When you’re celebrating your wedding day, the last thing on your mind is how or when your marriage will end. You’re thinking about forever, not 10 years from now when everything falls apart. Divorce is a trying experience that no one should have to navigate alone. If you need to consider a divorce, working with a divorce lawyer can affect the outcome of what is already a difficult and trying situation.
San Juan Capistrano Practice Areas
Contact the Dorie A. Rogers
Dorie A. Rogers, has more than 30 years of experience and is certified as a family law specialist by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Only a small percentage of California family law lawyers who have demonstrated high ethical standards and a unique level of experience, education, knowledge and skill in family law achieve this recognition.
Contact our San Juan Capistrano divorce lawyers today to schedule a consultation with an experienced divorce lawyer. We offer a variety of representation options, including the cost-effective opportunity of working with our associate attorney, Lisa R. McCall, under the supervision of Ms. Rogers.
Getting a divorce in San Juan Capistrano can be financially burdensome, time-consuming, and emotionally difficult. Therefore, it is critical to have the support of a family lawyer who can help you work through the divorce process. A San Juan Capistrano divorce lawyer from The Dorie A. Rogers, APC, can help support your divorce needs, whether you are seeking a fast and painless divorce or have a complex case that must go through litigation.
The divorce team at The Dorie A. Rogers, APC, has years of experience working on divorce cases in the San Juan Capistrano area. We have worked with clients on issues related to child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. A knowledgeable divorce lawyer from our firm can analyze the details of your case, address any underlying questions, doubts, or concerns that you may have, and help you work toward optimal divorce case outcomes.
Q: What Is the San Juan Capistrano Divorce Process?
A: The divorce process in San Juan Capistrano is similar to the general process in the state of California, but the details may vary depending on the judge or other stakeholders in the local courts. Typically, a divorce process in San Juan Capistrano follows the following steps:
- File the Divorce Papers. The party who first files the divorce papers is known as the Petitioner, and after the divorce papers are submitted, the divorce process is officially initiated. A copy of the divorce papers must be served to the other party, or the Respondent.
- Wait for the Respondent. The Respondent has a time period of 30 days to respond to the divorce petition. If they do not respond, the divorce process will still continue.
- The Discovery Process. During the discovery process, each party in the divorce is required to disclose all information that is related to their financial situation.
- Decide on the Divorce Agreement. After all of the information has been brought forward, both divorcing parties will have to decide how they will split the property and make other major decisions about the divorce.
- Go to Court. If the terms of the divorce agreement cannot be decided upon outside of court through strategies such as mediation, then a judge will have to decide on a fair outcome for the divorce case.
- Submit the Final Papers. After the divorce settlement has been determined, either out of court or in court, the final papers will need to be submitted to the court clerk. There is a waiting period in which the judge needs to review the forms and sign off on them.
The divorce process is officially over when each party receives the signed judgment document. If you are unsure about how your divorce process might look due to certain circumstances in your case, the family law team at The Dorie A. Rogers, APC, can assist you.
Q: How Can I Avoid Going to Court for a San Juan Capistrano Divorce?
A: If you are currently going through a California divorce, you will likely want to carry out the process as quickly and efficiently as possible so that you can adjust to your new family arrangements and move forward with your life. Fortunately, there are multiple options that can help you avoid long and strenuous court processes.
Q: What Is Mediation?
A: Mediation is a process that involves a neutral party who is not a legal representative of either spouse involved in the divorce. They will typically facilitate discussion and help resolve disputes about certain topics, such as child custody and support. In the case that mediation can resolve all issues, you can avoid court, therefore reducing the overall time and money spent on the divorce.
Collaborative Divorce in San Juan Capistrano
A collaborative divorce is another strategy that can help two parties in a divorce process avoid going to court. It requires each party to appoint their own divorce lawyer. Additionally, a diverse and experienced team of professionals, including mental health professionals, financial advisors, and more, all work together to help the parties come to an agreement.
Each spouse meets separately with their lawyer to discuss their needs and wishes, and then the teams will all meet together to work through disputes in the divorce. This is a strategic way to leverage manpower and avoid the courts. If you are unsure about which type of divorce is appropriate for your case, a compassionate family lawyer from The Dorie A. Rogers, APC, can assist you.
Child Custody and Child Support
If there are children involved in your divorce in San Juan Capistrano, our empathetic and experienced team understands that it is critical to reach a divorce agreement that prioritizes the well-being of your children. Our team of lawyers can help you fight for a child custody arrangement that will benefit your child and keep you informed about the details of determining child support amounts.
While there is a minimum amount of child support that can be ordered by the California courts, it’s important to understand that more child support can be asked for in a divorce agreement. If the courts sign off on this agreement, then the child support payments can be enforced by law.
For example, expenses such as college and university-related expenses after the child turns 18 can be covered in a divorce agreement, even though it is not required by law as part of the minimum child support requirements. If your case goes to court, the judge will take certain factors into account, such as the income of each parent and the needs of the child, when making decisions about child support payments.
If you are concerned about the well-being of your child and how the outcome of your divorce may impact their life, the family law team at our law firm can work directly with you to procure a divorce settlement that puts their needs first. We can answer any questions you may have about child custody and support and help you optimize your divorce case for your child.
Family Law Divorce Attorney FAQs
Q: Can I Get Sole Custody Over My Child in California?
A: While it is possible to be granted sole physical custody and legal custody over your child in California, it is difficult to do so. This is because California courts consider it to be in the best interests of children to have a strong presence of both parents in their lives. However, in cases such as alcohol and drug addiction, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse, CA courts will put the protection of the child first and grant sole custody.
Q: Will I Have to Pay For My Spouse’s CA Divorce Lawyer?
A: In California, it’s important that both parties will have an opportunity to represent themselves legally in a divorce case. In order to protect this right, a CA court may order one spouse to pay for another spouse under certain circumstances, such as if they earn more money. If you are unsure about who will pay for your legal fees, it’s important to contact an experienced family lawyer who can advise you based on your case details.
Q: What Is the Cost of a CA Divorce?
A: In the state of California, the cost of a divorce can vary from under one thousand dollars to thousands of dollars. The costs of a divorce include the filing fees, other court fees, and attorney fees, along with any money or assets that you may lose in the divorce. An uncontested divorce is typically much less expensive than a contested divorce because attorneys will spend much more time on a contentious court battle than a quick divorce process.
Q: How Long Does the Fastest Divorce in CA Take?
A: The simplest and fastest divorce in California is an uncontested divorce or summary dissolution of marriage. Overall, this process will last a minimum of six months, and there are four major steps to the process. It’s important to work with a family lawyer who is upfront and transparent about deadlines and the divorce timeline for your case so that you can plan accordingly.
Q: What Can a Wife Get in a California Divorce?
A: In the California divorce process, both parties in the marriage are entitled to the same benefits throughout the divorce process. Each party has a right to spousal support, child custody, child support, and half of the marriage’s community property. When determining what is fair and equitable in a divorce agreement, courts will take into account factors such as the length of a marriage and the income of each party, but sex or gender is not taken into account.
Work With a Dedicated and Experienced San Juan Capistrano Divorce Lawyer
If you are considering a divorce or have decided to go through with the process, it’s important to get experienced and compassionate legal support. The divorce team at The Dorie A. Rogers, APC, has years of experience helping clients work through complex divorce cases so they can start to look toward the future. Contact a team member today to start discussing 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.”
“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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