rings in a divorce?

(Revised and republished 02/21/2017)
During a divorce I am often asked, “Who gets to keep the rings?”

Couples understand that in a divorce their property is going to get divided.  Maybe it will be by settlement or it may be by trial. One of the largest pieces of property in many marriages is often the wedding or engagement ring.

Occasionally, one of the parties may want the rings sold simply to keep it from the other. So who do the rings really belong to?   Often, it depends on which ring you are asking about.

The Rule on Gifts

The basic Rule on Gifts is: the giver (or gifter) must transfer personal property voluntarily and without expecting something in return. The gifter transfers personal property simply by delivering it to the recipient. A gift is given ‘voluntarily’  if it is fairly certain there is no force or coercion put on the giver and the recipient didn’t take the gift without permission. The trickier part is whether or not ‘consideration’ (a thing or promise in return) is implied when the rings are given.

Engagement Rings

California doesn’t view engagement rings as gifts.  Rather engagement rings are given for the other person’s promise of marriage, the consideration (CA Civil Code section 1590). If the couple actually marries, the recipient (normally the bride) has completed her promise.  The engagement ring is now hers. When the parties divorce, the engagement ring, having become the bride’s property before marriage, remains her separate property and wouldn’t be divided as part of the divorce.

If the wedding doesn’t happen, then it who gets the ring depends on who broke the engagement off.  If the recipient, she has to return the ring.  If it was the gifter, the recipient can keep the ring.

Wedding Rings and Anniversaries

Unfortunately wedding bands and rings bought after the wedding day (anniversary rings, upgraded rings, etc.), aren’t as clear cut as engagement rings. The rules of marital property and conversion of property from one type or another (called “transmutation”) have to be taken into account.

Wedding bands purchased before the wedding day and given at the ceremony are the property of the buyer until the wedding. The spouses aren’t married and their money is separate. At the wedding each buying spouse gives (transfers) a wedding band to the other spouse voluntarily. But is there consideration?  Are wedding rings given for a promise to stay married?

Normally, the original wedding bands are treated as an exchange of gifts while the wedding is a separate exchange of promises. This makes sense if we think of couples that can’t afford a wedding ring or the cost of different couples’ rings. If a couple doesn’t have a wedding ring are they not married after the ceremony? That wouldn’t be fair. If one couple can afford a very expensive ring is their promise to stay married stronger than a couple who can only afford an inexpensive band? Also ridiculous.

The treatment of the original wedding bands as gifts isn’t stated that way in the statutes.  There is no settled law on the issue. However, if the rings were treated as an exchange for being married that would be a contract that would appear to trade personal servitude or sex for a gift of an asset and would be patently illegal.

Just to muddy the waters further is the exception in the law for gifts between spouses.  When jewelry is given as a gift that is meant for the exclusive use of one of the spouses, that is not considered under community property “that is not substantial in value taking into account the circumstances of the marriage”.  What this last part means, is that to determine if there is an exception to gifts between spouses, we have to look at the value of the rings in comparison to what the spouses could afford and to their station in life.

Later Purchased Rings

So what about rings that are bought after the wedding day? This often happens at anniversaries or when renewing vows.  It can also happen when couples are doing better financially and want to upgrade the original rings.

The purchase of rings or other jewelry during marriage would most likely be from earnings during the marriage.  This implies it is community property money. The rings could then be considered community property.

But can the rings be considered a gift from one spouse to the other? California Family law requires that transmutation – the conversion of community property to separate property – requires a writing signed by the gifting spouse. However, we return to that exception which excludes jewelry used solely or principally by the spouse to whom the gift is made and that is not substantial in value.

Therefore, when it comes to rings purchased after the marriage, whether the rings are gifts will be a judgment issue based on if the rings are of “substantial value”, taking into account the rest of the marital circumstances (value and income). The smaller percentage of the total value both at purchase and divorce will be the most likely measuring points.

Seek Help from an Experienced Attorney

Dividing marital property can be a tricky affair. The loss of family heirloom rings and finding a “fair” middle ground can be difficult.  Emotions are running high at this time while you are trying to negotiate. A skilled attorney can help work through the issues with you and reduce the contention during this most trying time.


Featured Image: “Aboutgmaxdmdns by Chapter1Design” at wikicommons

10 Things About Premarital Agreements Other Than Divorce

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(Republished and reposted 2/25/2017)

Premarital agreements also called prenuptial agreements can cause a good deal of stress and anger between soon to be spouses.  They can cause your fiance to believe that you don’t trust them or that your not “all in”.  Unfortunately, people see premarital agreements as divorce planning, sort of a downer from the start.

But really, premarital agreements have just as much to do proper planning for the marriage rather than the outcome of divorce.

Here are 10 purposes served by planning a premarital agreement that have nothing to do with splitting the couple up:

  1. Premarital agreements can protect one prospective spouse from the premarital debts of the other.  This can be useful where bad credit and debts are still haunting one of the partners coming into the marriage.
  2. Blended families, those with children from previous relationships, can use premarital planning to give clear distribution instructions to children from earlier relationships.
  3. Premarital agreements can be used to create a life estate for spouses-to-be to care for them after the death of one spouse and preserve inheritances to beneficiaries other than the spouse.
  4. Couples can avoid financial disputes during their marriage by specifying how community and separate property is defined between them.
  5. Self-employed spouses can use a premarital agreement to protect family assets or the assets of the working spouse in case of business bankruptcy or suits.
  6. Medi-Cal (California’s Medi-caid), ignores premarital terms that attempt to avoid the duty to support one spouse by the other.  But, in the case of divorce to avoid Medi-Cal support obligations, a premarital agreement can insure that the non-hospitalized spouse retains ownership of their property.
  7. Ownership interest and voting rights in LLCs and closely held corporations can be manipulated within premarital plans satisfying membership agreements and investment requirements.
  8. Premarital agreements can establish property ownership of real estate acquired during the marriage with pre and post-marital assets.  This is extremely important where one or the other spouse engages in business that can be a victim of lawsuits that might endanger community property.
  9. Rental property income from premarital acquired rental property can be defined as separate, community, or transferred to the non-owning spouse.
  10. Premarital agreements can provide terms and designations for one spouse’s preference for guardianship and conservatorship in proper contexts.

Talk to a qualified attorney before you begin working on your premarital agreement.  A proper agreement can enhance and protect the marriage rather than be an plan only for divorce.


Featured Image: CA Bride and Groom by debaird at Wikimedia Commons