Riverside, California Divorce Attorneys

When a marriage ends, emotionally charged issues combine with legal complexities. You may not be at your best in making vital, life-changing decisions for yourself and your children. At the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey, we build trust with our clients by providing personalized legal services based on their specific needs.

Divorce is usually both complicated and stressful. However, choosing the right attorney can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of your case. The family law attorneys at the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey in Riverside have extensive experience with all types of divorce cases, including contested divorces involving multiple children and shared businesses and mutual divorced with minimal shared assets.

Riverside divorce lawyer Catherine A. Schwartz — the founder of our Riverside, California, law office — combines dedicated legal representation. Over the past 30 years, she has achieved success in securing satisfactory outcomes on behalf of our clients in various aspects of a divorce action, including:

• Child custody and visitation
• Child support
• Spousal support/alimony
• Property division
• Domestic violence

No matter how complex or simple you think your separation could be, unexpected surprises and a breakdown of communication can catch many people off guard. Hiring an experienced divorce attorney can not only ensure you leave your marriage fairly and equitably, but also reduce the chances of emotionally charged arguments. Protect your financial and emotional future by investing in an attorney who has your back throughout the entire process.

A Dedicated San Bernardino Legal Separation Lawyer And Divorce Attorney

Individualized legal advocacy is paramount when a couple decides to end a marriage. Some pursue divorce while others find benefit in legal separation. Riverside family law attorney Catherine A. Schwartz spends time with her clients to assess their specific issues and objectives. Some consider marriage counseling or therapy. Others choose legal separation or an annulment.

When you choose to work with the legal team at the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey, we take the time to get to know you, your circumstances, and your goals for ending your marriage. We will meticulously review all the documentation and available evidence to ensure you get your fair share out of your shared property and help make the process as easy as possible for everyone involved. If you have multiple options available for ending your marriage, we can help you choose the method that’s most financially advantageous to you.

Important Things to Know About Divorce in Riverside, California

California has relatively straightforward laws when it comes to an ending marriage. Unlike other states that make division of marriage property a complicated process, California uses a community property system. Essentially, all income earned by both spouses during the course of the marriage and all property and debts obtained during the marriage qualify as community property to be split evenly upon the breakup. The only exceptions to this community property rule include property owned by either spouse prior to entering the marriage, individual inheritances, and gifts.

Another critical factor of any divorce in Riverside, CA is child custody. If a divorcing couple has children, the court has a duty to determine a child custody arrangement that is in the children’s best interests. This is one area that can lead to serious disagreements.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey can help you maintain a reasonable and realistic outlook on child custody and make your case for child custody based on the best interests of your children, their preferences, and what is ultimately best for your family.

Choosing the Best Way to End Your Riverside, CA Marriage

California allows for several methods of ending a marriage, including:

• Legal separation, which allows a couple to live separately but remain married to one another. In some cases, this allows the separated couple to maintain marital benefits without living together and may secure enforceable court orders that separate their finances. Neither separated spouse may remarry or enter domestic partnership with another person while legally separated.
• Divorce, which is the official cancellation of a marriage. Unlike a legal separation, a divorce officially terminates marital status and compels the divorcing couple to separate their assets and property. Following a marriage breakup, both former spouses are free to enter into new domestic partnerships or remarry.
• Annulment. This method of ending a marriage typically only applies to marriages that were invalid from the beginning, such as cases of bigamy or a minor marrying without parental permission, or a marriage conducted with falsified documents. An annulment designates a marriage as invalid. An annulment suggests the marriage never legally existed.

Regardless of your decision, Catherine A. Schwartz will advise you on your options and rights. From the moment she takes on your contested divorce, she devotes all of her efforts and employs all of the firm’s resources to secure the results you need. From tax implications to domestic violence, she remains at your side.

You deal with the personal matters. At the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey, we take care of the legal “heavy lifting.”

Contact The Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey For A Free Consultation

Divorce is rarely an easy process, but working with the right attorney in Riverside can make it much easier for everyone involved. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey have the skills and experience to help you navigate the complexities of your divorce with greater confidence. For more information, contact the Law Offices of Schwartz & Godbey at (951) 686-8190 to schedule a free initial consultation. For the convenience of our clients, we accept appointments on weekends and in the evenings and accept all major credit cards.

Resources: https://www.nolo.com/customer-support/getting-divorced-in-california.html