Divorce Attorneys in Orange County
If divorce is the next step in your journey, make sure you have the right guidance. Although divorce is never easy, you can take care of yourself during this difficult time by hiring an experienced Orange County divorce attorney.
As you work through this process, you will have to make a lot of tough decisions. Without the knowledge and advocacy of an attorney, you risk making decisions based on your hurt feelings—instead of choosing what is best for your future. An attorney can use their years of experience to help anticipate what to expect, and prepare for the legal implications.
Wondering how to start your search for the right attorney? OrangeCountyLawyers.com has verified the attorneys listed here all have physical presence in Orange County and are ready to help you.
Orange County Divorce Lawyers:
RM Law Group
Pinkham & Associates, APLC
The Law Office Of Bethanie L. Fanti
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Helpful Information About Choosing a Divorce Lawyer
- You can research the Bar license status, suspensions or reprimands of an attorney at the California Bar Association website.
- The California Bar Association offers a “Specialist” certification for family attorneys, if they choose to pursue it. Not every one who is facing divorce needs a California Bar Certified Family Law Specialist, but some people prefer a lawyer who is specialized in this area of law. Certified family law specialists tend to require a higher rate than non-certified lawyers.
- Divorce lawyers typically require an initial retainer for services, often $1,000 – $10,000 or more depending on the complexities of your circumstances.
What Divorce Attorneys Often Don’t Tell You
Divorce can be an incredibly difficult and emotional process, and there are a few things that divorce lawyers may not tell you:
- Divorce can take a long time: In California the divorce process can take several months to a year or longer, depending on the complexity of the case and the willingness of both parties to compromise and come to an agreement.
- Divorce can be expensive: The cost of divorce can include attorney’s fees, court costs, and the cost of hiring experts such as appraisers or accountants. These expenses can add up quickly, and divorce can be financially draining for both parties.
- Divorce can have a long-term impact on your finances: The division of assets and debts during a divorce will definitely have a significant impact on your financial well-being for years to come. It’s important to consider the long-term financial implications of any agreements or decisions made during the divorce process.
- Divorce can be an emotional time bomb: Divorce is hell. You might be ready to face it today, but eventually it catches up with you. It can be difficult to cope with the end of a relationship and the changes that come with it.
- Divorce can be difficult if not life-changing for children: Even though children can be very resilient, they can be particularly impacted by the divorce of their parents. It’s important to consider the needs and well-being of your kids involved in the divorce and to work towards a child custody and child support arrangement that is in their best interests.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s experience with divorce is different, and that seeking support from friends, family, or a therapist can be beneficial during this time. It’s also important to have excellent legal help and to make sure your divorce lawyer answers your questions thoroughly and prepares you for road ahead.
Divorce Lawyer Near Me:
Decisions to Make in a California Divorce
Over the coming months, you’ll have to make life-changing decisions regarding:
- How to divide marital assets and debts
- How much time the children will spend with each parent
- Who keeps the marital home
- Whether or not spousal support will be paid
Having thought about these, or discussed ahead of time will help the process with your soon-to-be ex. Often times friction and litigation arises from disagreement stemming from these issues.
Financing Your Divorce Using a FLARPL?
What is a FLARPL? California Family Code section 2033 provides a way for either party to access money from real property for family law matters. A FLARPL (Family Law Attorney’s Real Property Lien) is a legal tool that allows a family law attorney to place a lien on real property (such as your house or land) in order to secure payment for their services. However, you should know that divorce lawyers typically absolutely hate FLARPLs.
The lien is typically placed when a client is unable to pay the attorney’s retainer fees and the lawyer believes that the client’s real property has sufficient equity, or will increase in value before the case is concluded. The lien is recorded with the county recorder’s office and is attached to the property, meaning that it will remain on the property even if it is sold or refinanced.
Many lawyers will not take a client if payment is dependent on the FLARPL because of the rules & regulations, and the potential added stress between you and your lawyer. Make sure to discuss this with your potential lawyer early in your initial consultation.
Relevant Laws and Procedures
In order to get divorced in California, one spouse must have lived in California for at least six months preceding the divorce and in the county of filing for at least three months. Like most other states, California only recognizes no-fault divorce. Even if one partner was unfaithful, abusive, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or otherwise considered an unfit partner, there are no grounds for fault divorce here.
The Division of Assets
California is a community property state. Everything you and your spouse have earned or acquired during the marriage belongs to both of you. When you divorce, these assets should be divided in half and distributed to both parties. This process can become more complicated when it comes to real estate, retirement accounts, investments, and other assets that fluctuate in value.
Child Custody Disputes
In most divorces, the parents come to an agreement on child custody. Physical custody refers to where the child lives and with whom, while legal custody refers to who makes important decisions regarding healthcare, education, and upbringing. Both physical and legal custody can be joint or primary. Joint physical custody means that the child lives with both parents for roughly equal periods of time. With sole or primary custody, one parent takes on the majority of the child rearing, but the other parent usually gets visitation. An attorney can negotiate an agreement and schedule that best supports your child.
Child Support Considerations
In California, the court uses a complex formula to determine child support. However, there are many circumstances under which a judge may deviate from that formula. For example, they may order a parent to pay additional child support for child care costs, healthcare expenses, unique needs of the child, and visitation-related travel costs.
Determining Spousal Support
In California, spousal support, also known as alimony, is determined on a case-by-case basis which takes into account various factors such as the length of the marriage, the income and earning capacity of both spouses, individual needs, and standard of living established during the marriage. The court will also consider the ability of the paying spouse to pay and the needs of the receiving spouse.
Where Do Our Listed Attorneys Serve?
The divorce attorneys listed on this page serve clients in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Buena Park, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, La Habra, Aliso Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Brea, Ladera Ranch and all courts throughout Orange County and Southern California. If you’re about to file for divorce, or in the middle of an “amicable” divorce and got hit with a surprise and need to talk to a lawyer to get your questions answered, call an attorney listed here today.
Contact a Law Firm Today
When choosing a divorce lawyer, there are several factors to consider. Primarily, this boils down to: experience, practice focus on family law, reputation & client reviews, availability & cost. Ultimately, you should choose an Orange County divorce lawyer who you trust and feel comfortable working with, and who has the experience and qualifications to handle your case effectively.
Wherever you are in the divorce process, finding an attorney can limit your stress and help you work through this process swiftly.
See More Attorneys
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- https://www.orangecountylawyers.com/attorneys/john-r-schilling-apc/
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