Fullerton Family Law Lawyer
A wide range of civil proceedings that resolve disputes within families falls under the umbrella of family law. Family law seeks to ensure that all parties are given an equal opportunity to be heard and to get the most significant result possible. Because they involve parties who are related, who have co-built their lives, and, at one time, shared love, family cases can be challenging and emotionally taxing. At the Dorie A. Rogers, our legal team can help those in the Fullerton area with their family law matters, providing support and skill to those in need.
Fullerton Practice Areas
Contact the Dorie A. Rogers
When you first step into our offices, we will walk you through the entire process, so you will know what to expect. Taking the time to understand your family dynamics and goals, we will help you develop a strategy at our first meeting. From that point forward, we will continue to pursue your rights in accordance with our strategy whether it is with hearings or negotiations until the time of trial or conclusion by settlement.
With our strategic planning we will be prepared from the onset to accomplish our goals regardless of the challenges we encounter. Gathering all of your financial information we will collect a complete picture as we determine if outside experts should be brought in to strengthen your case. We work with a network of forensic accountants, psychologists, and investigators in order to best assist our clients in furthering their goals. We can also refer you to counselors as needed.
What Is Family Law?
Family law deals with matters relating to families, such as child custody, separation, child support, and asset division, among other things. As they deal directly with the relationships between spouses, children, parents, and partners—which can be extremely complicated depending on the circumstance—these issues are especially more delicate than those in other areas of the law. Family law issues demand additional consideration and assistance throughout the legal process, as well as a knowledgeable legal team, because the outcomes of these cases can permanently change these familial relationships.
Common Family Law Proceedings
Family law issues are all centered around family dynamics, meaning that each of these matters concerns the relationships between different family members. Although every family law case is different, they do share similarities in terms of which category of proceedings is handled, with the most prevalent being the following:
- Divorce: A Divorce is the legally recognized dissolution of a marriage. The approval of a divorce petition during a divorce trial entails several legal obligations, such as child custody arrangements, child support obligations, and alimony obligations. Finding the appropriate divorce attorney will help those seeking dissolution move on with their lives by ensuring that the things that are most important to them and their family are secure and safe.
- Child Custody: The process of choosing a kid’s legal guardian when two parents are not living together is known as child custody. Most of the time, these decisions are made following a divorce, when parents who have a shared child separate, a child’s primary caretaker must be chosen. However, two parents are not necessary to decide custody. In California, either parent may be granted exclusive custody, or both spouses may equally share it. The parenting arrangement that both spouses have agreed upon will typically be accepted by the judge, even though she or he has the last say over custody and visitation. If the parents do not reach a consensus, the judge will decide at a court hearing.
- Child Support: Child support payments might be a lifeline for family situations led by a single parent. These children deserve a happy and secure existence free from financial stress, including school expenses and necessities like groceries. Child support can help to reduce some of that worry. A legal team determined to commit to their cases to get single parents the support needed from their non-custodial spouse is essential to sustaining a child’s well-being, as child support is often ordered as part of a divorce hearing.
- Spousal Support: Spousal support, also known as alimony or spousal maintenance, is a family law topic that establishes a payment plan between ex-spouses to help lower-income parties maintain financial stability after a divorce. For instance, if one party is the primary provider in their marriage, the divorce settlement might include a payment schedule based on that breadwinner’s income, the length of their relationship, and any outstanding financial obligations. They might then be required to make payments to their lower-earning spouse following this schedule. An ex-spouse may be forced to send money each month in addition to other obligations, such as child support if their ex-spouse receives spousal support to help them regain their financial stability.
- Property Division: The division of assets and property acquired because of a divorce is one of the major sources of contention between the parties in any divorce procedure. Fortunately, community property is not subject to any legal restrictions in North Carolina; thus, the many criteria presented by each party to the dispute can be used as the foundation for asset distribution. During the divorce’s property division phase, several criteria are considered, including the age of the spouses, earnings, health, child custody arrangements, and numerous items about how this property will be shared with both spouses.
Although these are the most common kinds of family law proceedings, the scope of family law expands to include more complicated situations like adoption or paternity testing. Each case is unique, and the factors that go into making final settlements vary on a case-by-case basis. Finding the right family law specialist for a case is essential for keeping these proceedings civil, productive, and tolerable for all parties involved.
Why Is Divorce One of the Bigger Sections of Family Law Proceedings?
Particularly in family law, divorce is one of the more delicate subjects that are often very difficult. When one party objects to the terms of a divorce that have been set forth by the other party, they may contest these claims. If a resolution cannot be reached in mediation, these cases may end up in court, where they may go through a protracted legal process that takes weeks and costs thousands of dollars to complete.
California is a no-fault divorce state, which means that either person can get a divorce without a “just cause,” such as adultery. For individuals who are not anticipating a divorce so soon, this can be upsetting. Divorce proceedings can be extremely difficult due to complications from the custody of children, child support, prenups, and asset allocation.
Does the Nature of a Relationship or a Parent’s Gender Affect Custody?
Although there is a stereotype surrounding custody agreements that assumes mothers will always retain custody of their children, gender does not affect custody agreements. In terms of relationships, who receives custody has very little to do with whether the parents were married. If paternity can be established, there aren’t many legal differences between married and single parents in terms of child custody and visitation arrangements. What is best for the child is a broad standard on which the court must base judgments regarding child custody and visitation in Fullerton, CA. The courts no longer automatically give custody to one parent over the other based on the gender of the parents. The legal system does not always give mothers or fathers custody of their children, and if found to be unable to support their children, these parents may have to relinquish their parental rights.
Family Law Matters FAQs
Q: How Much Does a Family Law Attorney Cost in California?
A: Depending on the firm chosen, the prices of a firm’s services vary based on experience and success rate. A retainer fee is a one-time payment that reserves legal counsel for specific legal services. The typical retainer cost for a family law attorney in California ranges from $3,000 to $5,000. The cost of a retainer will vary depending on the services required of a family law specialist and the length of time needed for them.
Q: Why Do You Need a Family Lawyer in California?
A: Domestic violence, divorce, child custody, adoption, and other family-related legal issues are all handled by family lawyers in collaboration with their clients. They can help with a wide range of legal difficulties, such as prenuptial agreements, custody and visitation of children, divorce, and more complicated problems like paternity challenges. These attorneys provide the legal and emotional support to handle these delicate cases with care and expertise.
Q: What Types of Cases Are Heard in Family Law Cases?
A: Family law cases typically deal with inter-familial issues, ranging from separation to issues concerning children and guardianship. One of the biggest practice areas for family law is divorce, which usually leads to custody hearings, spousal support payments, and child support orders. Still, these matters can be handled independently outside of a divorce.
Q: At What Age Can a Child Decide Which Parent To Live With in California?
A: For a child’s preference to be taken into consideration, they must be old enough and capable of reasoning enough to communicate if they would want to live with their mother or father. In California, the law permits kids up to the age of 14 to express their guardian preferences to help in custody decisions. No matter the child’s age, a judge will take their preferences into account while determining whether the custody arrangement is generally appropriate.
Finding Fullerton Family Lawyers
Family law matters require a dedicated, supportive legal team to handle them properly. Inside and outside of the courtroom, those facing any family law disputes are under copious amounts of stress, primarily when the issues at hand involve children. Seeking a legal team that understands this delicate field is imperative for finding the right team for support, and at the Dorie A. Rogers, we can provide that support network. Our Fullerton family attorneys are dedicated to those facing family law proceedings and understanding how taxing these proceedings can become. For more information on our practice, including all of our family law services, visit our website and contact us today.
“Dorie is a very powerful attorney and a great asset to have on your side in any family legal matter. She is extremely bright and insightful, and I got everything I asked for in my lawsuit.”
“I would strongly recommend Ms. Dorie Rogers for any legal needs. During my Divorce proceedings, Dorie’s professionalism, expertise in Divorce Law and legal skill helped bring my case to a close in both a timely and mutually agreeable manner.Additionally, Dorie took the time to understand me and my background to better represent me in my case. She showed a level of caring and concern that helped me through a very difficult time. She is an outstanding lawyer and wonderful person.”
“Second to none – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dorie to anyone. She was my attorney for my divorce and custody case. She will do everything it takes to get the job done and all with a smile on her face. Her knowledge and expertise will assist anyone in a family law situation get the results they want.”
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