Divorce Attorneys in Pacific Palisades, California
The decision to get a divorce is rarely an easy one, but for many couples, it is a necessary decision. Getting a divorce does not have to be done through litigation, and many divorces are resolved by negotiation between spouses. This process helps protect the privacy of all parties and can ease the stress of the process. Finding the right Pacific Palisades divorce lawyers is crucial to determining how to resolve your divorce and navigate the complex legal and financial processes.
You want to work with an exceptional divorce lawyer who knows how important compassionate and private legal representation is. A lawyer must also be able to manage complex financial assets and help you negotiate a custody arrangement that meets everyone’s needs and schedules. It is important that the legal team you work with has the proper resources and experience in divorce cases similar to yours.
Zitser Family Law Group, APC: Dedicated and Individualized Legal Representation
Here at Zitser Family Law Group, APC we have made assisting families and couples facing complicated legal issues our mission for over 20 years. Regardless of whether you are just beginning the divorce process or are looking to hire an attorney who can help your family with issues that often ensue after a divorce, we are here to help. High net-worth individuals have a lot on the line, which is why they require nothing more than the highest-quality legal assistance. Our firm has helped clients across Pacific Palisades for years, and we are proud to do the same for you. For quality legal representation that you can trust, contact the experienced California divorce attorneys at Zitser Family Law Group, APC today.
Our Divorce Services
A divorce is often made up of numerous other family law cases, including child custody and support, alimony, and the division of property. Each of these elements is affected by the divorce proceedings, including whether it is contested or uncontested, and whether it is litigated or mediated.
Regardless of the method of the divorce, it must be approved by the court, be fair to both spouses, and be in the interests of their children. An experienced attorney can defend your rights.
At Zitser Family Law Group, APC, our attorneys have been helping Pacific Palisades clients through the divorce process for over 20 years. Some of the various divorce-related issues that our firm can guide you through are as follows:
- Alimony
Alimony enables both spouses after a divorce to maintain a similar standard of living, by requiring the spouse with greater income or more financial assets to pay an amount to the other spouse. Alimony can also be awarded during the divorce proceedings depending on the financial needs of a spouse.
- Annulments
An annulment states that a marriage never existed, and can only be secured for specific reasons, such as bigamy, lack of capacity, or incest. In some cases, getting an annulment prevents the court from dividing a couple’s property or awarding alimony.
- Business Valuation
When a couple’s property is divided, this includes any businesses that either party owns or co-owns. It takes experienced professionals to determine if these businesses are separate or community property and evaluate them accurately.
- Gray Divorce
Gray divorces are unique due to the inclusion of significant retirement assets and accounts. Couples also tend to have different priorities, including the inheritance rights of their adult children or grandchildren, and worries about their financial care following retirement.
- High Profile Divorce
A divorce may be high profile because of the high net worth of either or both parties or because of either spouse’s celebrity status. These cases garner public and media attention and need to be treated with exceptional care. The privacy of the entire family is critical.Parties need legal support that can accommodate these unique needs. This legal representation must also be able to navigate the complex financial needs and fairly address the high standard of living a couple is used to.
- Post-Judgment Modifications
Modifications of certain orders in a divorce are possible when a family’s life has changed significantly. It is important that your alimony, child support, and child custody orders meet the interests of all parties.
- Preparing for Divorce
Spouses can speed up the process of their divorce by gathering all the relevant information prior to divorce discovery.
- Property Distribution
Property distribution in a divorce is the division of a couple’s marital assets. Both spouses have equal claim to the assets they obtained during their marriage, with some exceptions. The court divides community property 50/50. Spouses can also reach an agreement out of court, and it will generally be approved unless it is unconscionable.
- Separation
Legal separation enables couples to divide their assets, determine custody, and assign alimony, while still remaining legally married.
Family Law Services
Pacific Palisades families often face various complications after a divorce, which is why our firm will apply our knowledge of the law to compassionately assist those families through these emotionally-taxing times. Some of the many family law issues that we can help you with include the following:
- Adoption
The process of adopting a child provides an exciting new future for a family, either growing their family or bringing it closer together. Adoption must follow the correct legal processes, whether it is facilitated by a private or public agency, or parents have an independent agreement. Intra-family adoptions also have specific requirements.
Working with the right family law attorney can ease the strain and complexity of the process, ensure you meet those requirements, and allow you to focus on the exciting changes in your family.
- Child Custody
Parents who separate or divorce must determine how they will each provide continued care and support to their children. This can often be an emotionally contentious part of a divorce.
Custody determinations outline legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is the ability of one or both parents to make decisions for their children, like those regarding healthcare, religious upbringing, and schooling. Physical custody determines how a child splits their time between their parents and their parents’ homes. If parents can’t agree, the court will decide these issues. The custody arrangement must be in the child’s interests.
- Child Support
Parents have a financial responsibility for their children. When parents have a custody arrangement, child support payments ensure each parent is providing a proportional amount of financial support.
The parent with more parenting time must pay for more of a child’s daily needs, so they often receive support payments. A parent with greater income may also be the party responsible for payments. The court looks at the child’s financial needs, the income of each parent, the custody agreement, and other factors when determining payment amounts.
- Domestic Violence
Domestic violence should be taken very seriously. Individuals and families dealing with these dangerous home situations need to take court action to protect themselves. Filing a restraining order can be an effective step in this process.
In a divorce case, domestic violence can impact several decisions made in a divorce decree. Evidence of domestic violence can limit or prohibit that parent’s ability to have custody, which can affect child support. Domestic violence can also affect the awarding of alimony. While California has no fault-based reasons for divorce, domestic violence can still impact the divorce proceedings. It’s important to work with an attorney who can handle these sensitive cases.
- Parenting Time
Parenting time is the current term for visitation, which is determined as part of the custody arrangement. Parents may have joint physical custody with near-equal parenting time, or one parent may have sole physical custody and the other parent has significant parenting time.
Whatever the custody determination, a parenting plan is generally made to determine the specifics of the arrangement. This includes when a child will spend time at each parent’s home, how parents will pick up and drop off their child, their child’s school and extracurriculars schedule, and other logistics necessary for a successful custody agreement.
- Paternity
Unmarried parents must establish paternity for their child to ensure both parents have legal and biological parental rights. This includes the right to make decisions for their children, have custody, and give or receive child support. Determining paternity may be important if a couple is separating, or they had children prior to marrying and are now divorcing. If a child’s parents are not legally determined, it is important to do so prior to a custody arrangement.
Parents are able to voluntarily establish parental rights. If either parent is unsure about the child’s parentage, or either parent refuses to establish paternity, then a paternity case can be opened with the court.
- Prenuptial Agreement
Prenuptial agreements are the most commonly used type of marital agreement, which partners use to outline their property rights and responsibilities prior to marriage. The agreement goes into effect when they are married. The agreement can outline what each spouse can do with assets and debts during marriage, in the event of either spouse’s death, or if the couple gets divorced.
In a divorce, a prenuptial agreement can often be useful, making the process of dividing assets and debt much faster. However, if the agreement is unfair or otherwise invalid, it is important that this is addressed to protect both parties. A poorly made prenuptial agreement can make the divorce more complicated and require parties to start from scratch when negotiating the division of their property.
- Move-Away Cases
These are also called relocation cases. They are necessary when parents have a custody arrangement, one parent wants to move with their children, and this move would affect the custody arrangement. Relocation cases can also occur if the move does not affect the custody arrangement but the other parent does not consent to the move. A parent who wants to move in these cases may have to prove that the move is beneficial for their child.
How Can a Divorce Attorney Help Me?
A divorce attorney helps you protect your personal and financial interests and secure a fair divorce decree. It is much more difficult to do this without an attorney, even when you and your spouse are trying to create a fair agreement.
Errors and misunderstandings can still leave you without the finances you need to support yourself, or without a fair custody arrangement. You may also make an agreement the court doesn’t approve of, forcing you to start over. When you work with legal representation, they can help you look out for your interests, and protect your rights to fair property division and support. You are more likely to secure a beneficial outcome with legal support.
If you and your spouse are not amicable, legal representation is even more important. You need to protect your rights, especially if your spouse has power over you in negotiations. An attorney can help you determine how to navigate your divorce so that it protects your rights and your privacy.
An attorney has years of legal experience in family law that they can apply to your unique case, and is a professional negotiator. A divorce lawyer helps you reach the most beneficial solution for your entire family.
Contact a Pacific Palisades, California Divorce Attorney
If you are in California and are ready to go through the divorce process or have another family law issue, you must speak with an experienced attorney as soon as you can. Zitser Family Law Group, APC has the knowledge, compassion, and skill needed to represent your best interests through every step of the legal process ahead. Contact Zitser Family Law Group, APC today.
