A Level-Headed Approach To Divorce
At Law Office of Edward S. Matisoff, I approach divorce not as a battle for victory, but as a negotiation to find a way for spouses to dissolve their marriage with as little conflict as possible. My goal is to get you the best result – not necessarily to punish your ex or fight until you are the last person standing, but to find results that are going to serve you in the long term. I consider my role to be peacemaker as much as it is attorney. There is too much at stake for you to risk the future of your family by making unrealistic demands or being belligerent out of spite. My goal is to work together with you and your spouse to find a way for both of you to amicably move forward with your lives.
Helping People With All Facets Of Divorce
Every person who comes to my office has a different set of needs and goals. No matter what kind of services you need, I can accommodate you. I will make sure you understand how the process works, the reasoning behind my recommendations and what you can expect as we move through the process.
Services I provide and practice areas that I can help you with include:
- Mediation services
- High net worth divorce
- Child custody and child support
- Family law litigation
- Property division
- Post-judgment modifications
- Prenuptial agreements
- Spousal support
I pride myself on taking the time to get to know my clients and acquire a thorough understanding of their situation. Together, we work to make a plan catered specifically to your needs that allows you to move ahead and dissolve your marriage with a minimum of conflict and stress.
Many clients who wish to minimize the costs and stress associated with divorce choose to pursue divorce mediation over traditional, contentious litigation. In a mediation setting, I will work with you and your spouse together to reach mutually agreeable resolutions to issues such as child custody, support and property division. If, after discussing mediation, you prefer to take a traditional approach to divorce, I will represent your interests at every step of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About California Divorces
I always take the time to make sure my clients understand what to expect during their divorce. Here are some of the most common questions I hear and their answers:
What is the divorce process in California?
While every situation can be unique, the basic process of divorce in California requires one spouse to file a Petition for Dissolution with the court. The other spouse then has 30 days to file a response to avoid a default judgment. Either spouse may also request temporary orders for child custody, support, use of the home and vehicles and other issues that need to be addressed until the divorce is settled. Both parties will be asked to exchange financial disclosures, and the division of property and other issues will commence through negotiations.
If the couple can agree on the terms of their split, they can file a Marital Settlement Agreement with the court for approval. If they cannot agree, the case will likely need to be settled through trial. Once all the issues are resolved, the court will finalize the divorce.
How long does it take to get a divorce in California?
California has a mandatory waiting period of six months and one day before a divorce can be finalized. In practical terms, due to court schedules, you can generally expect an uncontested divorce to take between six months and a year to be finalized. A contested divorce, where there are disputes, can take well over a year or two to finalize.
How are assets divided in a California divorce?
California is one of the few community property states in the nation, so all assets acquired during the marriage are supposed to be divided equally in divorce. That makes it critical to examine premarital and postnuptial agreements, as well as determine what qualifies as each party’s separate property.
How is child custody determined in California?
The court always prioritizes the “best interests of the child” in all custody cases. The courts generally consider it important to preserve the child’s relationship with both parents, so shared custody is common. Couples are free to negotiate custody terms on their own, or the court will step in and make the decisions.
Contact Divorce Law Attorney Edward S. Matisoff
To set up an initial consultation, call Law Office of Edward S. Matisoff at 805-666-0980 or fill out my online contact form. I look forward to learning about your situation and how we can work together.