Phone: 707-623-1876Fax: 707-569-0921
Mansi Professional Building
2901 Cleveland Avenue
Suite 204
Santa Rosa, CA 95403 View Map

Law Offices of
Carolyn McBeath and Kathleen Smith


Family Law

Tax Considerations Relating to Child Support
For federal income tax purposes, payments of child support are not tax-deductible by the parent who makes the payments but child support is tax-free to the recipient. In order to qualify as child support, the amounts an ex-spouse receives must be designated as child support in the divorce or separation agreement. None of a payment that is lumped together as either family support or alimony is considered child support for tax purposes. In addition, family support or alimony is taxable to the recipient. More...
Guardian Ad Litem
What is a guardian ad litem? A minor cannot be a party to a lawsuit without assistance. Therefore, when a minor is a party to a lawsuit, the court appoints a guardian ad litem to represent the minor. More...
Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act
The Uniform Marriage and Divorce Act (UMDA) is an extensive uniform law which provides standards governing marriage, divorce, property distribution, alimony, child support, and custody. Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana and Washington have adopted it. The major provisions eliminate fault divorces, eliminate traditional defenses to divorce, provide for equitable distribution of property in non-community property states, provides for distributing community property, provide for alimony only in specific circumstances, and base child support and custody on certain factors. More...
Domestic Violence and Custody Issues
Domestic violence is conduct perpetrated by a spouse, family member, or any other person residing in the household. The State does not get involved in domestic violence issues unless the abuser has violated a criminal statute such as assault or battery. Violent events in the household constitute domestic violence if the victim is a family member or lives with the abuser. More...
Interspousal Tort Immunity
Interspousal tort immunity is the doctrine that bars tort suits between persons married to each other. The doctrine has its roots in the common-law principle that a married couple was one legal entity. More...

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