Although traditional forms of marital misconduct like adultery or abandonment may not be directly relevant to divorce proceedings in California, certain types of misconduct can still have an impact on how the court decides specific issues. For instance, when determining child custody or alimony, evidence of domestic abuse will be taken into consideration. If one spouse has engaged in child abuse, their custody rights may be limited or terminated altogether. Similarly, if a spouse has committed spousal abuse, the court may deny them the alimony they would have otherwise received.

While adultery itself may not typically affect a divorce, the court may consider whether one spouse utilized marital assets on an extramarital affair. If substantial marital assets were spent on vacations, gifts, dinners, or other expenses related to the affair, the court may take this into account when deciding the division of property. Moreover, if a spouse neglected their parental responsibilities or put their child in harm's way during the course of an extramarital affair, such conduct could influence the court's custody determination.

Misconduct during the divorce proceedings is also significant. Both parties are legally obligated to fully disclose all assets, including separate and community property. If a party hides assets or provides false information about income or holdings, the court may impose sanctions. Additionally, any deliberate dissipation of assets in anticipation of the divorce, such as giving away substantial sums of money or property to friends or family members to keep them out of the divorce settlement, may be taken into account. If a party purposefully squanders money to spite their spouse, such as by maxing out credit cards, they could face consequences. In response, the court may rule in favor of the other spouse regarding property division or spousal support as a form of retaliation. Disobeying a court order can also result in penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment.

Although traditional marital misconduct may not be central to divorce proceedings in California, various forms of misconduct, such as abuse, asset dissipation, and failure to comply with court orders, can still have significant implications on the court's decisions regarding child custody, asset distribution, and spousal support.