Four Holidays, One Nation
The “Holiday Season” is not a random sequence of celebrations. It is a cultural column of four events stacked vertically, each standing on the shoulders of the one before it. From Halloween to New Year’s, America climbs from the unknown to the familiar, from gratitude to intimacy, and finally to aspiration. Together, these events reveal […]
Practical steps for registering California divorce judgments abroad
California divorce judgments are binding and enforceable within the United Statesunder the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the U.S. Constitution and 28 U.S.C. Section 1738. However, when enforcement or recognition is sought abroad — for example, in the U.K., France, or Iran — the legal landscape changes entirely. Recognition becomes a matter of foreign […]
7 Metaphors That Transform Family Law Practice
This article introduces seven practical cultural metaphors that illuminate how cross-cultural misunderstandings arise in family court and how judges, attorneys, and mental-health professionals can more accurately interpret parties’ conduct, communication, and motivations. Drawing on decades of expert testimony and cultural-competency education, the author shows how metaphors such as the fish and the pond, the transparent […]
Pyramid of Power
This article analyzes the “pyramid of power” as a defining framework of authority and hierarchy within traditional Iranian families and explores how this structure shapes legal rights, obligations, and dispute-resolution outcomes under Iranian law and in California family-law litigation involving Iranian parties. The author explains the statutory and cultural foundations of patriarchal authority, the legal […]
Bridging Traditions
Bridging Traditions: Prenuptial Agreements and Mahr in Cross Cultural Marriages was first published in The Daily Journal on October 24, 2025 as part of Abbas Hadjian’s “Culturally Speaking” column. The main points of the article are: Hadjian, Abbas. (2025, Oct 24). Bridging Traditions: Prenuptial Agreements and Mahr in Cross Cultural Marriages. The Daily Journal. https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/388232-bridging-traditions-prenuptial-agreements-and-mahr-in-cross-cultural-marriages
Pyramid of Power
The concept of a “pyramid of power” in Iranian families is a fundamental element that shapes both cultural expectations and legal interpretations in matters related to California family law disputes. This hierarchical structure is deeply rooted in both traditional values and legal principles, influencing everything from decision-making authority and property rights to the resolution of […]
$5,579,079 Tax Write-off Based on Phony Documents DENIED
BENJAMIN SOLEIMANI AND SHARYN SOLEIMANI, Petitionersv.COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent United States Tax Court Filed May 15, 2023 The petitioners claimed they had owned Iranian property which was confiscated by the Iranian government, claiming a $2,725,000 long-term capital loss deduction, which they later increased to $5,579,708 on an amended return which they claimed entitled them […]
Determining Wife’s Interests in Iranian Property
The Law Offices of Abbas Hadjian provided research and analysis of Iranian property documents for a recent case in the Ohio Court of Appeals. Our work resulted in the wife’s property being deemed as separate property, affecting the basis used to determine spousal support. Here is an excerpt of the Appeal Judgement in Iranpour-Boroujeni v. […]
Iranian Civil Law and Procedure
Abbas Hadjian is a legal expert in Iranian civil law and procedure. In Iranian family law, he has in-depth knowledge on dowry / mahr, and cultural divorce. As a bi-lingual Farsi / English speaker, he remains informed about Iranian civil law changes in Iran which will affect families who are divorcing, separating, or in disagreement […]
“Dowry-Mahr” in U.S. Courts
Abbas Hadjian has launched a new website at Dowry-Mahr.com dedicated to noting and analyzing U.S. family law cases which involve dowry or Iranian mahr. Cases are organized geographically by state and reference published and unpublished cases, analysis, and notes about each state’s stance on common-law and Islamic Mahr. Visit the website at: Dowry-Mahr.com