How to Effectively Use CEB Practice Guides in Family Law Cases

In the high-stakes, emotionally charged world of family law, thorough preparation and clear legal strategy are critical. California family law practitioners must juggle ever-evolving statutes, nuanced case law, and the deeply personal circumstances of their clients. In this context, trusted, up-to-date legal resources aren’t just helpful—they’re essential.

CEB Practice Guides have long been a mainstay of legal research for California attorneys, and for good reason. Written by seasoned practitioners and judges, these guides provide authoritative, practice-oriented insight that combines black-letter law with real-world application. But the true value of CEB Practice Guides lies not just in their availability—but in how effectively you use them.

Whether you’re drafting a marital settlement agreement, litigating a custody dispute, or navigating complex spousal support issues, here’s how to leverage CEB Practice Guides to streamline your work, strengthen your strategy, and stay ahead of the curve in California family law practice.

Start with the Right Title

CEB offers an extensive library of family law titles, each designed to tackle a specific segment of practice. Choosing the right guide for the issue at hand allows you to work more efficiently and with greater confidence.

Consider these cornerstone titles:

1. Practice Under the California Family Code: Dissolution, Legal Separation, Nullity – A foundational guide that walks you through every stage of the dissolution process, with in-depth coverage of procedure, jurisdiction, and pleadings.
2. California Marital Settlement and Other Family Law Agreements – Critical for drafting and negotiating enforceable agreements, with detailed clauses and commentary.
3. California Child and Spousal Support: Establishing, Modifying, and Enforcing – A practical resource for understanding support calculations, enforcement tools, and modification standards.
4. California Child Custody Litigation and Practice – Ideal for navigating custody disputes, mediation strategies, and court evaluations, with helpful guidance on child-focused plans.
5. Family Law Financial Discovery – Focused entirely on discovery in family law matters, this guide helps streamline requests, analyze disclosures, and manage compliance.
6. Dividing Pensions and Other Employee Benefits in California Divorces – A must-have when dealing with complex retirement and compensation structures.
7. Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Family Law – Useful for clients dealing with trusts, inheritance, or capacity issues in the family law context.
8. California Juvenile Dependency Practice – Designed for attorneys handling dependency cases, this guide provides insight into timelines, reunification plans, and court procedure.

These titles are purpose-built, making it easy to zero in on the guide most aligned with your case’s procedural posture or legal complexity.

Use the Table of Contents and Index Strategically

CEB guides are meticulously structured, making it easy to drill down into specific issues. The detailed tables of contents allow you to locate relevant sections quickly—whether you’re researching evidentiary objections at trial or outlining the steps to file a Request for Order (RFO).

The indexes are keyword-rich, helping you locate content by topic, code section, or procedural posture. Searching by Family Code section, for example, will direct you to all relevant discussions and interpretations of that provision throughout the guide.

Pro tip: Use the digital version’s search function (available via OnLaw Pro) to scan across entire publications for case citations, motion types, or procedural timelines.

Stay Current with Case Law and Statutory Updates

CEB Practice Guides are regularly updated to reflect changes in California statutes, court rules, and appellate decisions. In an area like family law—where legislative updates and case law developments frequently shift procedural and substantive standards—this currency is essential.

Each updated volume includes:

1. Summaries of key cases with analysis of their practical implications.
2. Red-lined changes (in digital versions) so you can see what’s new at a glance.
3. Alerts to pending or recent legislative changes, particularly relevant for areas like support guidelines, domestic violence protections, and parentage issues.

Make it a practice to consult the most recent edition or online update before drafting or advising on any matter.

Bridge the Gap Between Courtroom and Counsel Table

Whether you’re preparing for a status conference, evidentiary hearing, or full-blown custody trial, CEB Practice Guides can help you think like the court. The guides offer:

1. Judicial perspectives on evidentiary rulings, settlement conferences, and common procedural errors.
2. Guidance on judicial expectations for proposed parenting plans, support justifications, and the use of expert witnesses.
3. Insights into local practice variations—especially helpful for attorneys working across multiple counties.

This insight helps practitioners tailor their approach not just to the law, but to the preferences and patterns of the bench—a critical factor in family law cases where judicial discretion plays a major role.

Support Client Communication and Case Management

Explaining complex family law issues to clients—especially during emotionally fraught moments—can be one of the toughest parts of the job. CEB resources can help.

By using the plain-language summaries and charts in the guides, attorneys can:

1. Translate technical concepts like timeshare percentages, income attribution, or Gavron warnings into terms clients understand.
2. Set reasonable expectations based on real-world considerations and typical court approaches.
3. Create structured timelines and action plans using CEB’s checklists and procedural overviews.

These tools not only increase client satisfaction but also help manage risk by reducing the chances of misunderstanding or unrealistic demands.

Train Junior Associates and Staff

CEB Practice Guides are also excellent training resources for new attorneys, law clerks, and paralegals. Rather than relying on informal onboarding or scattered online searches, team members can use these guides to:

1. Understand the flow of a family law case from intake to final judgment.
2. Review form requirements and filing nuances specific to California practice.
3. Learn best practices in discovery, motion drafting, and client communication.

For solo or small firm practitioners, this can be a cost-effective way to maintain quality and consistency without dedicating extensive time to supervision.

Stay up to date with Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)

CEB provides a range of online services designed to enhance legal practice, including Practitioner, CEB’s all-in-one legal research solution with authoritative practice guides. Practitioner is meticulously crafted by California lawyers for California lawyers, providing comprehensive insights and resources tailored to your specific needs. All practice guides seamlessly integrate with CEB’s primary law research tool, empowering you to delve into California, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court case law, alongside California statutes and the California Constitution. As part of the Practitioner subscription, you gain access to DailyNews, ensuring you stay updated on any critical new cases or developments in your field. And don’t forget, Practitioner also includes TrueCite®, CEB’s powerful case law citator, enhancing your research efficiency and accuracy.

Our tools offer unparalleled support in case law research, legal analysis, and staying updated with the latest judicial decisions. By choosing CEB, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge, enabling you to navigate complex legal landscapes with confidence and precision.