Practice Areas
Adoptions
Dissolution/Collaborative Divorce - Many issues confront persons facing a divorce. Those issues include property rights, financial obligations to creditors, tax ramifications of a divorce, spousal support, and most importantly, issues related to custody of minor children. It is important that the client is educated about these issues before making decisions, and so they can be active participants in the process. I strongly encourage people to have at least an initial consultation with an attorney to find out what your rights and obligations are before you make decisions that will affect the rest of your life, as well as the lives of others.
Child Custody
Child custody will be determined when parties are divorcing, either via agreement of the parties, or court orders. After finalization of a divorce, custody and visitation orders/agreements can be modified to meet the changing needs of the children and parents.
Child custody and visitation arrangements can also be agreed upon or court ordered for couples who have not married.
Child Support
If the parties are divorcing, or if parties have never married, child support will be determined either through mutual agreement of the parties or court orders. In California, the courts follow guideline, but parties are free to deviate from the guideline amount. Support is based on the gross monthly income of the parties, and the percentage of parenting time for each party. Other factors will affect the support amount, such as health insurance, union dues, mandatory retirement, etc.
Child support can be modified to meet the changing needs of both parents and children.
Collaborative Divorce
Dissolution
Divorce
Family
Guardianships
Juvenile Dependency
Modifications
Many times after a divorce, the original agreements or court orders will need to be changed - or modified. This can be due to many reasons, such as the loss of a job, a desire to move to another part of the State or out of State, or to simply modify existing orders or agreements that no longer fit the situation or needs of the parties.
Visitation