Corona Divorce Attorney Legal Representation

Divorce is never an easy process, even when you and your spouse know your marriage is beyond saving and needs to end. However, there is no single “right” way to handle the divorce process. Every marriage is unique, and every divorce will entail unique issues. If you want to approach your divorce case with confidence and peace of mind, it is essential to secure legal representation from an experienced Corona divorce attorney.

The Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey offer more than 30 years of experience in a wide range of family law cases, including divorces of all kinds. We have successfully helped many past clients navigate their divorce cases by providing them with robust and meticulous legal support through all phases of their cases. Our team is ready to put this experience to work for you in your Corona, CA divorce case.

Why Should I Hire a Corona, CA Divorce Attorney?

If you think you can handle your divorce case without a lawyer, it is essential to understand what your case is likely to entail and the incredible value a reliable Corona divorce lawyer can offer. First, a divorce case requires meeting strict filing requirements and deadlines with the family court. Meeting these obligations while also managing your personal life and your work schedule can be incredibly difficult, even if you think your divorce is straightforward. Second, an individual with no legal training is likely to overlook key areas of concern in any given divorce case. This will complicate proceedings and likely lead to a protracted court battle, various modification proceedings, and many other issues.

Hiring a Corona divorce attorney is an investment in your success with your divorce case. Your attorney can help you manage the most important aspects of your divorce, including property division, child custody determination, and spousal support, if applicable to your situation. Ultimately, having legal counsel you can trust makes the entire process much easier.

What You Can’t Say to Divorce Attorneys?

If you have never worked with an attorney before, it is important to understand the attorney-client relationship and what you can expect from the attorney. While it’s vital to provide your attorney with as much information as possible and be honest in all your discussions, there are some things you should not say to your divorce lawyer:

• “I don’t care about legal costs. I just want my spouse to pay.” Being vindictive during divorce is never a good idea, and telling a prospective attorney that legal fees do not matter to you may encourage them to charge you more than they would otherwise.
• “I want my friend to come with me for support during our meetings.” You may believe that a friend could help you by providing moral support or backing up your claims about your divorce, but this could essentially destroy attorney-client privilege.
• “I will never pay my ex any child support or alimony.” Even if you feel confident about how your divorce will turn out, you should never say never when it comes to your divorce case. As the case progresses and you learn more about your legal obligations, you will likely be forced to rethink those statements in the future.

Keep these tips in mind during your discussions with your attorney. Be honest and clear about your expectations and goals, but make sure you fully understand the attorney’s billing policy before agreeing to their representation.

How Do I Keep a Divorce Lawyer with No Money?

Many Americans assume legal fees to be prohibitively expensive, and this belief, unfortunately, deters many people from securing legal counsel when they need it most. However, attorneys’ fees can be expensive in some situations, so it is vital for anyone seeking representation from a Corona divorce lawyer to know how to choose the right divorce attorney and understand the attorneys’ billing policies before agreeing to their representation.

If you are concerned about the cost of your legal fees, there are a few things you should keep in mind during the outset of your case. First, see if you can find a lawyer who offers flat fee billing, meaning they charge specific rates for various legal services. You can also take out a loan or secure alternative financing to help you cover the cost of your attorneys’ fees. Be careful if you are thinking about liquidating any assets such as a retirement account or stock portfolio to pay for your attorney. If any of these assets qualify as community property, they are subject to division in divorce.

In some cases, you may have room to argue for attorneys’ fees as part of your divorce settlement. For example, if you are filing for divorce in response to spousal abuse, your family law lawyer may successfully argue that you are eligible to claim attorneys’ fees in your divorce resolution because of your experience.

What Does a Typical Divorce Case Include?

Every divorce case is unique, but all divorces filed in Corona, CA must unfold according to California state law. The Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey can provide ongoing legal counsel through every aspect of your divorce case. Most divorces filed in Corona, CA include:

• Property division proceedings. California enforces a strict community property law for divorce, meaning divorcing spouses must equally split all their community property in a divorce. Our firm can help you establish separate ownership rights over your separate property to prevent its division, and we can also ensure you and your spouse’s financial disclosure statements are complete and accurate.
• Spousal support determination. When one spouse earns significantly more income than the other, the higher-earning spouse is likely to owe alimony or spousal support when they divorce. Our team can ensure your spousal support determination is as fair and reasonable as possible, accounting for all relevant factors.
• Child custody. If you and your spouse have children together, the most important aspect of your divorce case will be determining parental rights and responsibilities. Your custody agreement must suit your child’s best interests. Our goal is to help you reach the best possible outcome to this part of the divorce process and empower you to move forward with an effective coparenting arrangement with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
• Child support. Divorcing parents are expected to equally contribute to the financial cost of raising their children. The court will review each parent’s custody rights, income, and various other factors to determine which parent owes child support to the other.

Some divorce cases may also entail more complicated issues, such as determining the division of complex investments and high net worth assets, orders of protection in response to domestic violence, and prenuptial contracts that aim to serve as blueprints for the divorce process. The family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey can help you navigate these issues successfully, ultimately obtaining a divorce order that suits you and your children’s best interests as closely as possible. Our team can also advise you of the effects your divorce is likely to have on your estate.

Divorce Mediation Vs. Litigation in Corona, California

You have options when it comes to determining how to handle your divorce. While many people imagine emotionally tense court battles, the reality is that most divorcing couples do their best to avoid litigation as much as possible. Litigating a divorce is stressful, expensive, and time-consuming. Alternative dispute resolution methods, such as divorce mediation, offer a more streamlined process that can save you time, money, and stress.

During mediation, the divorcing spouses and their respective legal teams meet privately with a neutral, specially trained mediator. This mediator may not hold any conflicts of interest that would favor either spouse or offer any direct legal advice to either spouse. Their job is to keep discussions focused and productive to help the divorcing spouses draft their divorce agreement.

The only real requirement for divorce mediation is that both spouses must be open to attempting it. If both you and your spouse agree to explore mediation, you can take full advantage of the benefits it offers and potentially secure a favorable outcome to your divorce in a much shorter time than you may have initially expected.

How Your Divorce Attorney Can Help You

Facing a divorce is an emotionally challenging situation that can dredge up many negative emotions. This causes some individuals to make rash and ill-advised decisions during the early stages of their divorce cases that they may later regret. The best way to avoid this risk is by hiring an experienced Corona divorce attorney to represent you.

When you choose the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey to represent you in divorce, our attorneys take the time necessary to get to know you, your family, and your goals for the resolution of your case. While virtually every divorce case will require compromise to some degree, our firm can provide the full scope of our professional resources and experience to deliver the best results for your family. The sooner you begin working on your divorce case, the better your chances are of securing an optimal outcome. If you are ready to discuss legal representation with an experienced and dedicated team of Corona family lawyers, contact the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey today to schedule a consultation.