Talking Family Law With Specialist Lisa Helfend Meyer of Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers

Lisa Helfend Meyer of Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers has exclusively practiced family law for more than 30 years and is certified as a family law specialist by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She concentrates her practice on high-conflict child custody litigation, while also representing high net-worth individuals in complex dissolutions. Her clients include celebrities, professional athletes, and accomplished business executives.

Legal Leaders: Lisa, as a family law specialist, what do you believe are today’s most pressing family law issues?

Lisa Helfend Meyer: In California, budget cuts have impacted public courts statewide, closing down courtrooms and significantly increasing judges’ daily dockets. As a result, we’re seeing more
and more people deciding to use private judges.

LL: What are the benefits of using a private judge?

LHM: For starters, if you use the public court system, you could end up waiting all day for your case to be heard, and that becomes very expensive for clients when they’re paying professionals to wait around. Then there’s the confidentiality aspect; while using a private judge doesn’t mean your file is sealed, however, there’s less likelihood of the public hearing testimony in your case. Finally, you, along with opposing counsel, are able to select the judge who will decide the case, likely one who has years of experience with family law.

In addition to budget cuts, same-sex marriage is another national issue that is particularly relevant to California; how has the patchwork nature of state and federal laws impacted divorcing same-sex couples?

LHM: I’ve been practicing for a long time, and I think the law is finally starting to catch up with life’s realities. The law is becoming increasingly flexible in regard to giving non-biological parents—and therefore many same-sex parents—legal rights. And California now also has domestic partnerships. Still, I hope Proposition 8 is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court because same-sex couples deserve the same legal rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

Are there any other social changes that have affected divorce law?

LHM: The big one would be the rise of women in the workforce, which has had a significant impact on custody arrangements. In a blog post I wrote for The Huffington Post called “Child Custody and the Working Mom,” I discussed how, essentially, I’ve found that courts are awarding more time to dads in cases involving working moms. Since I equally represent men and women in my practice, I know that women with demanding careers often find this disheartening; however, the most important point to remember is that the custody arrangement should focus on what’s best for the children.

What are some strategies working moms can use to prepare for custody litigation?

LHM: I always advise parents to keep a journal of their schedule; that way, they can show their involvement with their child, when they travel, what their work hours are, and whether there’s flexibility in their schedule. We like to remind parties that you can’t just work at your job; you have to work at being a parent, too.

Looking beyond California, are there any emerging issues that could gain traction here?

LHM: In Florida, there’s a movement to eliminate lifetime alimony, and I find that really interesting because in California the rule of thumb is if you have a long-term marriage, you could conceivably receive support until death or remarriage. The law in California is both parents have an obligation to support their children and become self- supporting. Still, I don’t see the courts in this state ever eliminating permanent spousal support, particularly in Los Angeles County.

To be a great advocate and achieve the best decisions and settlements for your clients, you have to remain apprised of changes in the law and anticipate legal trends in and out of the courtroom.

At Meyer, Olson, Lowy & Meyers, we try to stay one step ahead of the judicial system and the legislature.