Carlsbad Divorce Lawyer
If you are considering getting divorced, it may feel like there is a long road ahead. While this might be true, you don’t have to walk it alone. A divorce lawyer in Carlsbad from Ratzer|Dobis can stand by your side to be your advocate throughout this complicated legal process. We can explain and protect your rights, represent you in and out of court, help you pursue your goals, and protect your family. We will take on any challenge your divorce case brings. Call (858) 295-1104 to request a free divorce case consultation in Carlsbad.
Why Choose Us?
- Our divorce lawyers have decades of experience representing clients in this practice area throughout San Diego County. We are Certified Family Law Specialists – we only do family law, and we do it well.
- We can take on any challenge or roadblock, including high-asset property division, contested child custody cases, hidden assets, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. You can trust us to work diligently through the nuances of your case.
- Our focus is not only to affect your divorce but to help you succeed along the way. We understand the emotional toll that a divorce takes and are here to help. From keeping your costs down to helping you plan for the future, we are here for you.
Do You Need to Hire a Carlsbad Divorce Lawyer?
A divorce lawyer can help you use California’s family laws to your advantage. Rather than struggling to understand the laws that apply to your case, an attorney will effectively and efficiently navigate them while you focus on building your new life. Your lawyer can represent you during alternative dispute resolution meetings, such as mediation and arbitration. If you have a contested divorce case that has to go to trial, your lawyer can represent you before a judge, as well.
A divorce lawyer can help you in many ways, including:
- Explaining your rights under California’s divorce laws.
- Filling out and filing your divorce petition with the family courts.
- Communicating with your ex-spouse and his or her attorney.
- Representing you during meetings outside of court or a divorce trial.
- Fighting for the outcome that you want from your divorce case.
While a divorce attorney can be valuable to anyone going through a divorce, it is especially important to hire an attorney in Carlsbad if you have a complicated case. If you and your ex-spouse have children together or high-value assets, for example, your divorce will be more complex. The right attorney will aggressively protect your rights during the divorce process, help everything go smoothly, and ensure that your family has what it needs.
Elements of a Divorce in California
To get a divorce or dissolution of marriage in California, the couple will first have the chance to work together to achieve a collaborative divorce – also known as an uncontested divorce. If you and your spouse can communicate, compromise and agree on all of the elements of your split, your case will not have to go to court. Otherwise, a divorce trial will be necessary, where a judge will make all of these key decisions for you.
The major elements of a divorce or legal separation in California are:
- Child custody
- Visitation
- Child support
- Spousal support/alimony
- Property and debt division
An attorney can represent you during mediation or arbitration in Carlsbad to negotiate with your ex and his or her attorney on terms that work for both of you. This can minimize the costs associated with a divorce and speed the legal process up by avoiding a trial. If this is not possible in your case, your lawyer can go up against the other side during a divorce trial in San Diego County instead. Either way, an attorney improves your chances of achieving the results that you desire.
California Divorce Laws
Successfully navigating California’s divorce laws can help you avoid common mistakes and issues during your case. A lawyer in Carlsbad can break down all of California’s divorce laws for you and explain how they may apply to your specific circumstances. Here is a brief look at California’s main divorce laws:
- No-fault divorce state. The legal grounds for a divorce in California are “irreconcilable differences.” This means you don’t have to prove that your ex-spouse is at fault for ending your marriage to get a divorce.
- Residency requirement. To file for divorce in California, you or your spouse must have lived in the state for at least the prior six months, and in the county where you are filing for at least the prior three months.
- Waiting period. Before the courts will finalize your divorce, you must go through the waiting period. This is a period of six months from the time that you file for divorce. This rule is in place to give the couple time to ensure that divorce is what they want and work out a settlement agreement.
- Community property division. If a divorce case goes to trial in California, the courts will divide all marital or community property down the middle (50/50). This means that each spouse will receive 50 percent of the property and 50 percent of the debt acquired during the marriage.
- Child custody laws. A judge in California will not favor one parent over the other during a custody case, such as the mother over the father. Instead, custody is determined based on the best interests of the child – which arrangement would best protect the child’s physical, emotional and psychosocial well-being.
Navigating all of these laws is easier with assistance from an experienced divorce attorney in Carlsbad. Your lawyer can guide you through the divorce process while protecting your rights and family. A lawyer can also help you with an annulment, ending a domestic partnership, legal separation, summary dissolution, default divorce and many other family law matters.
Contact Us for a Free Consultation With a Carlsbad Divorce Attorney
The attorneys at Ratzer|Dobis care about their clients. When you come to us with your divorce case in Carlsbad, you will gain access to exceptional legal resources, knowledgeable and compassionate divorce lawyers, personalized advice and legal services, and an attorney who is just as dedicated to your divorce case as you are.
Discuss your divorce in detail during a free, no-obligation consultation with a lawyer today. Contact us at (858) 295-1104 or send us a message online and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We will look forward to helping you get through this difficult time.