Carlsbad Property Division Lawyer

Are you searching for a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, to help you during divorce proceedings? Contact Ratzer | Dobis at (858) 793-7700 for a free consultation!

Recent studies show California has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country. However, you may still find yourself in a position where you must hire a divorce lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, sometime in the near future if you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse decide to end your marriage. Ratzer | Dobis encourages you to consider hiring a property division lawyer in Carlsbad to ensure your marital assets are divided fairly during a divorce.

The division of property that occurs when a married couple chooses to go through a divorce in California is often complicated and stressful. You might be confused throughout this process if you don’t have a reliable property division attorney from Ratzer | Dobis in your corner. You may also struggle to earn a favorable outcome when your case ends without the appropriate legal representation.

At Ratzer | Dobis, family law is the only type of law we practice. Because of this, we’re well equipped to handle everything from routine divorce proceedings to complex high-net-worth divorces with millions of dollars worth of assets at stake. We can even lend a helping hand to those who suspect their spouses might be hiding assets to gain an unfair advantage when it’s time for the division of property during a divorce.

Learn how a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, from Ratzer | Dobis can help you during a divorce.

Why You Need a Property Division Lawyer

Hiring an experienced property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, for a divorce case isn’t legally required, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still do it. Many complexities surround the division of property during a divorce. If you don’t have the right lawyer representing you, it could prevent you from receiving a fair shake when you and your spouse divide your marital assets in divorce court.

You must work with a property division attorney to prevent this. Ratzer | Dobis can set you up with a dedicated divorce attorney who understands California’s community property laws. We will work extremely hard on your behalf to allow you to formally end your marriage without walking away from the assets that are rightfully yours.

It will be even more critical than usual for you to hire a property division lawyer if you and your spouse:

Own a significant amount of assets or have assets that are worth a substantial amount of money
Own multiple properties together
Own items you would both like to take when your marriage officially ends

If you’re anticipating a particularly contentious divorce, this is yet another reason to seriously consider enlisting the services of a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, from Ratzer | Dobis. We will prioritize putting up a strong fight for you in divorce court in an attempt to accomplish a fair and equitable distribution of your marital assets.

How a Property Division Lawyer Can Help You

When you first meet with a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, from Ratzer | Dobis, we will explain the divorce process and break down how property division typically goes. We would also be happy to alleviate any anxiety you’re feeling heading into your divorce by answering questions and addressing concerns about how it all works.

From there, your attorney will do much of the heavy lifting regarding the division of property during your divorce. They’ll usually start by identifying the marital assets you and your spouse have.

Under California Family Code § 2300, any community property you and your spouse share must be divided 50/50 during your divorce. Community property includes assets like:

Homes and other real estate
Vehicles
Clothing
Furniture
Bank accounts
Retirement accounts
Life insurance policies

The problem divorcing couples sometimes face in California is that only some of their marital assets fall into the community property category. For example, a cash gift you received from a parent or another family member during your marriage might be considered separate property that belongs only to you. A home you inherited from a grandparent while married might also be labeled as separate property.

Your ultimate goal should be to leave your marriage with 50% of the community property you and your spouse amassed and 100% of the separate property belonging exclusively to you. If you do this, you can move on from your marriage with your head held up a little higher than it might be otherwise.

This is where a property division attorney from Ratzer | Dobis can step in and help. We’ll also make this our goal and assist you by fighting for the assets you want to take from your marriage.

What To Expect While Working With a Property Division Lawyer

If this is your first time going through a divorce, you might not know what to expect when dividing marital assets. A property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, will lead the way and help determine which assets will be yours when everything is said and done.

Still, it would help to know what you should expect to happen while you’re working with a property division attorney from Ratzer | Dobis. Here is a brief rundown featuring the steps associated with the division of assets:

Your property division attorney will identify every asset you and your spouse secured throughout your marriage.
They will bring appraisers on board to perform an asset valuation.
They will earmark any assets you feel should be considered separate property.
They will list all the debts you and your spouse accumulated during your marriage, including mortgages, car loans, student loans, personal loans, credit card debt, etc.
They will determine which of your debts are community property and which are separate property, just like with assets.
They will negotiate with your spouse or their lawyer to find the fairest way to divide assets and debts.
They will finish the division of property by doing asset and debt allocation once an agreement is reached between you and your spouse.

Ideally, you and your property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, from Ratzer | Dobis will finish this process by reaching an agreement and bringing you closer to being divorced. However, if you can’t work out a deal with your spouse, you may need to take your fight to divorce court and let a judge decide what happens next.

If you’re forced to move in this direction, you will be happy to have a knowledgeable property division attorney helping you. They can work on creating a compelling case and argue it in divorce court. They will try to assist you in securing the assets you want to take with you when leaving your marriage behind.

When You Might Face Challenges While Working With a Property Division Lawyer

Disagreements between you and your spouse over which of you should be entitled to which marital assets constitute only one of the many challenges you may face while working with a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA. Many other obstacles could also cause delays during your divorce and frustrate you to no end.

Overcoming these challenges won’t necessarily be easy, but it will be possible when you hire a family law attorney from Ratzer | Dobis. Here are several challenges that should be on your radar as you inch closer to dividing up your assets with your spouse:

Your spouse may try to hide assets to avoid giving them to you at the end of your divorce.
Your spouse may introduce a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement you signed before your wedding day or at some point during your marriage.
Your spouse may tell different stories about how you acquired some of the marital assets you claim should be considered separate property.

If you and your spouse are ending your marriage on a sour note due to infidelity allegations, addiction issues, or even just a lack of commitment on one or both of your parts, these aspects can also add to the contentiousness of a divorce. It could make the division of property even more difficult and make you glad to have a trusted property division attorney representing you to the finish line.

Why You Should Rely on a Property Division Lawyer From Ratzer | Dobis

If you’re preparing to go through a divorce and believe the division of property could present problems, you shouldn’t hesitate to call on a property division lawyer in Carlsbad, CA, for help. More specifically, you should seek the legal services of a family lawyer from Ratzer | Dobis.

We will advocate for your rights and work tirelessly to help you achieve the right outcome in your divorce case. Whether you and your spouse only have a few assets or are going through a high-net-worth divorce, Ratzer | Dobis can make the process simpler and less stressful overall.