In many ways, Pasadena divorce settlements were easier to predict when married women were expected to sacrifice their careers in order to stay home with the children full time. Today, some married women work part time and some work full time. Some out earn their husbands and some have husbands who stay home to care for the children. This has turned the conventional wisdom associated with divorce on its head.
Today, the custody of children from the marriage is determined based upon their bests interests as determined by the judge. There is no longer a "Tender Years" doctrine saying that children under the age of 13 should automatically stay with their mother. A loving and involved father who wants to remain an active presence in his child's life has a legal right to continue to do so.
Alimony awards are much less common than they used to be, but a growing number of men are being awarded alimony. Alimony is based on whether or not one party requires financial support to become independent after the divorce. If a man was out of the workforce for the majority of his marriage and his wife had a high earning professional career, she could very well be required to pay alimony. The only possible exception would be if domestic violence was a factor in the decision to file for divorce.
One aspect of divorce settlements that hasn't changed over the years is that wedding and engagement rings are considered gifts from one spouse to the other. That means that a woman is entitled to keep her engagement ring and wedding ring after the divorce, even if the ring is valuable enough that it would be considered a significant marital asset. Some women choose to give their rings back to their ex, but they have no legal obligation to do so.
Although the Internet is a good source of general information regarding issues such as child custody, alimony, and the division of marital assets, it is best to discuss your concerns in detail with your Pasadena divorce lawyer to make sure you are getting information that is accurate for your specific circumstances.