CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW
...Procedure Before Trial/Hearing
......Bifurcation
.........Substantive Issues: Cases
5 Cards On This Topic:

"Appellate courts discussing the goals of bifurcation contemplate a ••final•• resolution of the bifurcated issues to aid in the later resolution of other issues."

Trial court's authority to regulate order of proof includes power to bifurcate key issues on own motion and try them first.

Bifurcation of key issues to facilitate settlement is encouraged.

Trial court encouraged to bifurcate key issues for early determination, to facilitate settlement.

Where resolution of key issue may preclude need for extensive discovery, better to bifurcate and resolve first.