The decision to become an emancipated minor is an important one and should be considered very carefully. There are three different ways to become emancipated in the state of California. [...]

Neither a wife nor a husband should be required to endure abuse from their spouse without a suitable means of retribution. On the other hand, a means of recovery within the traditional tort system can seriously affect the family unit, family financial resources, and could result in multiple interrelated court proceedings. [...]

Spouses may not legally contract for support between one another. There is a public policy interest in the formation and dissolution of marriage. California Civil Code requires each of the following: [...]

Under the common law doctrine of necessaries and in the absence of any contractual obligation on his part, a husband may be held liable to pay for necessary items purchased on credit by his wife. In an action for recovery of the value of necessaries supplied on credit to a wife, it is essential for the plaintiff-creditor to prove either that the husband has failed, refused or neglected to provide the items which have been supplied by the plaintiff-creditor, or that the items supplied were reasonably needed by the wife or the family. [...]

A wife may not seek a bill in equity to compel a husband to pay support and maintenance while the couple is still living together without asking for a divorce. To maintain an action in equity the parties must be separated or living apart from each other. [...]

The federal ERISA statute supersedes state laws relating to employee benefit plans. The ERISA act states very clearly that it shall supersede any and all state laws insofar as they relate to any employee benefit plan. [...]

The standard of what constitutes a single housekeeping unit must be functional and hence capable of being satisfied by either related or unrelated persons. The students ate together and shared household chores and paid expenses from a common fund. [...]

A man and a woman living together and sharing certain pleasures and responsibilities does not per se constitute a family. To have a family relationship there must be a commitment to a permanent relationship and a perceived reciprocal obligation to support and care for each other. [...]

The term “family” in the rent control provisions includes same sex life partners. A family includes two adult lifetime partners whose relationship is long term and characterized by an emotional and financial commitment and interdependence. [...]

A state has continuing jurisdiction to modify its own custody orders after a child and custodial parent have established residence in another state, provided the child has continuing contacts with the state that are more than slight, and one of the parents remains in the state. [...]