One of just 12 California lawyers dual-certified in both family and appellate law, Lisa McCall has an unusually clear view of how family trial work plays out on appeal. Lisa shares the record‑killing mistakes family lawyers often make.

And with 14 published opinions, Lisa shares about publish-worthy issues and her work on the amicus committee at the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists to clarify the law.

We also discuss recent changes to domestic violence laws, and to the statement of decision procedures.

Key points:

• Statements of decision: Request early. Starting January 2027, you must request a statement of decision before submission—make it the last line of closing—or you lose it. Objections drop to a 10‑day window, and judgments must be prepared within 30 days. (CCP §§ 632, 634).
• 3044 findings: miss them, you lose. Missing written findings on the Family Code section 3044 domestic‑violence custody presumption is treated as a structural error—one of the rare spots where a procedural miss virtually guarantees reversal.
• Offers of proof: get them on paper. When a judge excludes evidence and won’t hear oral offers of proof, preserve the issue with written offers explaining what the evidence would have shown, like in Marriage of Burmeister.
• Smart motions in limine in family court. Broad “exclude everything” motions go nowhere; targeted motions to enforce prior orders or strip out legally improper recommendations are where motions in limine earn their keep.

If your family law case has even a shot at the Court of Appeal, don’t walk into your next hearing blind—listen to this episode first.