How to Save Money on Your Divorce in California

Divorce doesn’t have to drain your bank account. While some expenses are unavoidable, there are smart, proactive ways to cut unnecessary costs. If you’re wondering how to save money on your divorce in California, the key is preparation, communication, and choosing your battles wisely.

Here are practical tips that can make a real difference, which are summarized from an article published by the  California Lawyers Association – 9 Secrets to Keeping Attorney’s Fees and Costs Low in a Divorce.

Get Organized Early

One of the biggest sources of legal expense is time—specifically, your attorney’s time. If your lawyer has to chase down documents, clarify facts, or organize your records, you’re paying them for work you could’ve done yourself.

What you can do:

  • Gather and label all financial documents early: tax returns, pay stubs, bank records, loan information, retirement accounts, etc.

  • Complete your Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (PDD) thoroughly.

  • Deliver information in digital formats (PDFs), and group documents by category to avoid confusion.

Use Your Attorney for Strategy—Not Emotional Support

Divorce is emotional—but venting to your lawyer is expensive. Attorneys are trained to help you with legal strategy, not therapy. If you treat them like a counselor, you’ll rack up hours quickly.

What you can do:

  • Limit phone calls and emails to necessary legal topics.

  • Keep notes during the week and send one consolidated email instead of multiple small ones.

  • Turn to friends, support groups, or licensed counselors for emotional processing.

Be Honest and Transparent

If you hide assets or aren’t upfront with your attorney, you’ll likely pay more in the long run. Delays, court orders, and additional motions to correct misinformation will cost you time, stress, and legal fees.

What you can do:

  • Give your attorney the full picture—even if it’s uncomfortable.

  • Disclose all income, assets, debts, and liabilities from the start.

  • Don’t make your attorney spend hours fixing problems you created by omission.

Pick Your Battles

Litigating every disagreement will destroy your budget. Not everything is worth fighting over—especially if the legal fees outweigh the value of the issue.

What you can do:

  • Focus on long-term goals (like custody arrangements and major assets), not minor grievances.

  • Let go of the idea of “winning” everything.

  • Ask yourself: “Will this matter in five years?”

Consider Mediation or Settlement Options

Going to trial is the most expensive route. Many divorces can be resolved through mediation, settlement conferences, or attorney-to-attorney negotiations.

What you can do:

  • Stay open to compromise where possible.

  • Explore alternatives to litigation early.

  • Let your attorney know you’re committed to resolving things efficiently and fairly.

Respond Promptly to Attorney Requests

When your attorney asks for documents or answers, every delay adds cost. Late responses may force your lawyer to send reminders, draft extensions, or scramble to meet deadlines—all billable work.

What you can do:

  • Respond to requests within 48–72 hours.

  • Be proactive—ask your attorney what will be needed next so you can prepare ahead of time.

Review Your Billing Statements

Law firms typically provide itemized invoices showing how time is spent. Reviewing these can help you understand where your money is going—and where you might trim future costs.

What you can do:

  • Ask for clarification if you don’t understand a billing item.

  • Flag repeat patterns that may indicate inefficiencies (e.g., rework due to missing info).

  • Make changes in how you communicate or prepare to avoid repeated charges.

Use Discovery Strategically

Discovery can be one of the most expensive stages of divorce, especially if it involves formal interrogatories, document production, or subpoenas. But it can also be managed efficiently with your help.

What you can do:

  • Respond to discovery fully and on time.

  • Organize documents clearly so your attorney doesn’t waste time sorting them.

  • Let your attorney know if you suspect the other party isn’t disclosing something, so they can tailor requests.

For more on how clients can support the discovery process, check out this guide to responding to discovery.

Choose Experienced Legal Counsel

Hiring the right attorney is one of the smartest ways to maximize efficiency in your divorce. If you hire someone inexperienced, you’re not just paying for legal work—you may be paying to educate them along the way. And if your attorney delegates to staff who aren’t properly trained, you could end up paying twice: once for the associate to figure it out, and again for the senior attorney to review or fix it. Working with experienced legal counsel from the beginning leads to better strategy, fewer errors, and faster results. At the Law Offices of David Knecht, our team brings decades of focused family law experience to every case. Contact us today at (707) 451-4502 to schedule your consultation.

Other Resources on Saving Money in Divorce

Looking for more tips and tricks to reduce the financial strain of divorce? These trusted financial resources offer helpful guidance:

Combining sound legal guidance with proactive financial steps is the best way to move forward with confidence—and without overspending.

Find an Experienced Family Law Attorney to Maximize Efficiency

If you’re looking for how to save money on your divorce in California, the best advice is this: be honest, be efficient, and let your attorney focus on what they do best—legal strategy. With the right preparation and mindset, you can protect your financial future without overpaying for the process.

Need a trusted legal team to help you through divorce without breaking the bank? Contact the Law Offices of David Knecht at (707) 451-4502 to schedule a consultation.

Recent Celebrity Divorces Part 2

If you are splitting up with a significant other, you are probably going through a range of emotions, and learning about others going through the same challenges can help you navigate and deal with your divorce or break up. This article is Part 2 of a list of famous couples who have split up in the last year. See https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g44441257/celebrity-break-ups-divorces/.

Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Jackman.

  • The divorce announcement shocked many Hugh Jackman fans because they were separating after 27 years of marriage.
  • They met in 1995 and got married a year later. They share two children.
  • Hugh is 13 years younger than Deborrah-lee.
  • In a joint statement they attributed the split to a journey now “shifting” and said they wanted to pursue their individual growth.

Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied.

  • Reports of their split surfaced in August 2023 when Natalie was spotted without her wedding ring.
  • They met in 2009 while working on the movie Black Swan, and were married 11 years.
  • They share two children: son, Aleph 12, and daughter Amalia, 6.

Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello.

Ariana Grande and Dalton Gomez.

  • TMZ reported that they have been separated since January 2024.
  • They married in secret in 2021.

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner.

  • News broke in May of 2023 that Christing had filed for divorce.
  • They had been married for almost 19 years, so the divorce was highly publicized.
  • They have two sons and a daughter.
  • Kevin is reportedly staying positive in spite of the messy split. See https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kevin-costner-kept-positive-outlook-143455880.html

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

Divorce is never easy for anyone, but we are experienced family law attorneys ready to take away the stress and fear you may feel when facing the divorce process. At the Law Office of David Knecht, we have extensive experience in family law and can help you understand and litigate your California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502.

Recent Celebrity Divorces Part 1

If you are considering divorce or currently in the process, you may be wondering what famous couples are also in your same boat. This article will list five famous couples who have split up in the last year, and some of them may surprise you. See https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/g44441257/celebrity-break-ups-divorces/.

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka.

  • They were together seven years.
  • Mariah is 54 and Bryan is 40, and they are said to have attributed the divorce to their different stages in life, where he wants to start a family, and she is in a different place.
  • Mariah shares twelve year old twins with her ex-husband Nick Cannon, and Bryan does not have his own children.

Cardi B and Offset.

  • The couple got together in 2017 and were secretly married thereafter.
  • Both 31 years old.
  • They share two children, ages 5 and 2.
  • Cardi confirmed in an Instagram story that she has been single “for a minute now” after fans noticed that the couple had unfollowed each other.

Meryl Streep and Don Gummer.

  • Meryl and Don were married in 1978.
  • They share four children, with the youngest age 32.
  • They have reportedly been separated for more than six years, but the long separation was only recently announced by a spokesperson in October of 2023.

Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith.

Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas.

  • They were married in 2019.
  • They released a joint statement in September 2023 confirming that they had mutually decided to amicably end their marriage.
  • They share two daughters.

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

If you are considering divorce or if you need representation, we are here for you. At the Law Office of David Knecht, we have extensive experience in family law and can help you understand and litigate your California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502.

 Psychological Evaluation in a California Divorce, Part 2

If a divorce involves children, then a court or a parent may request a Child Custody Evaluation, which is also known as a 730 Evaluation. In our previous article, we explain more about the custody evaluation process and the various data collection methods. This article will focus on the psychological testing portion, in particular the commonly used test, the MMPI-2. Today we will identify some of the red flags that the MMPI-2 is seeking to test for, but with the caveat that one of the flags that the test is supposed to identify is honesty in answers. 

Thus, this article gives information on some of the factors that are tested, but for most people, the best practice is to answer all questions as honestly as possible and not try to “beat the test,” since the test is trying to measure for people who are gaming it. This article is a very generalized summary of a complex test, so the information is intended only for general educational purposes and not as a guide on how to take the test. The source for this article can be found here: https://psychtest.net/mmpi-test-result/.  

What is the MMPI-2?

  • MMPI-2 stands for Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. 
  • It is a 500+ questionnaire of true and false questions that individuals answer for themselves, and the responses help mental health professionals evaluate symptoms of mental illness or personality disorders. 

What were the recommendations explained in more detail in the first article?

  • Answer all of the questions, do not be surprised to see health related questions as this test is not used exclusively for divorce cases. Do not try to trick the test by answering all true or all false. Be aware that the test may have the same or similar questions early and later in the test to try to flag people who are answering inconsistently. 

 Psychopathic Deviate Testing. 

  • Some questions are designed to identify people who are impulsive, strive for immediate gratification, are impatient, easily frustrated, have poor judgment, high risk-taking, are self-centered and selfish. The psychopathic deviate has a paradigm of using others for their own purposes.  

 Paranoia. 

  • Some of the questions are designed to flag people who show psychotic behavior, disturbed thinking, delusions of persecution, or ideas of grandeur. They look for people who are impulsive, impatient, have poor judgment and risk taking and who feel mistreated and picked on, angry and resentful, who harbor grudges and use projection as a defense. 

 Other flags to watch for:

  • Anxiety – sleep difficulties, worries, poor concentration.
  • Fears – many specific fears such as blood, germs, high places animals, natural disasters, etc. 
  • Obsessiveness – difficulty making decisions, counting a lot, saving unimportant things, worrying a lot, being overwhelmed easily. 
  • Depression – depressive thoughts, feeling sad, being uninterested and uncertain in the future, being unhappy, crying easily, feeling hopeless and empty. Thoughts of suicide or wishing they were dead. Thinking people have unpardonable sins. 
  • Health concerns – many physical systems across several body systems.
  • Bizarre Mentation – any type of hallucination, feeling plotted against, thinking someone is trying to poison them. Thinking they have special powers or a special mission.
  • Anger – hothead, impatient, grouchy, feeling like being violent. 
  • Cynicism – expecting the worst of others, thinking people are not trustworthy, generally negative attitudes about people.
  • Antisocial practices – behavior problems in the past, trouble with the law, belief that it is ok to break the law. 

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

At the Law Office of David Knecht, we are very familiar with the custody evaluation process and the psychological testing aspect of the 730 Evaluation. We have extensive experience in family law. We can help you feel confident in achieving your goals in a California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 

How to Beat the Mind Games Narcissists Play in a California Divorce, Part 2

Does this sound familiar? You thought being married to a narcissist was all mind games, until only to sadly realize that divorce they are worse in a divorce! The process only amps up your ex’s fervor to gaslight you, blame you and play the victim!  In a previous article, we discussed strategies to combat those tactics, and this article is part two of this exploration on how to identify the mind games narcissists play and how to fight back.

Manipulative Bargaining.

  • Narcissists use manipulative tactics such as threats or emotional blackmail to gain advantage in divorce negotiations. 
  • Combat this tactic by consulting with an experienced family attorney before making any decisions relating to finances, custody arrangements or settlement. Your attorney can analyze your specific circumstances to help you assess what is reasonable and what is ridiculous, and the knowledge can be very powerful in helping you avoid being manipulated. 

 Financial Abuse.

  • Narcissists use money as a weapon to exert control and gain power over the other person, which can include hiding assets, depleting joint accounts, or otherwise using money against you. 
  • Combat this tactic with evidence and organization. As soon as possible, and before filing if you are still contemplating a divorce, document everything. Know where every asset is. Screenshot or save evidence of where the money is located and how much is there. Consult your attorney about any specific strategies that may be used to prevent financial abuse in your situation.

  Parental alienation. 

  • This game is one of the hardest to cope with, as the narcist attempts to undermine the relationship between you and your child, perhaps with lies, false accusations, or subtle behaviors to manipulate your children’s perception. 
  • Combat this tactic by focusing only on you are your children, which is very, very difficult. The more you love your children, and give them your time, attention and devotion, the stronger your bond with them will be. Have confidence that will days, months and years, your love and kindness to your children will be recognized and the manipulations of your ex will be revealed to them. 

 Legal bullying and Smear Campaigns.  

  • Narcissists commonly engage in legal bullying with excessive litigation for control and intimidation to harass you, drain your financial and emotional resources, and prolong the divorce. They engage in smear campaigns of false information or rumors to try to get people to turn against you or to gain advantage in the divorce. Their goal is to exhaust you into giving up. 
    • Combat this tactic with an experienced divorce attorney. If you find someone who regularly practices family law, then they will likely have forms and experience to leverage to reduce the cost and help you stay strong and fight back against legal bullying. 

 Boundary violations.

  • Narcissists tend to ignore boundaries by invading your space, accessing your confidential information or attempting to control you in other ways. 
  • Combat this technique with effective planning, deciding ahead of time what your boundaries are, and enforcing them. Protect your personal information with new passwords or other safeguards. Put communications in writing to create a paper trail. You may even need to arrange for third parties to be present as witnesses or protection if you anticipate that an event or an exchange will be highly confrontational.  

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

Dealing with a narcissist is typically challenging, but at the Law Office of David Knecht, we have extensive experience in family and understand the tactics used by narcists to manipulate you and to try to manipulate the legal system. We will help you fight these tactics and successfully navigate the challenges of your California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 

 

How to Beat the Mind Games Narcissists Play in a California Divorce

If you married a narcissist, you might think that a divorce would release you from the trap of all the mind games, but your divorce litigation might be the perfect playground for a narcissist to get under your skin. This article will summarize five strategies to successfully navigate the challenges of divorcing a narcissist.

Gaslighting

  • Narcissists often distort the facts and events and distort their own behavior. 
  • Combat this tactic with evidence. Save videos, texts, emails and other hard evidence that corroborate your version of the facts. 

Blameshifting

  • A common tactic used by narcissists is to blame others for their own faults or for things that are beyond anyone’s control. 
  • Combat this tactic by ignoring the noise. The battlegrounds of a divorce are typically children and money, and the ex-spouse’s blame for issues relating to the marriage are largely irrelevant and a tactic to try to get you to react in a way that takes away your peace or logic to fight the important battles. For this reason, an effective way to beat this game is often to tune it out. 

Victimhood. 

  • If you have lived with a narcissist for very long, you are probably used to their victim mentality. They try to get sympathy or support from others by portraying themselves as innocent. 
  • Combat this tactic by being confident in your own self and standing your ground with friends and family. Think through a clear, strong and short message about why you are getting a divorce and how your position is fair and stick with that short and to the point story. Do not allow the narcissist to draw you into a spiral of guilt in your own mind, or a dithering story to others. 

Triangulation. 

  • A narcissist will often try to introduce a third party into the situation to gain support. This could be a family member, friend, religious leader or even one of your children. 
  • Combat this tactic by gently but firmly asking the third party to stay out of the divorce. Effective communication is key to helping others understand why their input is not helpful and can actually be harmful to the resolution of your divorce. 

 Hoovering. 

  • Hoovering is deliberately manipulative behavior intended to pull a person back into a cycle of abuse. This can play out with affirmations of love, excessive flattery (often known as love bombing), and promises to change. 
  • Combat this tactic by becoming whole in yourself so that you do not need the narcissist’s false love. Get therapy, focus on a new hobby, dedicate more time to friends and family, or set goals for exercise. Do whatever helps you become a satisfied and complete person who is not susceptible to fake overtures of affection.

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

At the Law Office of David Knecht, we understand that divorcing a narcissist can be extremely challenging emotionally and complex legally, but we will help you fight these tactics and successfully navigate the challenges of your California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 

 Psychological Evaluation in a California Divorce, Part 1

If a divorce involves children, then a court or a parent may request a Child Custody Evaluation, which is also known as a 730 Evaluation. A custody evaluation can consist of interviews with the parent and the children, psychological testing of the parents of the children, interviews with interested third parties such a teachers or babysitters, and a review of relevant documents, such as court records or criminal history.  The evaluator makes recommendations to the court about what is in the best interest of the children based on the totality of the data collected and reviewed. 

There are a variety of psychological tests that can be administered, but the MMPI-2 is commonly used in California.  This article will focus on the psychological testing portion, in particular the commonly used test, the MMPI-2. It is a true/false paper test that is used to assess a parent’s mental fitness and ability to parent effectively.  

Thus, this article gives information on some of the factors that are tested, but for most people, the best practice is to answer all questions as honestly as possible and not try to “beat the test,” since the test is trying to measure for people who are gaming it. This article is a very generalized summary of a complex test, so the information is not legal advice and should be used only for general educational purposes and not as a guide on how to take the test. 

What is the MMPI-2?

  • MMPI-2 stands for Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. 
  • It is a 500+ questionnaire of true and false questions that individuals answer for themselves, and the responses help mental health professionals evaluate symptoms of mental illness or personality disorders. 

Answer all of the questions. 

  • If you do not answer all of the questions, this is a red flag for this type of test. If you fail to answer a substantial number, then the test may not even be valid. 

 Do not be surprised to see health related questions. 

  • This test is not used exclusively for divorce, and it is also commonly used for personal injury or disability claims. For that reason, there are a number of health-related questions that may seem irrelevant to a divorce but be sure to answer them. 

 Do not try to trick the test by answering all false or all true. 

  • For other types of tests, a strategy might be to answer all the questions as true of all the questions as false. This strategy will not work for the MMPI-2, and answering all the questions one way is a big red flag for this test that you are trying to game the system. 

 Be consistent throughout the test in your answers. 

  • The test measures consistency, so do not be surprised to see the same or similar questions early in the test and later on. The purpose of this is to see whether you are consistent in your answers. Be aware that inconsistency may be measured as dishonesty. 

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

At the Law Office of David Knecht, we are very familiar with the custody evaluation process and the psychological testing aspect of the 730 Evaluation. We have extensive experience in family law. We can help you feel confident in achieving your goals in a California divorce. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 

Navigating Divorce During the Holidays: How to Help Your Kids

Whether you are in the middle or a divorce or whether it is now final, the holidays can be a difficult time for the children, and statistics have shown that divorce can be challenging for children emotionally.

This article will share strategies for how a parent can support children emotionally during the holidays to create new happy memories and traditions.

Be more generous and compromising than usual. 

  • We celebrate good will during the holidays, and this provides an opportunity for you to be more compromising with your ex than usual. 
  • Try to be flexible in scheduling so that the children can have contact with both parents. 
  • Avoid putting children in a bind where they feel they have to be loyal to one parent or the other. 
  • Cultivate a mindset of positivity during this time, so that actions from the other parent do not ruin your own mood, so that you can create positivity for your children.
  • Be positive about the other parent’s gifts and events.   

Plan ahead. 

  • Planning in advance is key to creating a positive holiday experience. 
  • Schedule in advance so that you can prepare your children with proper expectations. 
  • Work with the other parent on the gifts so that there are not duplicates. 
  • Avoid competing for gifts by perhaps coordinating with the other parent on a potential budget if the other parent is open to that idea. 

Communicate with your children. 

  • Communication is key with children of all ages. 
  • Discuss with your children some of their hopes or goals for the holidays. 
  • Include your children in the planning. 
  • Brainstorm ideas with your children on how to think of others during the holiday season. 
  • Perhaps even help your children plan a gift for the other parent. 

Contact an Experienced Divorce Attorney

At the Law Office of David Knecht, we understand the challenges that divorced families face, and we can help you with any aspect of your family law case. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 



Divorce and Holidays: How to Help Yourself Enjoy the Season

The holidays are supposed to be a time of celebration, but they can be a challenging trigger if you are going through a divorce. There is no time of year where self-care is more important than the holiday season, and if you have children, see our companion article to this one about helping your children successfully navigate the holidays as well.

This article will suggest ideas originally shared in a post on PsychologyToday.com to help you take back the power and enjoy the season in spite of the challenges you face, and the memories that may be painful

Recognize your emotions and talk them out. 

  • Accept your feelings and do not feel like you have to bear them alone. Find a family member, friend or therapist to listen to you and provide support. 

Make a plan and do not isolate yourself. 

  • If you do not have your children, find something to do that will make you happy. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, support a charity, or donate your time or money to a cause. Devoting yourself to others and being busy in something bigger than yourself will help you heal. 

 Put your legal process aside, if possible

  • The legal battles of a divorce can be a heavy weight, so if possible lay this burden down for the holidays and pick it back up again in January.

 

 Focus on health. 

  • Taking care of your body will help you take care of your soul. Eat good foods, take a walk, dance around the living room. Avoid drowning your sorrows in alcohol, drugs or other behaviors that might temporarily numb your pain, but ultimately not give you lasting satisfaction.

 Consider your purpose

  • The holidays are a good time to reflect on family and friends and to ponder what your purpose is in life. Take time to think long term and set goals and hopes for your post-divorce life. 

Contact an Experienced Estate Divorce Attorney

Self-care is essential during the divorce litigation and after the divorce is final. At the Law Office of David Knecht, we understand the stress and concern that a divorce can bring to the parties and the families, and we want to help you successfully navigate this challenging time in your life. We have helped thousands of clients, and we want to be here for you. Contact us today at 707-451-4502. 

California Divorce: Next Chapters in Kevin Costner Divorce Case

If divorce is in your present or near future, the legal challenges that have arisen in the divorce between Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner may provide helpful insight into issues that you may face in your own divorce.  This article will provide highlights from this Hollywood divorce that give insight into discovery issues, child support arguments, tactics and testimony for evidentiary hearings on child support matters. 

Kevin and Christine have discovery issues.

  • As reported by People.com, discovery propounded by Christine demanded information from Costner on “expenses paid by you, or any person at your request or on your behalf, relating to any extramarital romantic relationships.” 
  • Kevin objected that the discovery was “propounded only for the purpose of harassment, is overbroad as to time period and subject matter, burdensome, oppressive and impermissibly compound.”
  • Kevin objected on the basis of relevance, with the reasoning that there was no community property.
  • After making the objections, Kevin’s legal team responded that he had no responsive documents for “extramarital romantic relationships” in which he engaged, because he engaged in none. 

Christine and Kevin had a child support hearing. 

  • Christine sought $161,592 in child support, but she did not prevail and after a two-day hearing, Kevin was ordered to pay $63,209 per month. 
  • Kevin offered $75,000 a month prior to the hearing, but Christine declined and wanted the judge to decide.  

Both Kevin and Christine testified at the evidentiary hearing about child support.

  • Christine’s attorney argued that the lifestyle the three children have grown accustomed to “is in their DNA at this point.”
  • Christine explained how a decrease in financial status would affect their kids because the ocean is their home and the surf garage at Kevin’s home is 50 steps from “toes in the water.”
  • Kevin testified that while he would not want to live in the $40,000 a month property that Christine is currently rented, he explained that it was not because it wasn’t comparable to his home, but because he raised three children in his home and “their hands are in the stone.”

Contact an Experienced California Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be challenging for the parties and children involved, but having an experienced divorce attorney by your side can help reduce your anxieties and give you confidence that you will not be taken advantage of by the person you once trusted, your former spouse. At the Law Office of David Knecht, we are here to help you! We understand the mental and financial challenges that you will face, and we will use our extensive experience with family law to help support you and walk you through the legal challenges. Contact us today at 707-451-4502.