Navigating the Rule of Court on Statements of Decision

When a family law trial is appealed, the most important document in the appellate court’s decision-making is the trial court’s statement of decision. Even experienced trial lawyers and bench officers get tangled in the web known as California Rule of Court 3.1590. Without a statement of decision – or one that adequately addresses the court’s factual findings and legal conclusions – the appellate court will construe all factual conflicts in favor of the judgment or order. This talk takes us through each subdivision of the rule and provides a roadmap of how best to navigate Rule 3.1590.