Family Law matters

It is very important that you keep us informed with your current contact information at all times.

Family Law cases are usually highly emotional to all parties involved including your children if you have children.

It has been said that going through a divorce or custody battle is just as bad as going through a death in the family, or even worse.

It may seem to you like your life is never going to be the same while going through a divorce or child custody case, however, life goes on. You will eventually get through the divorce or custody battle, and your life will go on.

As hard as it may be, it is very important that you try to remain calm and cordial throughout the process of going through a family law matter. We have seen many cases where the slightest "words" result in physical violence and one or both of the parties ending up being arrested and put in jail on domestic violence charges.

It is important that you gather as much evidence for your case as possible such as: (originals are best, photocopies will do)

• Deeds to Real Property

• Receipts for Purchases of Goods

• Pictures of Real Property and purchases Goods

• Copies of Tax Returns for the past 3 years

• Wage Statements and W2's for the past 12 months

• Birth Certificates and

• Pension Plan, IRA, or 401k documents

• Pre-Nuptial Agreements, etc.

Each party can dispose of Community Property ("Property that was acquired during marriage or transmuted to Community Property) for the necessities of life, and to pay their attorney only. If you are contemplating "cleaning out" your joint checking account, or selling community property, please call us. You may be held to account for your actions, and the Community Estate may be entitled to reimbursement for what you have taken.

Each party has a fiduciary duty (legal obligation) of full disclosure to the other party. This means that you must provide full disclosure to the other party on certain matters related to the marriage such as property, assets, and the children. Failing to disclose something that you have a duty to disclose or intentionally misrepresenting a fact during the dissolution process, can and will adversely affect your case. If you have any questions, please call us.

Once a divorce action is filed and served, there are mutual automatic retraining orders placed on each party with respect to what you can and cannot do.

If there are children involved, each party has the right to see, and visit the children until a Court Order is in place which governs the same.

Neither party can secret (hide or kidnap) the children from the other. In child custody situations it is imperative to get temporary Court orders as soon as possible with respect to custody and visitation.

It is very important that you do not say bad things about the other parent to the children or in the presence of the children. This is called parental alienation, and could adversely affect your chances of getting primary custody of the children.

When it comes to child custody the Court decides custody on the basis of what is in the best interest of the children.

If you are in imminent fear of bodily harm from your spouse, or you have actually been physically harmed, call the police immediately.

Effective communication between you and our firm will be the key to resolving your case as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

We ask our clients to completely fill out all questionnaires that our firm provides to you in a timely manner. Family Law cases are paperwork intensive, and each of the questions asked in the questionnaires relate to questions that must be answered on official Judicial Counsel forms, and for the prosecution of your case. Doing paperwork is not fun, but if you want to get through your case, do not procrastinate!

If you have any questions about your case with our firm, please feel free to call us at 818-584-8831.

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