How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Family Law Attorney in California?

The cost of hiring a family law attorney tends to vary case by case in California. Your overall cost will be influenced by variables specific to your claim, including the time required to reach a resolution and the complexity of your case. You should ask your attorney about their pricing structure during your initial consultation.

What Is the Difference Between a Family Law Attorney and a Divorce Attorney in California?

Family law is an umbrella term that encapsulates any legal matter involving family matters. This means a family lawyer can assist you with most family law cases, including divorce, adoption, mediation, and more. However, many divorce lawyers focus on just divorce proceedings, meaning they may not be able to assist you with other family law matters, like adoption, for example.

When Should I Hire a Family Law Attorney in California?

If you are experiencing or expecting to face legal complications regarding a family matter in California, you may benefit from the help of a family law attorney. While you can hire one at any time during the process, many individuals have found that doing so from the start can protect you from unwanted confusion, disputes, and delays. You may be able to avoid unwanted setbacks and achieve your desired outcomes faster than if you had tried to start your case alone.

Do You Need to Have a Family Law Attorney Representing You in Family Court in California?

In the state of California, it is legal to handle a family law case without hiring a family law attorney to represent you. However, most individuals who have gone through the process would recommend that you hire a family lawyer who can protect your rights and fight for your interests. Due to the complex nature of family law, disputes, errors, and delays can easily occur without a skilled lawyer by your side.

Garden Grove Family Law Attorney

Garden Grove Family Law Lawyer

Family law can be emotional and extensive, depending on the type of case and family dynamics. No matter your situation, you should work with a Garden Grove family law attorney during legal proceedings. An attorney can help ensure your rights are protected throughout the entirety of your case.

Contact 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.

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Experienced Family Law Attorney in California

For over 30 years, Ms. Rogers of Dorie A. Rogers, APC has helped California clients find closure in their legal cases. She has personal experience with the hardships of family law, having grown up in a divorced home. She understands how isolating it can feel and strives to be a strong support system for her clients.

Ms. Rogers is a California board-certified Family Law Specialist. She knows what’s at stake for you and your family and fights tirelessly for her clients, no matter how complex the case.

California Divorce Laws

With 6% to 10% of Garden Grove residents being divorced in 2023, knowing what to expect in your case can be pivotal to the outcome.

To start divorce proceedings, at least one spouse must have lived in the state for 6 months before filing. They must also have lived in Orange County for at least three months. Divorce petitions for Garden Grove residents are filed at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, located at 341 The City Drive South in Orange.

During legal proceedings, spouses will have the opportunity to work through their divorce issues together. These issues can include:

Division of property. The average income in California in 2023 was $96,334. The average home value was $695,400. A person going through a divorce needs to hire a family law attorney for extra protection during the case.
Spousal support payments
Child custody and child support

The Benefits of Mediation

When addressing divorce topics, spouses can work together to reach a decision before court intervention. This is called mediation.

Mediation is conducted by a neutral third-party, called a mediator. They don’t make any legal decisions; instead, they help couples communicate to resolve issues before the court has to decide. This helps couples maintain control over the outcome of their case. During mediation, you’ll want to have your lawyer present to protect your rights and negotiate on your behalf. Mediation has many benefits, including being:

Less expensive than court
Less time-consuming than court
Private
An easy way to maintain a healthy relationship with your ex, even after the divorce is finalized. This can be especially beneficial for couples with children who need to communicate long after divorce.

The Importance of a Parenting Plan in a California Child Custody Case

In 2023, Garden Grove had 50,343 households. Around 8,055 homes had a female householder, and around 3,524 had a male householder. Deciding on child custody can be extremely difficult for couples. The outcome of a child custody case affects not only you, but also your child’s future well-being.

Entering the custody case with a well-drafted parenting plan can make the process easier. A parenting plan outlines your ideas for various aspects of your child’s life, such as:

Where they will live on a day-to-day basis
Visitation
How holidays and special occasions will be handled
Pick-up and drop-off schedules
Where they will go to school
How their religion and healthcare will be handled
How their extracurriculars and hobbies will be handled

If both parents can agree on a parenting plan, it’ll be submitted to the Lamoreaux Justice Center for final approval. If they can’t cooperate, a judge will decide custody.

FAQs

What Are the Two Types of Property Considered in a California Divorce?

The two types of property considered in a California divorce are community and separate property. Community property is generally anything gained during the marriage by either spouse. This includes income, debts, retirement accounts, real estate, and personal belongings.

Separate property is typically anything gained before marriage. Community property is divided during divorce, but separate property usually remains untouched, unless it becomes mixed with community property.

How Do Courts in California Divide Property in a California Divorce?

California courts divide community property equally during divorce. This typically runs counter to the couple’s wishes, making it important to resolve matters in mediation, if possible. If topics can’t be resolved in mediation, they’ll escalate to court, where a judge will have the final say. For married couples with a long history together, having a stranger decide the outcome of their future can be heartbreaking.

How Is Spousal Support Decided in California?

Spousal support is decided either by the couple during mediation or by California courts. Courts make their decisions based on a variety of factors. These include the length of the marriage, the standard of living during marriage, and the health and age of both spouses. They will also consider each spouse’s financial obligations, tax consequences, income, and earning potential.

If one spouse contributed non-financial contributions during marriage, such as raising a child, that’ll be factored in.

What Are the Different Types of Child Custody in California?

There are a few different types of child custody that can be granted in California. Sole legal custody is when only one parent has the responsibility to make legal decisions for their child, such as healthcare and education. Joint legal custody is when both parents share this role. When sole physical custody is granted, the child lives with one parent full-time. Joint physical custody is when the child lives with both parents on a custom schedule.

What Is the Difference Between a Marriage and a Domestic Partnership in California?

The difference between a marriage and a domestic partnership is that while both are legally binding, they offer different pros and cons. Married couples receive full legal rights under state and federal law. Domestic partnerships provide similar rights but aren’t recognized in most states.

This means that domestic partners don’t receive certain marital benefits, such as federal tax benefits. It was once used by LGBTQ+ couples, but now all California couples can register for a domestic partnership.

Hire a Family Law Attorney That You Can Trust

Reach out to Dorie A. Rogers, APC, today to schedule your consultation with Ms. Rogers. You don’t have to go through your case by yourself. During difficult times in life, people need others in their corner. Choose Ms. Rogers to be the one to guide you through your case.

“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.”

Brit B.

“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.”

Alan M. Greenberg

“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.”

Todd M.