Lake County, CA Divorce Lawyer

Lake County, CA Divorce Attorney

Divorces are inherently complicated and often emotionally taxing, so it’s often a beneficial move to hire a professional to manage your divorce proceedings. Retaining a qualified and knowledgeable Lake County, CA, divorce lawyer when you are going through a divorce will usually make the entire process easier on yourself.

Skilled divorce lawyers at the Carroll Law Office have years of experience assisting spouses going through divorce, both in and out of court. Whether you need a divorce attorney for all relevant proceedings or just for a singular matter– our professional legal team is equipped to help.

What Does It Mean to Settle a Divorce Case?

For most cases, a divorce isn’t simply approved after filing for a marriage dissolution; not only is there usually a six-month waiting period, but there are also several matters impacted by the prospective divorce that must first be addressed. These are the aspects that typically need to be settled, or agreed upon, between the spouses within divorce proceedings:

• Property division: In Lake County, CA, all assets gained during the duration of a marriage are shared equally between both spouses and are known as community property. Community property includes both spouse’s income, the marital home, cars, businesses, pensions, debt, and more. Separate property, which is acquired before the couple married or after their separation, is not subject to division in a divorce.
• Child custody: Since the spouses are planning for the future where they no longer live together or share resources, deciding the arrangement of custody over their children is an important matter to settle. This topic is often the most contentious part of many divorces and continues long after the divorce itself has been completed. It is not uncommon for either parent to want to enforce or change the terms of the custody order.
• Child support: After determining the terms of a child custody arrangement, the issue of child support usually follows. This matter, such as how much the payment installments will be and how often they are provided, tends to be decided by the family court judge after considering various factors. These factors include each parent’s financial standing and access to other resources, the child’s well-being, and whether they have additional needs.
• Spousal support: Similar to child support, spousal support (also called alimony) may be awarded if the spouses are in agreement or if the court decides the case warrants it. This financial assistance order can vary in amount and duration, depending on the circumstances of each spouse’s ability to self-support, the duration of the marriage, and other factors.

Contested Versus Uncontested Divorces in CA

It’s not always the case that spouses will be in agreement on every aspect of their divorce or even the prospect of getting a divorce at all. When a couple disputes any part of a marriage dissolution, it is known as a contested divorce. An uncontested divorce is when spouses are generally in agreement and typically require much less time to finish the divorce than compared to a contested divorce.

Couples who have an uncontested divorce can likely opt to save on the costs and time of going to court by deciding to settle all relevant issues outside of court and with the help of a qualified divorce lawyer. If spouses cannot reach a settlement on one or more aspects of a divorce, then they will likely have to take their case to court so that a judge can decide what’s to be done for the disputed matters.

FAQs

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in California?

The cost of divorce in California ranges depending on the approach the spouses take to settle the relevant issues and how complex the divorce is. For example, if a couple is married for a relatively short amount of time, is in agreement during divorce proceedings, and otherwise has a simple divorce, the process is likely to take less time and cost less than for a couple in a contested or complicated divorce.

What Is a Retainer Fee for a Divorce Attorney in California?

A retainer fee for a divorce attorney is a form of assurance that they will be paid for their legal services after working on your case. This fee is typically paid upfront before a client officially hires the divorce lawyer. Not all cases or lawyers require a retainer fee, but the cost will usually be subtracted from your total expenses.

Does the Husband Have to Pay for the Wife’s Divorce Lawyer in CA?

In California, it isn’t assumed that either spouse has to pay for the other’s lawyer fees. The court may order a spouse to do this, but that does not necessarily mean that the husband will be paying for his wife’s divorce lawyer. When a spouse receives financial help with their attorney fees, it’s generally after the spouse in need has requested it because they can’t afford counsel otherwise– especially in cases where there’s a large gap in the spouse’s income.

Is a Legal Separation the Same as a Divorce in California?

Divorce and legal separation are similar law procedures but are not the same process. A divorce is the official dissolution of a couple’s marriage, while within a legal separation, the spouses are still technically married. Both processes legally declare the spouses as separate from one another, meaning they reside apart from one another and do not share finances or other resources.

What Is the Difference Between the Types of Divorce?

Divorces are either contested or uncontested. In uncontested divorces, spouses are in agreement about most issues; qualifying marriages may have an even simpler divorce process by filing for a summary dissolution.

Contested divorces are when the spouses are in disagreement or cannot compromise on one or more issues. Depending on the circumstances, the spouses may have to go to court for their divorce proceedings, or they may be able to settle through an alternative method such as mediation.

Skilled Divorce Attorney Ready to Advocate for You

The professional legal team at the Carroll Law Office has handled numerous divorce cases, working to make our clients’ experiences more streamlined and with positive outcomes. Contact our team today to schedule a consultation with a skilled family law and divorce attorney.