- Do I need an attorney?
The attorney's job is
to be sure that you know the full range of opportunities
and risks under the law before you make decisions
that will affect your legal or financial situation.
A divorce lawyer can also protect you from being
forced into a settlement or a bad position by your
own emotions or an intimidating, powerful spouse.
Many divorces can be handled effectively with only
limited
attorney services.
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to Questions
- Do you offer free consultations?
We offer an initial consultation
for $95 which allows clients to get acquainted and
get some information without making a major commitment
of time or money.
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to Questions
- I hear that you're a tax expert,
what do I need to know?
Learn more
about the tax implications of
divorce.
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to Questions
- How much does it cost for a
simple divorce where both parties agree?
It depends on the parties.
The more items in dispute, the higher the fees will
be. To keep costs down we have our experienced legal
assistants do much of the work attorneys used to
do but at a lower total cost.
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to Questions
- How long does it take to get
a divorce?
Marital status can be
terminated in a minimum of six months from the date
the opposing party is served with divorce papers.
Other orders can be obtained at any time.
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to Questions
- Does California recognize
"common law" marriage?
No.
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- I've been married 20 years
and have three children. Can I get my marriage annulled?
Not likely, unless you
have a very special situation.
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to Questions
- How do I get a divorce
if I don't know where my spouse lives?
We can try to find the
spouse or we could get a court order to publish
a notice in the newspaper.
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to Questions
- I just moved to California.
Can I get a divorce here?
You must be a resident
of California for six months, and of the county
in which you file for three months immediately preceding
the filing of a divorce. However, if you need immediate
protection there may be other ways to protect you.
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to Questions
- I just got served
with divorce papers. What should I do now? What
if I don't do anything?
If you do nothing, you
could lose your legal rights to support or property.
To protect yourself, you must file answers and show
up in court.
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to Questions
- I have a quick question. Can
you answer it over the phone?
We have trained professional
staff that can answer simple procedural questions
but we cannot give legal advice over the telephone.
Even simple questions are seriously affected by
the surrounding facts and issues you may not think
are important. You should give yourself time to
explain your situation to an attorney who has experience
in analizing the essential information needed to
be able to give you correct advice.
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to Questions
- What's the difference
between a legal separation and a divorce?
The work needed for each
is essentially the same. You do not need to wait
for six months to get the judgment, but you end
up being still legally married. Sometimes a separation
agreement is a better choice if you want your marital
status to continue after property is divided.
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- Is there an attorney available
now?
Yes, we always have an attorney
available during regular business hours.
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to Questions
- I know nothing about getting
a divorce. What do I do? What's my first step?
First take some time to
talk to an attorney about your options and your
rights and related risks.
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to Questions
- How many lawyers do you
have?
Three at the moment, but
we are rapidly growing.
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- Where is your office located?
2121 Central Avenue, Alameda,
California.
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to Questions
- Are the attorneys aggressive?
Our attorneys can be aggressive
if it will help the client's case. However we feel
that being aggressive for the sake of being aggressive
is sometimes not in the client's best interest and
certainly interferes when the parties are amicably
trying to work through a very difficult situation
with as little stress on the family as possible,
especially the children.
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- Do you work evenings and
weekends?
Yes, if it's an emergency.
We also make home visits. However, if you are seeking
an attorney, we think you should come to our office
and see what we are like before making your decision.
That way you can see the whole staff at work.
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to Questions
- How much child support
will I get?
California support is
based upon a federally mandated formula. While there
are some deductions, the most important items are
the incomes of both parties and the time share percentage
each parent has the children. The family courts
and most attorneys have a computer program that
calculates support. The formula amount can be changed
only when there are unusual circumstances.
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- I'm in arrears on my
child support and need to pay it off. Can you help
me even though you didn't handle the initial divorce?
Yes. Contact our office
for more information.
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