Highly-Rated Divorce Attorney in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Experienced Family Law Attorney Serving San Bernardino County
Divorce can be an emotional process, but it doesn't have to be difficult. At Family Law Advocacy Group, our experienced divorce attorneys serving Rancho Cucamonga understand the complexity presented in many divorce cases and we are prepared to meet those challenges head-on so that you can get the resolution you are after.
Are you considering divorce in Rancho Cucamonga? Maybe you have made the decision to file or have recently been served divorce papers. No matter your case, an experienced Rancho Cucamonga family law lawyers at Family Law Advocacy Group can help. We exist to ensure that your rights are protected and your best interests are prioritized.
Our Rancho Cucamonga family attorneys handle all contested and uncontested divorce proceedings. Call us at (909) 992-0188 or contact us online today!
How We Can Help
Since California is a "no fault" state, even if one spouse does not want to proceed with the divorce, no specific grounds to end the marriage are needed other than irreconcilable differences. The only requirement for divorcing in California is that you be a California resident for at least six consecutive months.
We are equipped to handle all types of divorce cases:
- Marital Property Division - Dividing marital assets and debts between the spouses. This can include real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments, household items, and debts accrued during the marriage. The division is often guided by principles of equitable distribution, which may not necessarily mean an equal split but a fair one based on various factors such as each spouse's contributions to the marriage and their respective financial needs.
- Child Custody - Determining which parent will have primary physical custody of any children from the marriage, as well as legal custody, which involves decision-making authority regarding the child's upbringing, education, healthcare, and other important matters.
- Visitation Rights - A plan that is made to determine how the custodial and non-custodial parents will share time with the child or children.
- Child Support - Establishing financial support arrangements for the children, typically paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to cover expenses related to the children's upbringing, such as housing, food, clothing, education, and healthcare.
- Spousal Support - Determining whether one spouse will be required to provide financial support to the other spouse following the divorce, and if so, the amount and duration of such support. This is typically based on factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and earning potential, and any financial disparities between the spouses.
- Collaborative Divorce - Allows couples to resolve their divorce issues without involving the court system.
- Gray Divorce - Also known as silver splitting or late-life divorce, refers to the growing trend of couples in long-term relationships who decide to end their marriage later in life, after at least two decades together.
- High Net Worth Divorce - In divorces involving couples with substantial assets, including multiple properties, investments, businesses, and high-income earners, the complexities of property division and financial settlements can be heightened. Valuation of assets, tax implications, prenuptial agreements, and the protection of wealth are significant considerations in high net worth divorces.
- Military Divorce - Military divorces involve unique legal considerations, including jurisdictional issues if the spouses are stationed in different states or countries, the division of military pensions and benefits, the impact of deployments on custody arrangements, and adherence to military regulations governing support and benefits.
- Divorce For Men - While divorce laws apply equally to both men and women, men may face specific challenges or perceptions during divorce proceedings, such as biases in child custody determinations or spousal support awards. Issues related to fathers' rights, parental alienation, and stereotypes about gender roles may also arise.
- Divorce For Women - Women may encounter their own set of challenges during divorce, including concerns about financial stability post-divorce, particularly if they were not the primary earners in the marriage. Issues such as alimony, child support, and maintaining custody rights may be significant considerations for women during divorce proceedings.
Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in California
In California, divorces can be categorized into two main types: contested and uncontested.
A contested divorce occurs when the spouses are unable to reach an agreement on one or more key issues related to the divorce, such as child custody, child support, spousal support, or property division. In a contested divorce, the spouses typically require court intervention to resolve their disputes. This may involve litigation, where each spouse presents their case before a judge, who then makes decisions on contested issues based on evidence and applicable laws.
In contrast, an uncontested divorce occurs when the spouses are able to reach an agreement on all key issues related to the divorce without the need for court intervention. In an uncontested divorce, the spouses collaborate to draft a comprehensive marital settlement agreement that outlines their agreements on issues such as child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. Once the marital settlement agreement is finalized, it is submitted to the court for approval. If the court finds the agreement fair and equitable, it will issue a divorce decree, finalizing the divorce.
Contested divorces tend to be more time-consuming, expensive, and emotionally draining for both parties involved. They may also result in more adversarial relationships between the spouses. Legal representation is often essential in contested divorces to protect the interests of each spouse and navigate the complexities of the legal process.
On the other hand, uncontested divorces are typically faster, less expensive, and less emotionally taxing compared to contested divorces. They also allow the spouses to maintain greater control over the outcome of their divorce. While legal representation is not always required in uncontested divorces, it can still be beneficial to consult with an attorney to ensure that the terms of the settlement agreement are fair and legally sound.
Filing for Divorce in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
To file for divorce in Rancho Cucamonga, you will have to file divorce paperwork with San Bernardino County. Divorce has many different facets—usually more for couples who have been married a substantial amount of time, have children, or have a lot of property/debts. In addition to divorce paperwork, many spouses also have to file support orders (spousal and child), custody orders, and division of property orders.
The process for filing for divorce is summarized below:
- Complete a petition for divorce
- Complete a family law summons
- Complete any additional forms (custody, support, property division, etc.)
- File all completed forms to the clerk of the court in your jurisdiction and pay a fee
- If you are the one petitioning for the divorce, you will have to serve your spouse the divorce papers – although you are the one initiating the action, someone else will have to carry out the actual "serving" such as a friend or relative over the age of 18.
- This next step is particularly important for property division purposes. You must fill out a financial disclosure form disclosing all assets and debts.
The divorce filing process can get complex, so we strongly encourage you to contact our firm.
Divorce FAQs
How Do I Know if I Will Be Able to Get Spousal Support?
The court determines which partner is eligible to receive spousal support based on a certain formula, which includes the length of the marriage, the earning capacity of each partner, and the lifestyle changes that will take place when the marriage is dissolved.
A marriage over 10 years is considered a marriage of long duration and one ex-spouse may be required to pay spousal support for the life of the other person, or until remarriage. In some cases, neither party will be awarded spousal support. In other cases, there is temporary support ordered by the court while one ex-spouse is retrained to increase their ability to earn a living.
How Can I Be Sure that I Will Get Custody?
In Rancho Cucamonga and nearby areas, the court will focus on the best interests of the children. They usually look for a solution in which both parents can spend time with the children, whether in visitation or shared child custody.
When there are factors that are a danger to the child or children, such as drug use, alcoholism or other factors, the court will likely determine that the parent exhibiting these behaviors will have certain restrictions and would likely not get physical custody. Accusations regarding drug or alcohol or other factors must be fully documented and proven.
Is There Any Way to Avoid a Court Case in a Divorce?
If you and your ex choose to resolve all the vital matters of your divorce, including child custody, child support, visitation, property division and spousal support and can do so without intervention, you have the bonus of being allowed to divorce with your own decision making determining the outcome. This also allows you to avoid exposing your personal business in open court. These divorces must have the agreements fully and correctly documented for the court.
How Long Before a Divorce Is Final?
The state requires six months after the divorce papers have been served. Once all court matters have been resolved and agreements reached, the divorce can move towards being finalized.
How Much is a Divorce Lawyer?
There are a few different fees you can expect to pay for your divorce. To simply file in California, the cost is $435. If your spouse responds, he or she must also pay the same amount. A lot of our clients ask us, "How much does a divorce cost?" and we want to be clear about the court fees first and foremost, because they often take people by surprise. In addition to filing, you may also need to pay for financial analysts, appraisers, child custody evaluators, or mediation. This can all add up to about $2,000 on average.
California is the priciest state in the US to go through a divorce. Naturally, you're going to want to look for ways to cut those costs and look into hiring an affordable divorce attorney as well. Don't forget that a good outcome with an expert team is invaluable and has lifelong effects. The cheapest attorney may end up costing you in other ways.
Attorney fees are very dependent on the case. If it isn't contested, fees are typically lower. If it goes to trial, the cost will be a little bit more. At Family Law Advocacy group, we help alleviate financial concerns by giving you a consultation free of charge. We will review all fees with you and make sure you know what to expect.
Other Divorce Questions
- How Will Infidelity or Adultery Affect My Divorce Case?
- How to Best Prepare for a Divorce
- Should I File For Divorce First?
Our Divorce Lawyers Serving Rancho Cucamonga Can Help
When you trust your divorce to us, you can be confident knowing we have the legal skill, knowledge, and experience to guide you through the process. Our experienced Rancho Cucamonga family lawyers are prepared to both aggressively fight for your best interests in front of a judge and peacefully negotiate a favorable outcome.
Contact our divorce lawyers serving Rancho Cucamonga for a FREE initial consultation! We look forward to providing the exceptional counsel you need. Give us a call today.
Trusted, Respected, & Highly Recommended
At Family Law Advocacy Group, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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"They will work until they get the best outcome for your case."They are very caring, compassionate and understanding. Family Law Advocacy Group puts themselves in your shoes. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!- Briana Gastelum
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"Family Law Advocacy Group has been a godsend and I can't thank them enough for all that they've done."I know how difficult it is to find a new attorney to handle such personal matters in your life so I feel fortunate to have engaged them.- J Kim
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"They are very confident attorneys despite the complexity of the case and show up READY!"Family Law Advocacy Group are true professionals! They were quick to prepare on such short notice; organized, punctual and calm under pressure. They have equal amounts of empathy as they do fight.- Sari De La Cerra
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"Family Law Advocacy Group provides some of the best law services around."My attorney is responsive, thorough, and made sure I had complete understanding of my options. And, to those whom are reading this, don't go to court without him. And for those who find themselves at the opposite table of Family Law Advocacy Group, PRAY...- Darrel Gomez
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"I am so grateful to have found someone who takes interest in their clients and cares."Family Law Advocacy Group has some of the few attorneys who are very attentive to detail and what is in the best interest of their clients.- Rachel Bello