PRACTICE AREAS

Dissolution of Marriage

Dissolution is the formal, legal ending of a marriage by a Court, commonly called a divorce. A Dissolution of Marriage ends your legal relationship as spouses and ends your marriage. Unlike an Annulment, a Dissolution does not “undo" the marriage as if it never existed. Instead, it is a legal close to the marriage.

Child Custody and Support

The term “Child Custody” refers to the legal and hands-on relationship between a parent and their child. Child Custody includes the parent’s right to raise, care for and make decisions regarding the child. The natural state is for the child’s biological parents to make all decisions involving the child’s residence, healthcare, education and religious upbringing. However, when couples separate, these issues may become contentious. When a child’s custody and upbringing are in dispute, Child Custody laws and the court can become involved.

Child Support specifically addresses the issue of financial support of the children, and is viewed as a separate issue from physical care, emotional and spiritual support, and the day-to-day raising of the children.

Child support payments are intended to help cover the costs of housing, food, clothing and other basic needs, as well as school expenses, and other normal expenses of raising children. How much Child Support should be paid is calculated based on a formula set by the laws of each state. Support may be ordered to be paid by either parent, or in a situation in which the children are living with a third party or agency, both parents may be ordered to pay support.

Spousal Support

Spousal Support refers to the obligation of a person to provide financial support to his or her spouse after separation or divorce. The purpose of Spousal Support, also referred to as “Alimony,” is to reduce the unfair financial effects of divorce on the lower-wage-earning spouse and to help ensure each spouse is able to maintain the same standard of living enjoyed during the marriage.

Minor's Counsel

In most California child custody cases, minors are rarely allowed to testify in court or speak to the judge directly. Because of this fact, the court will appoint minor’s counsel to interview the child about their concerns and their custodial preference.

Minor’s counsel is a neutral voice for the child, without compromising the child’s rights, emotional well-being, or forcing the child to side with one parent or the other. Their role is to consider what is the best interest of the child, while not being bound by emotions that often come with divorce, child abuse, neglect and other difficult issues often associated with contested Child Custody or Divorce cases.

Grandparents Rights

The 2000 Supreme Court ruling in Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57 (2000), solidified the importance of grandparents having certain rights regarding their grandchildren. In 1995, after their son’s death, a set of grandparents sought to have regular visitation with their grandchildren. The mother denied their request, so the Troxels filed a motion with the court in their home state of Washington. The state court initially granted the Troxels’ request, but after a round of hearings by the Appeals Court and the state Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme court made a final ruling that has had a far-reaching effect on Grandparents’ Rights throughout the country.

Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders

A Restraining Order is a legal order issued by a Court to protect a person from any type of abuse, threats or harassment. A restraining order is a legally binding order of the Court, enforceable by law enforcement officials as well as the court. Such protective orders are issued, not only to protect victims from violence, but from other forms of abuse, nuisance and stalking.