Yorba Linda Divorce Attorney
With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our team is highly qualified to provide legal services for your most difficult family circumstances.
Yorba Linda Divorce Lawyer
Divorce is likely to be one of the most challenging and emotionally stressful experiences of your life, even if your marriage is toxic and you know it must end. While divorce informally begins when a couple decides to end their marriage, the actual legal process of divorce begins once a spouse files a divorce petition with their local family court. If you plan to end your marriage in the near future, a Yorba Linda divorce attorney is an essential asset who can assist you in navigating divorce proceedings with confidence and peace of mind.
Legal Counsel for Yorba Linda Divorce Cases
The Yorba Linda divorce attorneys at DeArmey Law have years of experience providing client-focused legal guidance to our clients facing divorce proceedings. We understand the emotional stress divorce proceedings can cause and the difficulties most people face when they initiate divorce proceedings. Our team can provide the representation and support you need to reach a favorable outcome for your divorce case.
Why Should I Hire a Yorba Linda Divorce Attorney?
Technically, it is possible to complete a divorce without an attorney. However, this is a hazardous option with a large margin for error, and you could potentially end up with a divorce agreement that does not suit your best interests. An experienced attorney can help you determine the best approach to your divorce case, identify critical areas of concern likely to raise disputes as your case unfolds, and ultimately help you through the divorce process with ongoing legal support.
If you have concerns about the potential cost of legal representation for your divorce, remember that you stand to lose much more if you try to handle your case alone. While the laws in place for divorce in California are relatively strict, it is possible to overlook crucial details that impact your life for years to come.Therefore, relying on a Yorba Linda divorce lawyer with the experience you need not only makes your case much easier to manage but is also more likely to yield positive results that suit your needs and interests for the foreseeable future.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Divorce Lawyer in California?
Most divorce attorneys offering legal representation in the Yorba Linda, CA, area bill their clients by the hour. Attorneys will divide their time spent working on a case into 10- or 15-minute increments and track the time they devote to a client’s case. Of course, the longer they spend working on a case, the more it costs the client. The attorneys at DeArmey Law believe in transparent and reasonable billing. We’ll carefully review our billing policy, so there are no surprises when it comes to the overall cost of representing you in your divorce case.
What Does a Yorba Linda Divorce Case Entail?
The legal process of divorce not only ends your marriage contract but also involves the division of your shared assets and other legal processes. For example, a typical divorce case in California includes:
- Property division. California enforces a strict community property law for divorce. This means that no matter why a couple decides to end their marriage, both spouses must receive equal shares of their marital assets and assume equal responsibility for shared debts. The property division process is often contentious, and you may disagree with the state’s statutes regarding the division of marital property, but the right attorney can help you approach this aspect of your divorce case with clarity and understanding.
- Spousal support determination. When one spouse earns significantly more income than the other, their divorce may entail a spousal support determination. Spousal support, also known as alimony, is money paid regularly from one spouse to another after divorce to help the financially disadvantaged spouse maintain a standard of living equivalent to what they had while married. The amount paid in spousal support typically depends on the length of the marriage and the difference in income between the divorcing spouses.
- Child custody. When a couple has children together and decides to divorce, the court must approve a child custody agreement that suits their children’s best interests. The court will generally strive to provide as close to equal custody rights to both parents as long as both parents have proven fit for parenting. Custody rights can fluctuate based on a divorcing parent’s income, work schedule, general availability to care for their children, criminal history, and the child’s preferences if the child is old enough to convey them.
- Child support. Divorced parents are financially responsible for their children. Once custody is determined, the court must assign child support responsibilities that reflect the parents’ custodial rights. When one parent has greater custody than the other, the noncustodial parent will likely owe child support to the custodial parent. The amount paid depends on the child’s financial needs, the cost of living in the area, and the income levels of both parents.
Divorce is a complex and multifaceted process. Navigating your divorce case successfully requires a keen awareness of the various aspects of your case and a firm understanding of California divorce statutes. A Yorba Linda divorce lawyer can help you navigate the various phases of your divorce case with robust support, helping you make more informed decisions about your case as it unfolds.
What To Expect From Yorba Linda Family Law Attorneys
A Yorba Linda divorce attorney can address the various aspects of your divorce with reliable legal guidance. You can rely on your attorney to assist you with your financial disclosure statement when it comes to property division. If there are any discrepancies or disputes regarding property division, your attorney can help you address these matters appropriately. Your attorney can also help you clearly define all your separate property that does not qualify for division under California’s community property statute. Suppose you believe your spouse has lied or hidden assets in their financial disclosure. In that case, your attorney can help you determine the best way to verify your suspicions and hold them accountable.
Child custody and child support are often the most challenging aspects of a divorce, and it can be difficult for a divorcing parent to remain objective about this stage of their divorce. Your Yorba Linda divorce attorney can help you gather all the evidence and documentation you may require for making a compelling case for custody. If you believe your child’s other parent is unfit or poses any danger to your child, your attorney can help you make your concerns clear.
A good divorce lawyer can also help their client take advantage of alternative dispute resolution, potentially saving them a significant amount of time and money in handling their divorce. Divorce mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution can allow a divorcing spouse to avoid the stress and expense of litigation and reach a conclusion to their divorce case more quickly. Mediation’s only requirement is that both spouses must be willing to negotiate. A Yorba Linda divorce lawyer can attend some or all of your mediation sessions and help you negotiate more effectively than you could have on your own.
Can I Change My Divorce Order in the Future?
One of the unique aspects of the family law system is the modification process. When you experience a significant life event that materially influences the elements of your standing family court order or divorce decree, you have the right to petition for modification of your court order to reflect the change. For example, suppose you must pay child support but suffer a catastrophic injury that prevents you from working. In that case, this is likely to significantly influence your financial situation and ability to meet your child support obligation.
You could petition for a reasonable change to your support requirements that accurately reflects your new reality. For example, suppose you believe you have reasonable grounds for modifying your divorce order. In that case, the right Yorba Linda divorce attorney can help you draft your petition for modification and prepare for the subsequent hearing. If the judge determines your request is reasonable and warranted, they may alter your divorce order with immediate effect.
Find Your Family Law Attorney Today
Divorce is a very stressful process, and even if you and your spouse are relatively agreeable, your divorce can be much more challenging than you might expect. Navigating the complex legal proceedings you face is much easier when you have reliable legal counsel who can provide you with support and direction for each phase of your case. Depending on the details of your situation, the amount of property you and your spouse share, and whether you have children, it’s possible to streamline your divorce proceedings significantly with the right attorney on your side.
DeArmey Law believes in client-focused legal representation. We know how difficult it can be to remain objective and focused on your practical concerns when facing an emotional legal dispute like a divorce case. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about your divorce and navigate the process as quickly and painlessly as possible. If you plan to end your marriage in Yorba Linda, CA, or if your spouse has already filed a divorce petition, we can provide the legal support you need in this uncertain and challenging situation. Contact DeArmey Law today to schedule your consultation with an experienced and compassionate Yorba Linda divorce attorney.