Westminster Family Law Attorney

Licensed since 1981, Ms. Rogers of Dorie A. Rogers, APC, has helped hundreds of California families pursue brighter futures after difficult cases. Ms. Rogers comes from a divorced home herself and understands the challenges of family law. She’s dedicated her professional life to helping her community through skilled legal care. 

Ms. Rogers has been granted certification in California as a Family Law Specialist. This level of experience and competence means she works tirelessly to secure the most favorable outcome for you.

In 2023, there were about 3,549 divorced men and 9,760 divorced women living in Westminster. When faced with a divorce, researching what to do next can be overwhelming.

California has specific rules that must be followed during family law cases. It’s important to hire a family law attorney to help you navigate legal proceedings at the West Justice Center, located at 8141 13th Street. Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in:

• California for six months
• Orange County for three months

During a divorce, couples can work through their issues. These include property division, spousal support, and child custody and support.

When deciding how to divide property during divorce, there are two types of property considered. These are:

1. Community property. This generally refers to anything acquired during the marriage. It can include real estate, personal income, physical belongings, debts, and retirement accounts. Courts will divide this property equally. 
2. Separate property. This generally refers to anything acquired before the marriage and is not divided during divorce. However, separate property can be subject to division if it becomes mixed with community property. For example, if one spouse uses income earned before marriage to make improvements on a home bought during marriage, that income would become subject to division.

Dividing property equally between spouses can be contrary to the couple’s wishes. Luckily, couples can work through their issues in mediation.

Mediation is an alternative to court, in which a professional mediator helps spouses reach an agreement on their divorce issues. The mediator doesn’t make any legal decision regarding the issues. Instead, they help both sides communicate in a healthy manner to work towards an agreement. The couple has the final say. 

Once agreed upon, the topics can be submitted to the court, where they’ll become a legal court order. If topics can’t be solved through mediation, they’ll proceed to court, where a judge will have the final say.

When determining child custody, there are a few types of options that can be considered:

1. Sole legal custody. This is a responsibility given to one parent, where they can make decisions regarding their child’s well-being. These decisions can include where the child goes to school, their healthcare plan, and their religion.
2. Joint legal custody. This is when both parents get a say in what happens to their child.
3. Sole physical custody. This is when the child lives with only one parent. The other parent will likely still get visitation rights.
4. Joint physical custody. This is when the child rotates between their parents’ households. This schedule can be customized to meet the child’s needs.

These options can be agreed upon during mediation. During mediation, you’ll want your lawyer present to help negotiate on your behalf and protect your legal rights. Mediation can help parents foster healthy communication for their child’s sake. 

If both parents can agree on custody, they’ll submit their plan to the court for final approval. Courts work in the best interests of the child and work to ensure healthy relationships between the child and both parents.