Living With Your Ex Now Easier Than Ever With New California Law
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- In a rental and real estate market as expensive as the Bay Area's, who can afford to manage two households—especially after a divorce?
A new law makes it easier for separated spouses to live under one roof.
If you can stand to share an address with your former spouse, California law now allows you to do it while still extricating yourself financially from your ex. Attorney Arusyak Abrahamyan was happy to hear Governor Brown signed a new law overturning the Davis decision, because the high cost of living in the Bay Area looms so large over the divorcing couples she works with.
"Maybe Davis would work for smaller towns where the cost of living is not that expensive. but for a city like San Francisco where it takes two people having a full-time job to afford a rent or a mortgage payment, Davis was a bad idea."
Under the law taking effect in January, judges may consider a couple's behavior and declarations that the marriage is over in determining their official date of separation, regardless of address.
She has many clients who just can't afford to do otherwise, at least not at first. Abrahamyan believes the new law will especially help the partners who've left the work force to care for children transition to supporting themselves.
