Annulment
Generally, there are three ways to legally end a marriage or domestic partnership in the state of California – divorce, legal separation, and annulment.
An annulment is a legal procedure which cancels a marriage, essentially erasing it and declaring that it either never technically existed or was not valid to begin with.
Child Custody & Parenting Plans
Navigating a divorce or separation can be difficult, both legally and emotionally. Adding a child, or children, to the equation only amplifies the complexity.
If you are involved in the dissolution of your marriage or domestic partnership and have a child, it is imperative, both legally and for the welfare of your child.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is behavior by a current or former spouse, significant other, roommate, or person you are related to through blood or marriage which involves abuse (physical, mental, sexual, or otherwise) which causes or attempts to cause you physical injury, or to fear that you or another person is in danger of physical injury, or even causes damage to your personal property.
Mediation
In the mediation process, a neutral 3rd party helps two opposing parties come to a mutually acceptable agreement.
Mediation is typically a less expensive and less emotionally draining alternative to the traditional process of litigation, or what is usually thought of as “going to court.”
Step-Parent Adoption
Typically, a step-parent adoption involves a spouse or partner who would like to adopt a child from their spouse’s previous marriage or domestic partnership. This is a delicate, but important, process, particularly if members of the previous marriage are estranged.
Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial agreements can protect your and your family’s assets and rights in the case of the dissolution of your marriage or domestic partnership. By creating an agreement prior (or even after) you are married you can insure both you and your partner against expensive litigation, emotional disagreements.
Child Support
Child Support is an ongoing payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child after the end of a marriage or other relationship. Even if you are in a good relationship with your former partner and are receiving money for the benefit of your child, if you don’t have court ordered child support then you may be putting both you and your child at risk.
Divorce
There are three primary ways to legally end a marriage or registered domestic partnership in the state of California – annulment, legal separation, and divorce.
California is a “no-fault” state, when it comes to divorce. This means that you do not have to prove that your partner has done anything wrong in order to get a divorce.
Emergency Relief
It can take six to eight weeks to get a hearing in Southern California. Though this can be a frustrating amount of time to wait for some, for others it can be dangerous – both for you and the rest of your family.
If you or your loved ones are in danger, McNamara Family Law is here to help you get to court – and to safety – as quickly as possible.
Spousal Support
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is the payment that one spouse makes to another after a divorce in order to assure the former spouse is able to meet her or his needs.
There are laws in place in California to protect a divorced spouse from being financially abandoned after the divorce.
Property Division
Next to child custody issues, the proper division and distribution of property and assets can be the most important thing your family law attorney does for you. Properly evaluating, valuing, negotiating and dividing you and your former partner’s assets will insure that you have the best possible chance.
Paternity
For a variety of reasons, it can be vital for a child’s well being to legally establish who his or her parents are.
Parentage cases are the vehicle which the court uses to establish who the legal parents of a child are, thus bestowing upon both the child & parents certain rights and privileges.