Olsen Family Law

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Olsen Family Law At Olsen Family Law, we blend compassion with legal expertise to guide you through the pivotal moments of family life.

From premarital agreements to divorce proceedings, we’re here to provide clear, empathetic support and solutions. Olsen Family Law, LLP, located in Los Gatos, CA, is a leading family law firm specializing in divorce, mediation, and complex family law matters like property division, child custody, and spousal support. We serve clients in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties. For clients across California, we offer expert prenuptial agreement services to protect assets and define financial responsibilities. Led by Callan Olsen, we provide collaborative, client-focused legal representation, prioritizing amicable resolutions while fiercely protecting your interests. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

10/07/2026

Do not panic and empty the bank account. It feels like protection in the moment. It is actually the thing you will pay for later.

In California, once a spouse is served with divorce paperwork, automatic restraining orders kick in. You cannot transfer assets to new accounts, borrow against them, or move money out of sight. Doing it anyway can open you up to a breach of fiduciary duty claim, which means more litigation, more fees, and more headaches for you.

I understand the fear behind the impulse. The lower earning spouse is terrified about what the next few months look like. The higher earning spouse is convinced everything is about to disappear. Here is the reassuring part. There is a paper trail for a reason. If money moves, we can trace where it went, and it is still divisible in your divorce. So take a breath, leave the accounts alone, and call an attorney first.

Most people picture divorce as a courtroom. Two lawyers, a judge, someone dramatically objecting. Real life is usually a...
10/06/2026

Most people picture divorce as a courtroom. Two lawyers, a judge, someone dramatically objecting. Real life is usually a lot quieter than that. Many California divorces are completed without a single contested hearing.

It comes down to whether you and your spouse can reach agreement on the big pieces. Custody. Support. Dividing property. When those get settled outside of court, the process tends to move faster and cost less, and the stress level drops for everyone involved. That does not mean you handle it alone. It means your attorney is guiding the conversation and working toward terms that are actually fair to you, rather than preparing for a fight.

The real benefit is the one people overlook. You keep the decisions about your own family in your hands instead of handing them to a judge who is meeting you for the first time.

Couples spend months on a prenup and then watch a judge set it aside. The intentions were good. The paperwork existed. S...
10/05/2026

Couples spend months on a prenup and then watch a judge set it aside. The intentions were good. The paperwork existed. Somewhere in the process, a procedural gap gave the court an opening. California has some of the strictest prenup rules in the country, and an agreement that works in another state may not survive here.

Six things that void a California prenup:

1️⃣Never put in writing or properly signed
2️⃣Incomplete or misleading financial disclosure
3️⃣Signing before the 7 day waiting period ends
4️⃣Signing under pressure, or without your own attorney for a spousal support waiver
5️⃣Including terms courts refuse to enforce, like child custody or lifestyle clauses
6️⃣No translation for a party who is not fluent in English

A prenup at 30 is not a sign of doubt about the marriage. It is planning around assets, debt, and a career you already built. Just build the timeline to match the rules.

09/30/2026

"We fight every time we are in the same room. Mediation would never work for us." I hear this constantly, and it is usually not true. Conflict is not the disqualifier people assume it is. That is the entire reason lawyers and mediators are in the room. Managing tension between two people who cannot have a calm conversation on their own is the job.

That said, mediation is not right for everyone, and pretending otherwise does nobody any favors. Some real questions to ask yourself. Will your spouse drag this out and use the process as an excuse to keep contact with you?

Is there a history of abuse in your relationship? Is there financial abuse or control over money? Those factors change the analysis in a meaningful way. So do not rule mediation out because you argue. Rule it in or out based on what you actually know about your spouse.

The financial part of a divorce does not start with a filing. It starts with knowing what is in your name. A surprising ...
09/29/2026

The financial part of a divorce does not start with a filing. It starts with knowing what is in your name. A surprising number of people find out about a card, a loan, or a collections account only after the case begins. Start by pulling your reports from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. It is the federally authorized site, and it currently gives you free weekly reports online. Read the account names, balances, payment history, addresses, and recent inquiries. Something unfamiliar could be an error, identity theft, or a debt nobody told you about.

Three things worth handling before you file:

1️⃣Create individual access. Open a checking account in your own name and set up a private email with unique passwords.

2️⃣Record the joint balances. Download current statements before any money moves. Documentation does not make a transfer proper, so talk to an attorney before moving anything significant.

3️⃣Confirm your card status. Being an authorized user is not the same as being a joint owner. Closing a joint account does not erase the balance, and joint owners can stay on the hook for it.

When a California divorce petition and summons are filed, the summons includes standard family law restraining orders. T...
09/28/2026

When a California divorce petition and summons are filed, the summons includes standard family law restraining orders. They bind the filing spouse immediately and the other spouse upon service. In a joint filing, both spouses are bound upon filing. No hearing is required, although either spouse may ask the court to change the orders.

The orders restrict transferring, encumbering, concealing, or disposing of community, quasi-community, or separate property without written consent or a court order. Exceptions cover ordinary business and the necessities of life.

They also restrict cashing, borrowing against, canceling, transferring, or changing beneficiaries of life, health, auto, and disability coverage. Extraordinary expenditures require five business days’ notice and an accounting, but notice alone may not authorize the transaction.

To learn more, visit our blog on our website.

The stereotype is an offshore account somewhere tropical. The reality is a lot less cinematic. In a Silicon Valley divor...
09/24/2026

The stereotype is an offshore account somewhere tropical. The reality is a lot less cinematic. In a Silicon Valley divorce, the value that goes unaccounted for usually sits somewhere ordinary. An employer equity portal. A vesting schedule. A bonus that pays out next quarter. None of it shows up as a deposit in the joint checking account.

That is exactly why California disclosure is broader than most people expect. Both spouses sign under penalty of perjury, and the list covers income, property, retirement, equity, business interests, crypto, and debts. Vested or not.

The duty also continues, so a new grant or a big bonus during your case gets reported when it happens. That rule protects you as much as it obligates you.

Nobody shows up to a first divorce consultation feeling prepared. That is completely normal.When we meet virtually, you ...
09/23/2026

Nobody shows up to a first divorce consultation feeling prepared. That is completely normal.

When we meet virtually, you are not required to bring a single document. You will not be quizzed. The meeting is a conversation about your situation and your options.

That said, the more you can tell us, the more useful our answers will be. Helpful things to have in mind:

✔️Your date of marriage and date of separation, even if approximate
✔️A rough sense of income for both spouses
✔️The big assets, like the house, retirement accounts, and any equity or business interests
✔️The big debts, like the mortgage, loans, and credit cards
✔️Your children's ages and current schedule
✔️Any agreements you already signed, like a prenup
✔️Your top three questions and biggest worries

If you only remember one thing, remember the last one. Bring your questions. Everything else can be gathered later.

Ask me who gets the couch and I will walk you through the property rules. Ask me who gets the dog and the whole conversa...
09/22/2026

Ask me who gets the couch and I will walk you through the property rules. Ask me who gets the dog and the whole conversation changes. I have two goldens at home, so I understand exactly why this question comes with a lot of emotions attached to the outcome!

Here is where California landed. Pets are still technically property, but since 2019 the law lets a judge do more than split value down the middle. Under Family Code 2605, a court can assign sole or joint ownership of a pet and can specifically consider who actually cares for the animal.

Who buys the food. Who handles the vet visits. Who walks them at six in the morning in the rain. A judge can also order one spouse to care for the pet while the case is still pending. Most couples settle this themselves, and honestly that is the better outcome.

At Olsen Family Law, we believe families deserve thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and a team that takes the tim...
09/18/2026

At Olsen Family Law, we believe families deserve thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and a team that takes the time to understand what matters most to them. Whether you're working through divorce, custody, mediation, or a prenuptial agreement, our goal is to help you move forward with confidence and clarity.

If you're looking for a family law team that combines legal experience with a genuinely client-focused approach, we're here to help.

Our practice is deeply focused on effectively navigating divorce and mediation matters across Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and San Mateo counties, and we utilize extensive knowledge to create robust premarital and post-marital agreements throughout California.

📍Los Gatos, California

🗓️Schedule your virtual consultation on our website at olsenfamilylaw.com.

Address

654 North Santa Cruz Avenue Suite E
Los Gatos, CA
95030

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 12pm

Telephone

+16693091553

Website

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