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Coronado Divorce Lawyer

Are you considering a divorce or legal separation in Coronado, CA? If so, our experienced Coronado divorce lawyers can protect your rights and best interests as you prepare to embark on a new phase of your life.

At San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, we have over 30 years of experience handling California family law matters. We can offer trusted legal advice, support, and guidance to help you through the divorce process.

Attorney Puja A. Sachdev is a Certified Family Law Specialist, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and seasoned family law mediator. Her extensive experience in family law makes her highly qualified to handle the most complex divorce cases.

Call our law firm to schedule a free consultation with a Coronado divorce attorney at (619) 866-3756 to discuss your situation.

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How San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC Can Help With Your Divorce Case in Coronado, CA

California is a no-fault divorce state, so dissolving a marriage is not a difficult element of the divorce process. However, matters related to divorce can cause disputes and frustration. Property division, spousal support, and child custody can be challenging to resolve.

At San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, our Coronado family lawyers understand the complex nature of divorce matters. We will address each issue from the perspective of what is in your best interests for the future. Our legal team will diligently work to obtain a divorce settlement through negotiations. However, we are skilled trial lawyers who will not hesitate to take your case to court if necessary to protect you.

When you hire our top-rated divorce lawyers in Coronado, we will:

Intently listen to you as you explain your situation so we understand what you need
Research your case to explore all legal options
Explain how California divorce laws apply to your case and what to expect during the process
Assist you in prioritizing issues and goals for your divorce settlement
Work with you to develop a parenting plan that protects your parental rights and your children’s well-being
Address legal issues that arise during the process
Represent you during negotiations, mediation, and at trial, if necessary

Contact our office for a free case review with an experienced divorce attorney in Coronado, California.

At San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, our attorneys have considerable experience handling all matters related to divorce and family law.

We will deal with all aspects of your divorce case, including matters related to:

Dissolution of marriage
Military divorce
LGBTQ divorce
Legal separation
Domestic violence
Child support
Alimony and spousal support
Child custody and visitation
Family law mediation
Pet custody
Modification of orders
Property division
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
Grandparent rights
Paternity

What Are the Legal Requirements to Get Divorced in California?

California has residency requirements for a divorce. Either spouse must have resided in California for a minimum of six months to file for divorce in the state. You must have lived for at least three months in the county where you filed the petition for dissolution of marriage (i.e., divorce papers).

Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage. California has two grounds for divorce: irreconcilable differences and incurable insanity. You must prove that your spouse is legally insane to obtain a divorce for incurable insanity.

Irreconcilable differences are the grounds for a no-fault divorce.

All a spouse needs to allege for no-fault grounds is:

Differences have led to the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage; and,
Further reconciliation attempts are not in the spouse’s and children’s best interests.

After filing divorce papers, they must be served on your spouse. Your spouse has a deadline to respond to the petition. If they fail to respond, you can request a default divorce order. If your spouse replies, your divorce case can take several directions, including uncontested, contested, and mediation.

Matters and Issues Involved in a Coronado Divorce Case

The time it takes to finalize a divorce depends on the couple and how quickly they resolve the related issues. An experienced divorce lawyer can help you develop a strategy to protect your best interests as you navigate the process.

Property Division

When a couple divorces, they divide the property accumulated during the marriage. California is a community property state. Therefore, each spouse has an equal share of the marital assets. With very few exceptions, marital assets include property and income accumulated during the marriage.

Marital property includes, but is not limited to:

Real estate
Jewelry
Motor vehicles
Boats and recreational vehicles
Household furnishings
Antiques, arts, and collectibles
Pensions, retirement, stocks, and bonds
Financial accounts

Generally, community property is split equally between the spouses. However, arguments may arise regarding dividing the property and what property is separate versus marital assets. Separate property is not subject to division.

Examples of separate property include:

Money earned before the marriage and after you separated from your spouse
An inheritance or gift you received individually
A debt you incurred before marriage or after you separated from your spouse
Property you purchased with separate funds

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement could impact how property is divided in a divorce.

Property division can be a complicated issue in a divorce. Hidden assets, high-net-worth marital estates, and business interests are some of the matters you may have to address. Our lawyers will work with forensic accountants, investigators, appraisers, and other experts as necessary to protect your right to a fair share of marital assets.

Child Custody, Visitation, and Child Support

Child custody decisions in California are made based on the best interest of the child. Absent abuse or a parent being unfit, it is presumed that children benefit from being with each parent as much as possible. Therefore, parties are encouraged to develop a parenting plan and visitation schedule that works best for the family and allows the child to maintain a close relationship with both parents.

However, when parents cannot agree on how to divide parenting responsibilities and time, the court will decide based on what it finds to be in the child’s best interest. Judges consider the factors set forth in California Family Code §3011.

The court may grant joint physical and legal custody to both parents or sole custody to one parent. Legal custody is the right to make important decisions for your child. Physical custody refers to the child’s primary residence. If the court awards sole custody, it may grant reasonable visitation with the non-custodial parent.

The court also determines the amount of child support to be paid. California uses standard child support guidelines to determine obligations. Generally, child support is paid to the custodial parent by the non-custodial parent.

Factors used to calculate child support include the parent’s income, the number of children to be supported, and the amount of time each parent spends with the child. Additional amounts may be added for childcare and healthcare expenses. Judges may deviate from the child support guidelines if it is deemed necessary for the well-being and support of the child.

Alimony or Spousal Support

Alimony – or spousal support – is not a right in California. However, the courts have the authority to grant alimony in a divorce. A judge must find that a spouse needs support and that the other spouse can pay it. Alimony is not used as a punishment for wrongdoing in a marriage. Still, judges may consider evidence of domestic abuse as one of the factors when deciding matters related to spousal support.

Judges consider various factors when deciding whether to grant alimony and to determine the amount and duration of the payments.

Factors that influence a court’s decision regarding alimony include:

The marketable skills, training, education, and earning capacity of each spouse
Whether a party supported their spouse’s career goals
The duration of the marriage
Contributions to the family and home by being a homemaker
The ability of a custodial parent to seek gainful employment without harming their children’s well-being and best interests
The extent to which a spouse can earn income to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage
The health and age of both spouses
The value of the couple’s marital property

The duration of the marriage directly affects the duration of alimony payments. Marriages that last less than ten years are considered “short-term” in California. Typically, alimony granted after short-term marriages does not exceed one-half the duration of the marriage, but the time could be extended for good cause. Spousal support after long-term marriages may extend longer.

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements may determine whether alimony will be paid and, if so, in what amount.

How to Get to San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC From Coronado, CA

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Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Coronado Divorce Lawyers

Going through the divorce process is less stressful when you have an experienced Coronado divorce attorney at your side. Call San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, at (619) 866-3756 to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our family law attorneys. We’ll provide compassionate, trusted, aggressive representation as we work to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.

Find out more about our office location. We serve in all cities near the San Diego, CA area, including: