+ How much does a divorce cost in California?
The cost of a divorce varies depending on several variables. A divorce between amicable spouses with attornies on both sides working as a team to reach a mutually acceptable outcome is the best way to manage the cost of your divorce.
+ How do I file for a divorce in California?
We have a video dedicated for this topic in our legal resources section of our site. However, this video is only for a standard divorce where both parties are willing to work with eachother. If your divorce is complex and include children or property you should schedule a free consultation with the Complex Divorce Center.
+ Can I change my child custody agreement?
We can change child custody agreements during the divorce proceedings based on the best interest of the children. It is much more difficult to change custody orders that have been reduced to a Judgment at the end of the case. To do that, one must show a change in circumstances to change the custody arrangement, and this can be difficult.
+ What is a prenuptial agreement?
Prenuptial agreements remove much of the Family Law Code from your marriage contract. A marriage contract is an agreement, binding by California Law, unless the parties agree to do otherwise via a prenuptial agreement. To control which factors will applied in the event your marriage terminates, you must put an agreement in writing and have both parties represented by attorneys, ensuring that each party fully understands the effect of the agreement.
This subject most often comes up when one spouse has a large estate and wants to preserve that estate for their children. These agreements can decide spousal support and many other issues, removing the topic from litigation in a divorce proceeding. These agreements are also beneficial if one spouse makes a living by high risk investing. A premarital agreement can prevent creditors from coming after the spouse's income and assets to satisfy the debts of the other spouse. Our attorneys at the Complex Divorce Center are skilled at counseling our clients in these matters and drafting agreements to accomplish their goals.
+ What is the difference between divorce and legal separation?
Legal separation allows spouses to stop living together and split up their assets without actually terminating the marital agreement. Usually, when spouses are trying to reconcile their marriage, but are not optimistic that they can, they file a legal separation. It allows the parties to open a case and begin the divorce process while they try to reconcile. If they later decide to divorce, the legal separation can be amended to a petition and they can proceed with their divorce.
+ How much is spousal support?
Spousal support can range from a few hundred dollars per month to thousands of dollars per month, depending on your lifestyle and income. Generally, a spouse is entitled to support for half the time of the marriage. The spouse is entitled to an amount that enables them to maintain their current lifestyle as much as possible within their means. We have a rough spousal support calculator on our site for free.
+ Do I qualify for spousal support?
Yes, if you are the lower income earner. As a general rule, a spouse is entitled to support for 1/2 the length of marriage in an amount that will enable that spouse to maintain their current lifestyle as much as is possible given the parties means. There are many nuanced arguments that can be made to lower or increase spousal support depending on the parties circumstances, and the attorneys at the Complex Divorce Center use these techniques to accomplish our clients goals every day.
+ How much is child support in California?
Child support is determined by a computer program developed by the legislature based on the parties income. It can range from a few hundred dollars a month to thousands depending on the income of the parties.
+ How much is alimony in California?
Alimony is just another word for spousal support. As a general rule, a spouse is entitled to support for 1/2 the length of marriage in an amount that will enable that spouse to maintain their current lifestyle as much as is possible given the parties means. There are many nuanced arguments that can be made to lower or increase spousal support depending on the parties circumstances, and the attorneys at the Complex Divorce Center use these techniques to accomplish our clients goals every day.