Divorce Attorneys in Malibu, California
It is a difficult decision to get a divorce, but for many couples, it is the right choice for their family’s well-being. Getting a divorce, even when it is right for you, is a complex and emotionally draining process. Working with experienced and dedicated Malibu divorce lawyers is necessary to help you protect your interests and give you the legal and emotional support you need.
Exceptional Family Lawyers at Zitser Family Law Group, APC
There are few legal issues more complicated or pressing than those involving divorce and family law. For this very reason, high net-worth individuals throughout Malibu and California turn to Zitser Family Law Group, APC, for help, time, and time again. We have been serving high net-worth clients in California for over 20 years, and we know we have what it takes to help you, too. With so much at stake, you need a legal team that will fight, every step of the way, to protect your future. Contact Zitser Family Law Group, APC today to learn more about how we can help you through the legal process ahead.
Our Divorce Services
Those going through divorces need an attorney that understands both the emotional and the financial difficulties divorce sometimes poses. Divorce is a big leap for many people, especially those with significant assets who run the risk of losing them in equitable distribution. That is why these people need an attorney they can trust to fight for what is rightfully theirs. We are here to tell you that you can find that attorney right here at Zitser Family Law Group, APC. We assist individuals through the following divorce-related matters:
- Alimony
Alimony is not awarded in every divorce but may be necessary if parties have significant differences in income or financial assets. Alimony can be awarded by the court during the divorce process to help a spouse meet their basic needs. Alimony can also be awarded as part of the divorce decree, helping both parties maintain a similar standard of living. It is more likely to be awarded after a divorce if couples were married for a significant period of time.
- Annulments
An annulment declares a marriage invalid. The marriage may have been void, meaning it would not in any circumstances be legal. The marriage may have also been voidable, meaning that the facts of the marriage made it illegal, such as a party’s lack of capacity. Getting an annulment is different from a divorce, and can sometimes provide fewer financial protections. Some annulments do not allow the court to award alimony or divide property.
- Business Valuation
The division of property is more complicated when spouses have high-value or difficult to evaluate assets. One or both spouses may own or have interest in a business. The valuation of this property is crucial. The business and its interest over time must also be categorized as marital or separate property.
- Gray Divorce
A gray divorce has unique issues, because parties often have retirement accounts and want to provide for the interests of their adult children. Spouses should find legal support that understands these unique circumstances.
- High Profile Divorce
When you have a high net worth, celebrity status, or both, there are issues present in a divorce that are not in other divorces. You need to work with legal support that understands how to manage discretion and your divorce’s privacy, while also focusing on your financial interests. Your legal support must be skilled in divorces that receive a lot of media attention and have the resources to protect your needs while providing compassionate legal representation.
- Post-Judgment Modifications
Many court orders can be modified after a divorce or other family law case if your situation changes. Child support, child custody and parenting time, and alimony could be modified if the involved parties have a significant change in their financials or other relevant life circumstances.
- Preparing for Divorce
Divorce is a complex process. One way to make it easier on all parties is to prepare in advance and ensure you have the proper documentation for divorce discovery. An attorney can ensure you have the financial and other information you need to present.
- Property Distribution
The distribution of assets and debts is part of almost every divorce. Spouses each have an equal right to most of the property obtained during their marriage, and the court splits this community property 50/50. Spouses can also reach an agreement to split their assets out of court, as long as the court approves of the agreement.Property division requires assets to be evaluated and to determine which assets are separate and which are community. This can be a complex process, especially when couples have a lot of high-value assets.
- Separation
Legal separation means that spouses are living separately and have certain court orders comparable to divorce, but are still legally married. For some couples, this is a first step towards divorce when they do not meet certain time requirements for divorce. For others, legal separation is their preferred last step.
Family Law Services
Oftentimes, after a divorce, various family law issues will arise, such as who will get to keep the children, whether child support is in order, and more. Zitser Family Law Group, APC, is also proud to help you through various family law issues, including the following:
- Adoption
There are several methods of adoption. Domestic adoptions can be done through private agencies, the foster system, or through independent agreements between biological and adoptive parents. Private agencies also handle international adoptions. Adoptions can also happen inside a family, such as when a step-parent adopts a step-child. Each process has its own legal steps that need to be followed properly. Legal support is crucial.
- Child Custody
Child custody includes determining the legal and physical custody of a child when parents separate or divorce. This includes if one or both parents make important decisions about their child’s life, and whether a child spends equal time with each parent or lives primarily with one parent. All child custody decisions must be in the child’s best interests.
- Child Support
Child support is a payment from one parent to the other to pay for a child’s basic needs and care and is needed when parents live separately. Both parents have a legal obligation to provide financial support for their children, and child support makes sure that parents uphold that obligation when they live separately.
- Domestic Violence
Divorce and other family law cases that involve domestic violence are especially complex. Spouses should take steps to protect themselves and their children, such as by securing a restraining order. A skilled attorney can help individuals protect themselves and their rights.
- Parenting Time
Parenting time is part of a custody arrangement and is also called visitation. It determines where a child spends their time. Parents determine a parenting plan that outlines the day-to-day logistics of a custody arrangement.
- Paternity
Paternity determinations happen when parents are unmarried. Married parents are automatically the presumed biological and legal parents of a child, but unmarried parents must establish those rights. This may be done voluntarily or through court action.
- Prenuptial Agreement
Marital agreements can influence how a divorce proceeds because they can accelerate the process of dividing marital assets and debts. However, a poorly made marital agreement can add complications to the divorce.
- Move-Away Cases
Also called relocation cases, a move-away case occurs when a parent with a custody agreement wants to move. If this affects the custody agreement, and/or the other parent does not agree to the move, it must be approved by the court.
How Does a Divorce Lawyer Help Me?
Working with a divorce lawyer during your divorce helps you protect your rights, your financial future, and your family’s interests. You can feel confident that you are navigating the process correctly, and can avoid errors that may lengthen the process. A divorce can be an emotional process, making it difficult to consider objectively. An attorney can help you do this, looking out for the long-term needs of your family.
Even if you and your spouse are getting an amicable divorce, a separation agreement could still be made unfairly and fail to defend your financial interests. Your divorce lawyer helps you avoid this and negotiates a fair agreement.
Contact a Malibu, California Divorce Attorney
Our law firm has helped high net-worth individuals throughout Malibu and California for over 20 years, and we are ready to put that experience to work for you. The Zitser Family Law Group, APC will be your steadfast supporter through every step of the legal process ahead. Contact our firm today to learn more about what we can do for you.
