Family Law

2nd District Court of Appeal, Family Law

Marriage of Allen — Parents Cannot Contractually Waive Child-Support Arrearages, Even After the Children Reach the Age of Majority

automatic / February 6, 2026

Second District holds that California's prohibition on parental contractual waiver of child-support arrearages applies even after the children have reached the age of majority and there is no current support order in place.

1st District Court of Appeal, Civil Procedure, Family Law

Marriage of Starr — Date-of-Separation Allegation in Amended Petition Was Not a Binding Judicial Admission

automatic / January 22, 2026

First District reverses a trial-court order that bound a wife to the date of separation alleged in her amended dissolution petition, holding that allegation was not a judicial admission where the parties had treated a different date as in dispute throughout the litigation.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Family Law, Litigation

R.R. v. C.R. — Trial Court Erred by Applying Wrong Abuse Standard in Denying Domestic Violence Restraining Order Against Stalking Ex-Spouse

automatic / January 20, 2026

Second District reverses denial of a domestic violence restraining order, holding the trial court applied the wrong legal standard in evaluating whether the petitioner's ex-wife's conduct — repeated stalking, threats, and unwanted entries — constituted abuse under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.

2nd District Court of Appeal, Family Law, Litigation

In re Bella L. — DCFS’s Inquiry of Parents and Seven Paternal Relatives Was Substantively Adequate Under ICWA Even Without Asking the Paternal Grandfather

automatic / January 20, 2026

Second District applies In re Dezi C.'s substantial-evidence review and holds that DCFS's failure to interview the paternal grandfather did not undermine an ICWA inquiry that included both parents and seven other paternal relatives.