Moradi Neufer Family Law Attorneys

10/15/2026

A business can be one of the most significant assets involved in a divorce, and one of the most complicated to address.

Determining what is separate or community property, establishing an accurate business valuation, tracing financial interests, and presenting reliable evidence can all affect how business interests are addressed during asset division.

If your divorce involves a closely held business or other complex assets, experienced family law counsel can help you understand the financial issues involved and take the next step with greater clarity.

To know more, explore this article: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/high-income-high-stakes-how-divorce-impacts-your-business-interests-in-california/

10/14/2026

We’re pleased to welcome Emma Bell to Moradi Neufer as an Associate!

Emma has built her career exclusively in family law, helping individuals and families navigate some of the most difficult moments in their lives, including divorce, child custody matters, and domestic violence cases. She brings a thoughtful, compassionate approach to her work and a genuine commitment to helping clients feel supported and informed throughout the process.

A graduate of UC Berkeley and UCLA School of Law, Emma joins our growing team with valuable experience supporting both represented and self-represented clients and helping families navigate the legal process with care and clarity.

We’re excited to have Emma join the Moradi Neufer family and look forward to seeing all that she brings to our team and the clients we serve.

Welcome to the team, Emma!

Learn more about her: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/meet-the-team/emma-bell/

10/08/2026

We’re so pleased to celebrate Toriana Holmes’ promotion to Of Counsel.

Toriana has become an incredibly valued part of Moradi Neufer, bringing not only 14 years of experience as a California attorney, but also the thoughtfulness, perspective, and compassion that make such a difference to clients navigating difficult family law matters.

Whether she is helping a client through a complex divorce, child custody or support matter, or working toward a resolution through mediation, Toriana approaches every case with care, patience, and a genuine understanding of what is at stake for the people involved. Her experience as a Settlement Conference Officer with the San Francisco Superior Court also brings a unique perspective to the way she helps clients evaluate their options and move forward with confidence.

We’re grateful for the knowledge, dedication, and steady presence Toriana brings to our team and to the clients we serve.

Congratulations, Toriana, on this well-deserved promotion to Of Counsel! We’re proud to have you as part of Moradi Neufer and excited to see what this next chapter brings.

Learn more about her journey: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/meet-the-team/toriana-holmes/

10/06/2026

How much of your separate property is your spouse entitled to in a divorce?

Under California law, separate property like gifts and inheritances you receive or real estate and business interests you’ve had since before the marriage is 100% yours in a divorce.

In contrast, community property covers any other assets or debts that you acquire during the marriage, and they belong equally to both spouses to be split 50/50 in a divorce.

The problem with separate property is that it starts out separate automatically, but it doesn’t necessarily stay separate over time without you taking proactive steps to protect it.

– Maybe you inherited money years ago and put it in a joint account with your spouse.

– Maybe your parents wired a down payment on a home you share with your spouse, but nobody wrote down who the payment was gifted to.

– Maybe you refinanced a condo you owned before the marriage and signed whatever escrow documents were presented to you at the table.

– Or maybe marital income covered the mortgage on a house you inherited from your parents.

The complicated question that determines the outcome of any property division case is whether your assets can still be identified as separate after years of living your lives together.

A joint account doesn’t erase your inheritance. It simply means that someone has to follow the money back to where it started in a process called tracing.

Read more on our blog about how you can take steps to set aside and protect your separate property so that it remains fully yours, even in a divorce.

Blog link: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/what-happens-to-gifts-inheritances-and-separate-property-in-a-divorce/

Understand property division in divorce. Learn how California law treats separate and community property in asset negotiations.

10/02/2026

Three years of building, growing, and moving forward together.

Since joining Moradi Neufer, Ben Barry has brought thoughtful leadership, a fresh perspective, and a genuine commitment to making the firm stronger from the inside out.

With decades of executive experience behind him, Ben understands that building a great organization is about more than processes and growth. It’s about people. His focus on developing our team and strengthening how we work together has played an important role in Moradi Neufer’s continued evolution.

We’re grateful for the leadership, perspective, and energy Ben brings to the firm. Happy three years! Ben, we’re glad you’re on this journey with us.

Meet Ben and learn more about his journey:
https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/meet-the-team/ben-barry/

09/28/2026

AI can be helpful, but in a divorce, the details matter.

Decisions around finances, custody, and your future deserve guidance grounded in real law, not assumptions.

Don’t let AI guess your future and get the facts you can trust.

Read the full blog here: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/is-ai-more-likely-to-help-or-complicate-your-divorce-what-you-should-know-in-california/

09/25/2026

Child support laws are often misunderstood, which can lead to confusion about rights and obligations. In California, child support is based on legal parentage and financial circumstances, and orders can change over time. Understanding the facts about child support can help parents avoid costly assumptions.

“Only biological parents pay child support.”
Legal parentage, including marriage or adoption, can create a support obligation, even without a biological connection.

“Child support can’t be changed.”
Orders can be modified if there’s a significant change in income or financial circumstances.

“Bankruptcy clears child support debt.”
Child support is not dischargeable and remains owed even in the case of bankruptcy.

“Child support ends automatically at 18.”
Support may continue until 19 if the child is still in high school, or it may end earlier in certain situations.

Knowing how child support works can help parents make informed decisions and stay compliant with court orders.

Read the full blog here: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/does-a-father-have-the-right-to-receive-child-support/

09/23/2026

If you’re self-employed in San Francisco, you know the pattern: a strong quarter, then a slow one. A big project that carries you for six months, then a stretch of nothing. An IPO or acquisition that spikes your income unlike any other year.

Your income changes every month, but your child support order doesn’t.

For Bay Area founders, business owners, and contractors, unpredictable monthly income or a single vesting event can make your child support order wildly off base.

For their co-parents, not factoring these windfalls into child support calculations can feel unfair.

Fortunately, California allows you to play a part in determining your actual self-employed income, but you must come prepared with proof and financial documentation.

More good news: California courts can build flexibility into child support orders to factor in seasonal or fluctuating income. But judges don’t do this automatically.

For example, your child support order could involve…

– A base monthly amount tied to your ordinary income, plus a percentage of anything above it

– A quarterly reconciliation that squares what you actually made against what you paid

– A long-term modification, if your income change is significant or lasting

Read more in our latest blog about how to calculate your actual self-employed income (or your co-parent’s income) for child support in California.

Blog link: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/child-support-for-self-employed-parents-common-challenges-and-solutions/

Learn how California calculates child support for self-employed parents, including variable income, business deductions, imputed income, and equity compensation.

09/21/2026

Hiring a divorce lawyer doesn’t mean signing up for a courtroom fight.

Most California divorces never go to trial. And alternatives like mediation can help set you up for success from day one.

Instead of a judge who barely knows your family making decisions about your future based on state guidelines, mediation lets you create solutions for yourselves – in private sessions, with the help of your attorneys and a neutral mediator.

For Newport Beach families, that means protecting:

– The stability and emotional health of your kids, who have a harder time adjusting the more they experience ongoing parental conflict

– Your privacy, as your financial disclosures and all other negotiations stay out of the California Superior Court’s public record

– Your home and your business, with more flexible options for property division

– Your marital estate as a whole, as the cost of mediation is significantly lower than court

– Your time, as most mediations wrap up months or even years before court cases

It also prepares you for what comes after, especially if you have to co-parent for years to come. You get practice working constructively through disagreements, and you can agree to come back to mediation before filing any future issues with the court.

Read more on our latest blog about how mediation can help you protect your financial security, your relationship with your children, and your place in your community.

Blog link: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/blog/10-ways-mediation-can-help-couples-protect-their-future-in-a-divorce/

Discover 10 benefits of divorce mediation in Newport Beach, including lower costs, privacy, flexibility, and greater control over your divorce outcome.

09/16/2026

Two years ago, Michael Bonetto joined Moradi Neufer. Since then, he's become a key leader in of our family law practice. 🎉

A Certified Family Law Specialist and Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Michael brings deep experience to complex matters involving property division, business valuation, and custody disputes. His thoughtful counsel and strategic advocacy have earned the trust of clients ranging from business owners to professional athletes.

We're grateful for the dedication, leadership, and excellence Michael has brought to our firm over the past two years, and we're excited for what's ahead.

Read more about Michael's journey: https://californiafamilylawgroup.com/meet-the-team/michael-bonetto/