Divorce Attorneys in San Diego
Are you looking for a San Diego divorce attorney who’ll stand up for your rights? Our aggressive divorce lawyers are ready to assist you. We provide a free consultation with a divorce lawyer to discuss your case and explain how we can safeguard your interests.
Going through this challenging time doesn’t have to be a solo journey – allow our skilled team to guide you through the divorce process with empathy and expertise. Ready to take action? Call us today to set up your consultation.
Comprehensive Divorce Services
Having the right legal assistance during a divorce can significantly impact the outcome. Our divorce lawyers offer a range of services to support you through this challenging time.
High conflict divorce
Dealing with a high conflict divorce requires special handling. If you’re facing an uncooperative or unreasonable spouse, our specialists can help. We’ll:
- Develop strategies to manage communication with your difficult spouse
- Protect you from harassment or intimidation
- Document all interactions to build a strong case
- Advocate for your rights in court if necessary
- Help you stay focused on your long-term goals despite the emotional turmoil
Our aim is to help you maintain your composure while assertively protecting your rights.
Divorce and child custody
Divorce and child custody matters are often the most emotionally charged aspects of ending a marriage. We prioritize your children’s welfare while ensuring you maintain a strong bond with them. Our services include:
- Developing parenting plans that work for your family
- Negotiating custody arrangements (legal and physical custody)
- Establishing fair visitation schedules
- Addressing special considerations like relocation or international custody issues
- Advocating for your parental rights in court if needed
We’ll also work to establish fair child support payments, whether you’re the paying or receiving parent. This involves:
- Calculating child support based on California guidelines
- Addressing special needs or extraordinary expenses
- Modifying existing child support orders when circumstances change
Division of assets
Dividing marital property can be complex, especially with significant assets involved. Our San Diego alimony lawyers will work to ensure you receive a fair share of the marital estate. We handle:
- Real estate: Primary residences, vacation homes, investment properties
- Retirement accounts: 401(k)s, IRAs, pension plans
- Investments: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
- Business interests: Valuation and division of family businesses
- Personal property: Vehicles, jewelry, art collections
- Hidden assets: Uncovering and addressing concealed property or funds
We’ll also address debt division, ensuring you’re not unfairly burdened with shared liabilities.
Divorce mediation services
Not every separation needs to be contentious. Our divorce mediation services offer an alternative to litigation. Through mediation, we can help you and your spouse:
- Communicate effectively about difficult issues
- Explore creative solutions to property division and custody
- Reach mutually agreeable terms more quickly and cost-effectively
- Maintain more control over the outcome of your divorce
- Lay groundwork for better post-divorce cooperation, especially important for co-parenting
Our skilled mediators guide you through negotiations on all aspects of your divorce, from asset division to parenting plans.
Trial lawyer service
While we strive for amicable resolutions, sometimes court is unavoidable. If your case goes to trial, you’ll want a skilled San Diego trial attorney on your side. Our trial services include:
- Thorough case preparation and strategy development
- Expert witness selection and preparation
- Compelling presentation of evidence
- Skilled cross-examination of opposing witnesses
- Persuasive opening and closing arguments
We have extensive courtroom experience and will forcefully advocate for your interests before a judge.
Divorce modification
Life changes don’t stop after a divorce is finalized. If you need to modify your divorce agreement due to significant changes in circumstances, we can help you handle the divorce modification process. This might involve:
- Adjusting child custody arrangements
- Modifying child support or alimony payments
- Addressing relocation issues
- Changing property division terms in light of new information
We’ll help you demonstrate to the court why the modification is necessary and in the best interests of all involved.
Throughout all these services, we’re committed to providing personalized attention to your case. We understand that every divorce is unique, and we tailor our approach to your specific needs and goals.
Our team is here to guide you through each step, explain your options, and fight for your rights. With our support, you can get over this challenging time and move forward with confidence.
Divorce Process – San Diego
Understanding the divorce process in San diego can help ease your concerns and prepare you for what’s ahead. Let’s take a closer look at each step:
1. Filing for divorce
The first step is filling for divorce with the San Diego Superior Court. This involves submitting several important documents:
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: This form outlines your request for divorce and any initial proposals for property division, child custody, and support.
- Summons: This notifies your spouse that you’ve started the divorce process.
- Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act: Required if you have children, this form provides information about where your children have lived.
Our team will guide you through completing these forms accurately. We’ll ensure all necessary information is included to avoid delays in your case.
2. Serving your spouse
After filing, your spouse must be formally notified of the divorce action. This step, known as “service of process,” is critical. We’ll handle this process to ensure it’s done correctly and legally. Your spouse will have 30 days to respond to the petition once served.
3. Financial disclosures
Both parties must provide detailed information about their income, expenses, assets, and debts. This includes:
- Income and Expense Declaration
- Schedule of Assets and Debts
These documents form the basis for property division and support decisions. We’ll help you gather and organize this information to ensure accuracy and completeness. Failing to disclose assets can have serious legal consequences, so it’s vital to be thorough and honest.
4. Temporary orders
While your divorce is pending, you might need temporary arrangements for various issues. We can request temporary orders from the court to address immediate concerns like:
- Child custody and visitation schedules
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Use of the family home
- Payment of debts
These orders remain in effect until the final judgment or a new order is issued.
5. Negotiation and settlement
Most divorces are resolved through negotiation rather than trial. This phase may involve:
- Direct negotiations between attorneys
- Mediation sessions
- Settlement conferences
We’ll work to reach a fair settlement on all issues, including property division, spousal support, and child-related matters. Our goal is to achieve an agreement that protects your interests without the need for a costly and stressful trial.
6. Trial (if necessary)
If settlement isn’t possible, we’ll prepare your case for trial. This involves:
- Gathering and organizing evidence
- Preparing witnesses
- Developing legal arguments
During the trial, we’ll vigorously represent your interests before the judge. We’ll present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and argue for your desired outcome on all unresolved issues.
7. Finalizing the divorce
Once all issues are resolved, either through settlement or trial, we’ll prepare the final divorce judgment for the court’s approval. This document outlines all the terms of your divorce, including:
- Property and debt division
- Spousal support arrangements
- Child custody and visitation schedules
- Child support amounts
After the judge signs this judgment, your divorce becomes final. However, in California, there’s a mandatory 6-month waiting period from the date of filing before the divorce can be finalized.
Throughout this process, we’re here to provide guidance and support. Need help filling out divorce papers? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.
Our team will walk you through each form, explaining what information is needed and why. We’ll ensure everything is filled out correctly to avoid delays or complications in your case.
