Riverside Divorce Lawyer
More Than 5,000 Cases Handled
At Hanson, Gorian, Bradford & Hanich, we put
more than 50 years of collective experience to work for our clients who are facing legal issues related to a divorce.
Whether you're seeking guidance for filing a divorce action, dedicated
representation in court, or petitioning for modifications to your divorce
settlement—our lawyers are here to help you find answers.
How to File for Divorce in California
Spouses and parents will have questions of all kinds about divorce, as
well as how life will be after the settlement. As a couple moves on in
their separate lives and encounter significant changes and new experiences,
the arrangements of a divorce settlement may need to be modified in order
to address these changing circumstances.
Here are common concerns to consider in a divorce:
- Who will get the house?
- How will marital property be divided?
- Is my personal property protected?
- Will fair alimony/child support payments be made?
- Who will get custody of the children?
- Where will the children live?
For someone preparing to engage in a divorce, these prospects can seem
incredibly overwhelming. That's where our team comes in.
Our
Board-Certified Family Law Specialist has practiced family law exclusively for more than 14 years. For our clients, this means they gain access to unparalleled divorce law
knowledge and experience.
Understanding the Divorce Process
Unless a couple has arranged a nuptial agreement, divorces will often require
a great deal of negotiations between the spouses. These negotiations are
mostly concerned with making legal arrangements for division of property
and spousal support payments. If children are involved, then the parents
will also negotiate custody and visitation rights, child support payments,
and other parenting responsibilities that the family may require.
Here are some of the essential steps in most divorces:
Filing for Divorce
The legal action of divorce is formally taken with a Petition for Dissolution
of Marriage. In California,
there are two general grounds for filing a divorce: irreconcilable differences
and incurable insanity. Both of these grounds for dissolution of marriage must meet specific requirements
and be acknowledged by a court of law, according to California Family
Code § 2310 – 2313.
Submitting Court Forms
Along with submitting the grounds for filing divorce to a court, each
spouse will be required to provide additional information about the marriage.
This includes financial responsibilities, assets, debts, property, and
any children involved. Although most courts use similar forms for the
procedure, special forms may be required depending on your unique circumstances
and the court itself.
Divorce Petition Responses
When one spouse has been served with a divorce petition and summons, he
or she has the option to respond to the petition.
A
court can dissolve a marriage or other domestic partnership if one spouse
seeks to end it, even if the other spouse does not agree to the action. Despite this, petition
responses are important for addressing unfair settlement terms and other issues.
Settlement Negotiations
Before a dissolution or separation may be officially completed, the partners
must have come to some form of agreement on the termination of the marriage,
child responsibilities, support payments, and division of assets and debts.
In the absence of any nuptial agreement, divorce negotiations are often
the lengthiest part of the divorce process, and they are often the most
stressful as well.
Divorce Finalization
After the spouses come to an agreement on all the necessary terms of a
divorce or other legal separation,
the final terms of arrangement are submitted to a judge for review and
official decree. Once this is complete, the dissolution is legal, and the divorce settlement
goes into effect.
Post-Decree Divorce Modifications
As each ex-spouse's schedule changes in the years following a divorce,
certain terms of a divorce arrangement may create difficulties for one
or both individuals in their new circumstances. For these and other issues
that may arise after a final decree has been arranged, one or both ex-partners
may file a petition for modification and ask a court to make specific
changes to the agreement.
Have questions about custody, support, and other related issues?
Learn more about our full-service divorce firm.
Different Types of Divorce & Dissolution
Marriages can be dissolved through divorce, legal separation, or annulment,
and with either one or both spouses/domestic partners choosing to end
the union. State courts encourage individuals to make extensive preparations
before filing for dissolution, and for good reason—from filing court
forms to negotiating arrangements, being unprepared for the process or
performing a step incorrectly can easily prolong the divorce process and
add unnecessary costs.
A Riverside divorce attorney saves you time and money by helping you prepare
for every legal procedure. This starts with determining what kind of divorce
can most effectively address your needs.
There Are Four Basic Types of Divorce:
-
Collaborative Divorce: Spouses conduct negotiations and other procedures with each other outside
of court and with their attorneys present
-
Contested Divorce: Partners who are unable to reach an agreement on their own petition a
court to decide on the arrangements in hearings
-
Uncontested Divorce: Divorcing couples who wish to raise no issues over the dissolution may
conclude the process with minimal procedure
-
High Net-Worth Divorce: Spouses with significant assets like business ownerships and stocks may
want to ensure their financial security after a divorce
Click to learn more about the differences between contested and uncontested divorces.
Effective planning and preparation before engaging in a divorce can eliminate
most of the troubles that you may be expecting to encounter. Many people
make the mistake of going into a divorce without first taking the time
to develop a plan or consult a divorce attorney about their decision.
If you are preparing to engage in a divorce or confronting a related family
law issue,
work with a team that has successfully handled thousands of cases.
Our divorce lawyers serve families throughout the Riverside area. Secure
the resolution you deserve in divorce, legal separation, or annulment.
Schedule a free consultation today!