Divorce Handbook for California: How to Dissolve Your Marriage Without Disaster

James W. Stewart

Jan 2002 · Impact Publishers

About this ebook

"I wrote this to help you survive the dissolution of your marriage without the financial ruin most people face," said Judge Stewart. His wise guidance shows readers how to: establish realistic expectations about divorce; find and hire a good attorney; control their attorney's actions and fees; use mediation and/or arbitration effectively; handle child and spousal support; protect children during the difficult times.

Ratings and reviews

As presiding judge of Silicon Valley's Santa Clara County Family Court, Judge Stewart has made decisions regarding the dissolution of literally thousands of California marriages. He knows what he is talking about, and in this fascinating account he provides the strategies to enable people to come though the process with as little damage to themselves, their children, their spouses, and their finances as possible. Anyone facing divorce in California, or elsewhere, for that matter, should buy this book and study it carefully. Dispelling eight popular myths such as the popular misconception that the judge hearing a divorce case will have substantial experience with divorce law, Judge Stewart begins by showing how to avoid financial disaster and how to select an attorney. He then goes on to give rare insights into how a judge in fact determines child custody and support matters, spousal support, the fate of the family home, and attorney's fees. He gives practical advice on how to protect oneself physically and emotionally. In short, Judge Stewart has written an insider's frank, fascinating, and somewhat frightening view into the workings of California divorce courts. The book could well provide the stimulus for a great TV dramatic series. Congratulations to an outstanding, thoughtful judge for providing a superb, practical, account of the workings of family law courts in California. -Michael R. Harris

About the author

James W. Stewart has dedicated his career as a Superior Court judge to families and children involved in the divorce process. With almost twenty years on the bench, Stewart has served four years as the supervising judge of the Family Court Division of the Santa Clara County Superior Court and two years as a supervising judge of the Palo Alto Division. He has been a member of the California Fair Political Practices Commission and the Family Law Advisory Committee to the Judicial Council. He has taught family law to attorneys on behalf of the Rutter Group and Continuing Education of the Bar, and is currently engaged as a private family law judge and mediator, hearing cases that, at the request of the parties, have been assigned to him from public courts. He also occasionally sits on assignment to the public courts by the Judicial Council of California. He is a graduate of Stanford University.