Zhou In the News

14 05 '26

加州 Ex Parte 单方紧急开庭程序全解析 |《浪姐》江语晨被前夫凌晨起诉、第二天就要开庭涉及什么程序？

《浪姐》江语晨在节目录制期间凌晨收到前夫的紧急开庭通知，第二天就要开庭争抚养权。加州法院真的可以这么仓促吗？Certified Family Law Specialist Joanne Zhou律师深度解读 Ex Parte 单方紧急开庭申请程序——申请条件、被滥用的后果，以及加州抚养权案件的核心法律原则。 Read more

24 09 '24

So you want 50/50 custody Pt. 2 (A Blog Series)

There are many excellent reasons to pursue a 50/50 custody arrangement – mutual investment in a minor child and schedule allowances among them. However, one very bad reason to pursue a 50/50 split is the anticipated waiver of an obligation to pay child support. Why? Because that’s not how child support works.

23 09 '24

So you want 50/50 custody Pt. 1 (A Blog Series)

It’s been long understood that children benefit from having married parents. Studies show that overall, these children tend to be better supported financially, do better in school, have lower rates if risk-taking behaviors, and tend to be more accomplished as adults, which leads most laypeople to assume that, naturally, separated and/or divorced parents should have equal custody of the minor child(ren), if the courts are doing their job right. Afterall, the US has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent homes, so isn’t 50/50 the closest possible thing to a traditional parental arrangement and thereby in the child’s best interest?

Well, the California courts don’t see it that way.

09 07 '24

Domestic Violence and California Recording Laws

As family law attorneys, one of our most important tasks is proving our client’s claims of abuse sufficiently enough to persuade the family courts. There are several means to accomplish this, usually in the form of photographs of injuries or property destruction, screenshots of abusive texts or emails, medical records, police reports, and occasionally witness testimony. Another consideration is the usability of recorded materials.

In 2024, everyone has a phone, and if you have a phone, you have a camera. If we can upload every facet of our mundane lives to social media, surely then we can record incidents of abuse or violence, and apply them to the critical purpose requesting orders for our own protection.

Well, it’s not that simple.

16 05 '24

I don’t know if I can afford legal representation.

Attorneys can be expensive, no way to sugar-coat that. But in addition to expensive, a solid attorney is often invaluable to your interests in a family law case. California law is complex and constantly changing, and the only way to set yourself up for success is to have a team advocating for you who know the law and how it works for or against your desired divorce outcome. THE ZHOU LAW GROUP APC is proud to be that team.

But how can I afford it, aside from my independent income? There are ways! Read more

16 05 '24

A Matter of Public Record

The recent rap rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has social media and the music industry buzzing with allegations of family dysfunction, secret children, and “deadbeat” parents. As family law attorneys based in the entertainment and technology hub of California, we know that fame and fortune can turn private matters into fodder for tabloids and internet audiences if not handled with confidentiality and care. We also know that one person’s “diss track” is another person’s painful and complicated reality.

Fortunately, there are several protections the law may offer those who are trying to avoid publicity or embarrassment. Read more

02 05 '24

I think my spouse is hiding money or assets. What can be done?

Unfortunately, an ugly truth of divorce is that the actions of a dishonest spouse can make the impending end of a marriage even more stressful than it already is. The California Code of Civil Procedure is very clear that married persons have a fiduciary duty to one another and that both divorcing parties, with very few exceptions, are required to participate in full and transparent financial disclosure as a matter of legal procedure before the Court will even think to enter a Judgment of Dissolution. The California courts have created a disclosure process which, when used honestly and diligently by the divorcees, is very effective in moving a case toward fair and informed property division via a series of completed forms and document attachments.

Many can attest, however, that not every party will engage in the disclosure process in good faith. Read more

01 05 '24

How can a family law attorney protect me from domestic violence?

On January 16, 2024, CBS News reported that the body of 40-year old Yingying “Dawn” Yu, reported missing on January 8, 2024, may have been found in the Santa Cruz mountains. Her husband has since been arrested in connection with her murder. Obviously, California is no exception to the known epidemic of domestic violence taking place in America. In consideration of this sad fact, the California courts have given family law attorneys tools with which to try to combat domestic violence via the use of restraining orders. We are all familiar with the term, but what exactly is a “restraining order” and how do we utilize them to protect our clients and free them from a cycle of abuse? Read more