California family law updates in 2026 continue to affect how cases are handled across the state. California family law is not static. The Legislature regularly amends the Family Code, courts issue significant published decisions that shape how the law is applied, and procedural changes at individual courthouses affect how cases move through the system. Staying current on these developments is part of what experienced family law practitioners do — and what separates comprehensive representation from outdated advice. Here is a summary of key California family law developments in 2026 that may affect your case.
Child Support Guideline Income Thresholds
The California child support guideline formula under Family Code §4055 incorporates income figures that courts review periodically. The statewide uniform guideline applies to all California child support proceedings, and accurate income figures — including proper treatment of self-employment income, bonuses, commissions, rental income, and imputed income — continue to be the most contested element of support calculations. If you have an existing support order that was set several years ago and either parent's income has changed significantly, 2026 may be an appropriate time to seek a modification under Family Code §3651.
Domestic Violence Presumption — Ongoing Judicial Training
Family Code §3044 creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding sole or joint physical or legal custody to a parent who has perpetrated domestic violence against the other parent or the children within the previous five years. California courts have continued to receive judicial training on the application of this presumption, and judicial officers across the state have become increasingly consistent in applying it rigorously when domestic violence findings are made. If domestic violence is a factor in your custody case — whether you are a survivor or have been accused — understanding how §3044 operates in your specific courthouse is critical.
Menifee Justice Center — Second Full Year of Operations
The Menifee Justice Center, which replaced the Hemet Courthouse for family law, civil, and small claims matters in July 2024, is now in its second full year of operations. The courthouse's five family law departments have established consistent calendaring practices, and practitioners who appear regularly before its judicial officers have developed familiarity with departmental preferences and local procedures. Furubotten Law, APC has been practicing at the Menifee Justice Center since its opening and is current on its local practices.
Remote Appearances in Family Law Proceedings
California courts, including Orange County family law courts and Riverside County family law courts, continue to offer remote appearance options for certain non-evidentiary hearings under Local Rule 5161 and statewide court rules. The availability of remote appearances has become a permanent feature of California family law practice, allowing parties and counsel to appear by video for status conferences, uncontested continuances, and certain routine hearings without traveling to the courthouse. For evidentiary hearings — those involving testimony and exhibits — in-person appearance generally remains required.
Understanding which hearings can be handled remotely and which require personal appearance is a practical matter that our firm navigates daily. Remote appearance availability varies by courthouse and by the nature of the hearing, and improper election of remote appearance can result in a missed hearing with serious consequences for a pending case.
High-Asset Divorce and Cryptocurrency
California courts continue to develop their approach to cryptocurrency and digital assets in divorce proceedings. Under Family Code §760, cryptocurrency accumulated during the marriage is community property subject to equal division, regardless of which spouse's wallet it is held in. The valuation date for cryptocurrency — which can be highly volatile — and the methods for ensuring full disclosure of digital assets continue to evolve. Our firm has handled cases involving Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrency holdings in divorce proceedings and understands the forensic and valuation issues involved.
Spousal Support and Tax Considerations
The federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 fundamentally changed the tax treatment of spousal support for divorce agreements executed after December 31, 2018. Under current federal law, spousal support paid under agreements executed after that date is neither deductible by the payor nor includable in the recipient's taxable income. This change affects the economics of spousal support negotiations significantly — the after-tax cost to the payor is higher, and the after-tax value to the recipient is lower, than under the prior regime. California's conformity to federal tax law on this issue means the same treatment applies at the state level.
For existing orders entered before the 2019 change and agreements modified after that date, the tax treatment depends on whether the modification expressly adopts the new rules. Navigating the intersection of family law and tax law in spousal support cases requires careful attention and, in high-income cases, coordination with a tax professional.
Parenting Plan Technology Provisions
As children's lives become increasingly digital, parenting plans must address technology use, social media, and online communication. Courts and practitioners in 2026 are increasingly incorporating provisions addressing each parent's access to the child's school portals and medical records portals, parental controls and screen time limits, communication between the child and each parent by phone and video, and the use of co-parenting apps for scheduling and communication. Our firm incorporates technology provisions into parenting plans as a matter of course.
Contact Furubotten Law, APC
Furubotten Law, APC stays current on every development in California family law that affects our clients. With offices in Huntington Beach and Murrieta, we serve Orange County, the Southwest Justice Center jurisdiction in Temecula and Murrieta, and the Menifee Justice Center jurisdiction in mid-county Riverside County. Call (714) 795-3862 to schedule a complimentary case evaluation and discuss how current California family law applies to your specific situation.