Family Law

Sacramento Family Law Attorneys

Family Law Can Be Very Complicated, Emotional, & Stressful. We Can Help!

Are you confronted with the legal, financial, and psychological effects on you and your family’s daily life? Attorney Matthew C. Tabo is thorough and assertive. He will help you resolve your cases in creative and efficient ways to minimize the emotional and financial cost of family disputes. It is his job to guide you through this process and counsel you to make important decisions. He listens to you to understand your priorities and create a legal plan to achieve your goals. He explains the law to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of your case, your rights and obligations, and the legal process.

What’s the Difference Between Legal Separation and Divorce in California?

In California, you have two ways to formally untangle your life from a spouse: legal separation or divorce. On paper, they look similar; both go through the court and can cover who gets what and where the kids live, but the result isn’t the same.

Legal separation:

  • You’re still married, just not living together.
  • A judge can split up property, assign debt, and set child or spousal support.
  • You can’t remarry unless you file for divorce later.

Divorce:

  • Marriage is legally over.
  • The court makes decisions on property, debt, custody, and support.
  • You’re free to marry someone else once it’s final.

Some people choose legal separation to keep insurance, honor religious beliefs, or buy time before deciding. Divorce makes sense when both parties agree that the relationship is over and are ready to close the book completely.

How Is Child Custody Decided in Sacramento Courts?

When a family matter involving children ends up in family court, a judge makes decisions based on what’s in the best interests of the child. That phrase may sound simple enough, but there’s a lot that goes into it.

Courts usually look at:

  • Type of custody – Physical custody, which is where the child lives, and legal custody, which determines which parent gets to make major decisions. Sometimes both parents share these duties, and other times one parent is the primary person.
  • Parenting history – Which parent has been the primary caregiver, and what was the quality of those relationships?
  • Safety and stability – Whether each home is safe, stable, and can meet the child’s needs.
  • Cooperation – How willing is each parent to work together and support their child’s relationship with the other parent?
  • Community ties – School, friends, extended family, and other local connections the child has in Sacramento County.
  • The presence of risk factors – Abuse, neglect, substance abuse, and other criminal activity will be scrutinized by the courts in order to protect the child.

Judges will weigh all of this before making a decision.

How Do California Courts Calculate Child Support?

Child support in California isn’t just a number someone makes up; there’s a formula behind it. The state uses what’s called the Uniform Guideline, but in real life, it feels less like math homework and more like working through a puzzle. Judges plug in both parents’ incomes, the amount of time each spends with the kids, and a stack of other details: health insurance costs, daycare, and even certain travel expenses.

But here’s where it gets tricky. The formula sets a starting point, not the final word. There are cases where the judge adjusted the number because a child had special medical needs, or one parent lived hundreds of miles away, and travel costs were huge. In other cases, a parent was between jobs, so the court looked at their earning capacity instead of their actual paycheck.

The bottom line is that the “guideline” is the base. The court can shift it up or down if the circumstances make sense, but you’ve got to show why. And that means bringing the right proof, not just telling the story.

How Does California Divide Property During a Divorce?

In California, the starting point for any divorce attorney handling property division is the state’s community property rules. Community property is everything you and your spouse acquired during the marriage. It can include income, real estate, vehicles, retirement accounts, and even debts, regardless of whose name is on the title.

Separate property is different. This includes anything you owned before the marriage, inheritances or gifts made only to you, and certain personal injury awards. The challenge comes when separate property and community property get mixed, such as using premarital funds for a shared home. That’s when tracing and documentation become critical. Keeping these assets separate from marital property won’t happen by accident. It requires preemptive planning and solid documentation.

Our family law firm in Sacramento County has provided legal representation in these practice areas for over a decade. We represent clients in contested cases, collaborative divorces, and uncontested divorces, ensuring that marital settlement agreements protect their legal rights and financial future.

When Separate Property Gets Mixed with Community Property

You think you’ll always know what’s yours. Then years pass, and the lines blur. You had a savings account before the wedding; you could use it to fix the roof or cover a rough month. Or your grandmother left you money, and without really thinking, you tossed it into the joint account.

Here’s the problem: once it’s mixed, the court might see it as community property. They don’t care about casual promises or who “knows” what’s fair; they want proof. That means old statements, receipts, and even scraps of paperwork you forgot you kept.

Some people dig through boxes in the garage, trying to piece things together. Sometimes, they find what they need, and sometimes, they don’t. If you’re smart, you keep your records clean before there’s trouble. Once you’re in the middle of a divorce, everyone’s memory gets fuzzy, and the paper trail is the only thing that holds up.

How Is Spousal Support Determined in California?

Spousal support, often called alimony, isn’t a flat amount pulled from a chart. In California, there are two main types. Temporary support can be ordered while a divorce is still in progress, meant to keep things stable until the case is resolved. Long-term, or “permanent,” support is decided once the divorce is final and is based on a broader set of factors.

Judges look at much more than income. They weigh the length of the marriage, the standard of living during it, each spouse’s ability to earn, age, health, and whether one spouse put career plans aside to support the other. A spouse who stepped away from work to raise children, for example, might need more time and financial help to re-enter the workforce.

Support orders can change later if circumstances shift, such as a new job, retirement, or major health issues. The court’s goal is balance, not punishment.

What Are the Most Common Mistakes to Avoid in Family Court?

Family court can feel overwhelming, and small missteps often have big consequences. Avoiding these mistakes can help keep your case on track and protect the outcome.

Some of the most common pitfalls include:

  • Ignoring court instructions – Overlooking even a small procedural step can delay proceedings and damage your credibility.
  • Failing to provide complete financial disclosure – Leaving out bank accounts, debts, or other assets can lead to penalties or a less favorable ruling.
  • Missing deadlines – Late filings or responses can result in the other party gaining an advantage by default.
  • Speaking out of turn in court – Interrupting, arguing, or showing frustration can influence how a judge views the case; remain in control of your emotions.
  • Arriving unprepared for hearings – Not bringing the required documents or witness statements weakens your position.
  • Using social media carelessly – Posts and messages can be used as evidence and undermine claims made in court.

What Happens If a Parent Ignores Custody or Child Support Orders?

When a parent stops following a custody schedule or refuses to pay court-ordered child support, it doesn’t just cause frustration; it can seriously disrupt a child’s stability. California courts treat these violations as more than disagreements between parents. They are a direct violation of a legal order.

For unpaid support, the court can issue wage garnishments, intercept tax refunds, suspend driver’s or professional licenses, and, in severe cases, order jail time. When custody orders are ignored, like keeping a child past the agreed time or denying visits, the court may fine the violating parent, award make-up parenting time, or even change custody arrangements entirely.

Don’t take matters into your own hands by retaliating. If your custody orders aren’t being followed, that doesn’t permit you to stop paying child support. The court sees these as two separate legal issues. The last thing you want to do is end up on the wrong side of the law.

Documentation matters. Missed payments, canceled visits, and messages showing noncompliance help prove the violation. The faster these issues are brought back to court, the sooner enforcement measures can be put in place to protect both the child’s routine and the integrity of the original order.

How Do You Choose the Right Family Law Attorney?

The attorney you choose will shape not just your case, but how you experience the process itself. The right fit goes beyond credentials; it’s about working with someone who understands the stakes, knows the local courts, and can adapt strategy to your unique circumstances. You need an attorney with a history of handling cases like yours, who communicates clearly and responds when questions arise. Our team will thoroughly explain your options and outline realistic expectations instead of trying to win you over with empty promises.

When the outcome affects your future, settling for less isn’t an option. Reach out to our team today by calling (916) 232-2808. During your free consultation with The Tabo Law Firm, you can ask your questions and learn why we are the right fit for your case.

Family Law Services

  • Divorce
  • Mediation
  • Annulment
  • Legal Separation
  • Child Support
  • Spousal Support/Alimony
  • Child Custody/Visitation
  • Modification of Orders
  • Set Aside of Prior Support Orders
  • Paternity
  • Domestic Violence/Restraining Orders
  • Prenuptial Agreements/Postnuptial Agreements
  • Property Valuation and Division