San Diego Divorce Lawyer
Going through a divorce can be one of the most challenging times in your life. You don’t have to go through it alone.
The San Diego divorce lawyers at the San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC are here to help guide you through this trying time.
Take a moment to reach out to our San Diego law office today to schedule a time to sit down with our compassionate legal team to discuss your case.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for help today at (619) 866-3756.
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Experienced San Diego Divorce Attorney & Certified Family Law Specialist
Divorce can be complicated. Emotions tend to run high. It’s easy to get overwhelmed. Hiring an attorney to help you navigate your divorce can take make a huge difference.
Your family law attorney can help you fully understand the divorce process and all of your legal options.
Your San Diego divorce lawyer can help you take a step back, assess the situation, and make rational decisions about what’s best for you and your family.
At the San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, our attorneys have decades of combined experience handling complex family law matters in San Diego. Our firm, led by Puja A. Sachdev, is uniquely qualified to help you navigate the more challenging aspects of your divorce.
Attorney Sachdev is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), trained family law mediator, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
No other attorney in San Diego County can say the same. This means that we’re prepared to help you tackle all of the delicate issues that might arise, including determining child custody, negotiating child and/or spousal support, and dividing your marital property.
We’ll be there to help you make the decisions that will affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. We’ll be by your side and fight to secure the results that you want and need. That’s our promise to you.
Give us a call today or reach out to us online to set up a complimentary case evaluation. We’re here to offer you support and guidance whenever you’re ready.
An Overview of Divorce in California
Divorce, which is also known as dissolution of marriage, involves formally terminating a legal marriage between two people. When a divorce is finalized, spouses revert back to being single.
Since married couples’ lives are so intimately intertwined in so many ways, getting a divorce isn’t always simple.
Here’s a quick overview of what you need to know about divorce law in California before you begin the process.
What Are California’s Divorce Residency Requirements?
Before you can get a divorce in California, you (or your spouse) will have to satisfy certain residency requirements. Under California Family Code Section 2320, you’re required to be a resident of the state of California for at least six months prior to filing for a divorce.
You also have to be a resident of the county in which you’re filing for divorce for a minimum of three months.
What if you don’t currently satisfy these residency requirements? You’ll have to put your divorce on hold until you do. A California court won’t even look at your request for a divorce until these minimum time requirements have been met. Remember, only one of you has to satisfy these requirements.
It’s important to note that these requirements only apply to heterosexual couples seeking a divorce. LGBT spouses can seek a divorce even if they haven’t met the residency requirements if:
- The couple got married in California, or
- The couple’s home state refuses to let them get a divorce.
You may want to consider legal separation if you or your spouse haven’t satisfied the residency requirements. This can allow you to move toward divorce before initiating the process in court.
Is There A Waiting Period For A California Divorce?
The state wants to make sure that you’re certain that you want to get a divorce. That’s why there’s a six month waiting period. Your divorce cannot be finalized until at least six months after the divorce papers have been served.
That’s true even if you and your spouse have a completely uncontested divorce and agree on all of the terms of your split.
Is California is a No-Fault Divorce State?
In California, no one has to shoulder the blame for why a marriage is ending. That’s because California is a no-fault divorce state. You don’t have to point fingers and explain why your marriage isn’t working.
There are two grounds for divorce:
- Irreconcilable differences, and
- Mental incapacity.
You just have to tell the state that your marriage isn’t working because you and your spouse have differences that just can’t be overcome. You’re on different pages, which means that your marriage isn’t working for you anymore.
Divorcing Spouses Are Entitled to Half of Marital Property
California is a community property state. Simply put, when you get divorced, you and your spouse will both be entitled to half of all community property.
Everything that was jointly owned gets split down the middle unless you have a prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement that says otherwise.
It’s important to understand that, since California is a no-fault and community property state, things like infidelity or cheating won’t have an impact on property division. Under state law, each spouse gets half of marital assets and debts.
The only thing assets can keep in their entirety are things classified as separate property. This might include assets you owned before you got married or inheritances or gifts intended specifically for you.
Things like income, houses, cars, retirement benefits, and business interests are typically community property in which each spouse has a one-half interest.
Dividing property in a divorce tends to be a source of frustration for many divorcing couples. Many times, it’s the aspect of a divorce that causes the process to take so long. That’s why you should call the San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC for help.
We’re not your typical divorce attorneys.
We’re Certified Family Law Specialists and Certified Divorce Financial Analysts. When you call us for help, you can benefit from our legal and financial expertise.
Here to Help You With All Aspects of Your San Diego Divorce
Contested Divorce
When you and your spouse get a divorce, you might not agree about how certain issues should be resolved. In California, this is known as a contested divorce.
You’ll have to find common ground and agree about things like who gets custody of the kids how property should be divided. A court won’t finalize your divorce until you do.
Going to court to settle your issues should be a last resort. Our family law attorneys are skilled negotiators and trained mediators. We will work hard to help you negotiate agreeable terms with your spouse. Our goal is to help you find a way to move forward without the cost and aggravation of a battle in court.
Give us a call today to learn more about resolving your contested divorce.
Uncontested Divorce
Sometimes you and your spouse might be on the same page about getting a divorce. In fact, you might even agree about every aspect of the process. Even so, it can be important to work with an attorney who understands the California divorce process. Missing a step or making a mistake could be costly and time-consuming.
Our lawyers can also review the terms you’ve agreed upon with your spouse and make sure that everything is fair. The last thing you want is to learn that your spouse manipulated you into agreeing to terms that were more favorable to them than to you.
We’ll look out for you and help you finalize the divorce as quickly as possible.
LGBT Divorce
LGBT couples have the right to get married in California. Like heterosexual unions, same-sex marriages don’t always last the test of time. Unfortunately, since laws are still developing, divorce tends to be more complicated for gay couples.
Issues can arise when spouses try to navigate delicate issues like child custody and support.
Our LGBT divorce lawyers work hard to stay up-to-date on the latest changes in the laws that affect all of our clients. We’ll work hard to help you find a solution to issues that might arise when you and your spouse file for divorce. Give us a call to learn more about how we can help.
Military Divorce
The military can take quite a toll on a relationship. Being in the military can affect several different aspects of your split. If you or your spouse are in the military and considering a divorce, it’s important to work with a family law attorney who has experience handling military divorce cases.
Our San Diego military divorce attorneys have decades of combined experience helping servicemembers and their families find amicable solutions to problems that often arise during a divorce.
Contact our law office today to set up a time to chat with our skilled legal team.
High Net-Worth Divorce
Money always seems to complicate things. Divorce is no exception. In fact, the more money that’s at stake, the more contentious divorces tend to be.
If you and/or your spouse have considerable assets, it’s critical to involve a divorce attorney who is not only financially literate, but also an expert on the matter.
In addition to having a business background, attorney Sachdev is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. She has specialized education and training that allow her to navigate the most complicated and nuanced financial issues.
When a lot of money is at stake, you want a law firm like ours on your side.
Contact our San Diego high net-worth divorce lawyers today to schedule your case assessment.
Celebrity Divorce
Whether you’re a celebrity or not, you may have reasons to value your privacy. At the San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC, we value and respect your need to keep your personal life private.
Most divorce proceedings in California are public record. However, our attorneys can help you get divorced and keep things under wraps.
We can utilize tools like mediation and arbitration. When you’ve settled on terms, we’ll petition the court to seal your record from the public. Your privacy matters, and we’ll do everything we can to protect it.
Give our San Diego celebrity divorce lawyers a call today to learn more.
Child Support
When parents are married, spouses don’t have to think about how kids will be taken care of, financially. Things can change pretty quickly when those parents decide to get a divorce.
Determining how parents split the financial support for their children is critical. It’s also often a source of friction and disagreement.
There are a lot of factors that can play a role in this decision. Our San Diego child support lawyers will help you whether you’re contesting support or fighting to secure money for your kids. Contact our law office today to discuss your case and learn about your rights.
Child Custody
Divorce doesn’t just impact adults. If you have children, particularly young children, your divorce will certainly have an effect on them, as well.
Divorces involving children must be handled delicately, especially when discussing custody. It’s critical to put aside your own personal wishes and figure out an arrangement that’s in the best interests of your kids.
At the Sachdev Law Group, APC, our San Diego child custody lawyers know that child custody disputes can be emotional. We know this is often the hardest part of a divorce for parents.
That’s why we’re here to help you devise a plan that works for you and your family.
We’re here to help you protect your kids and do what’s best for them. Contact our law firm today to get started.
Domestic Violence
Abuse is never acceptable in any relationship. Unfortunately, domestic violence is far too common among married couples in California. If your spouse is abusive, we’ll help you take real steps toward getting a divorce.
We can help you secure a restraining order to keep you safe throughout the process if you believe that you or your children might be in danger. Then we’ll get to work on the terms of your split and do everything we can to keep you from getting hurt again.
Do not hesitate to contact our San Diego domestic violence divorce attorneys for immediate legal assistance.
Implementing the Tools You Need to Help You Get Divorced
Sometimes spouses will agree about all aspects of a divorce. In reality, though, this doesn’t happen too often. Even one seemingly-minor issue can hold up a divorce.
The longer a divorce takes to resolve, the more expensive it will be. We know you don’t have, and certainly don’t want to expend, unlimited resources on your divorce. Fortunately, there are tools that can help you move the process along.
Mediation
If you and your spouse aren’t on the same page, mediation may be the answer. Mediation involves sitting down with a neutral third party – known as a mediator who can help you and your spouse find common ground and move toward agreeable solutions to any disputes you may have.
Through mediation, you get the benefit of deciding how your divorce unfolds. You – not the mediator – gets the final say. You determine the terms that work best for you. Not a judge. Not someone else. You.
Contact our San Diego, California law office today to learn about our family law mediation services.
Arbitration
There may be times when spouses simply can’t agree. Maybe you can’t get anything resolved. Maybe there’s one issue that’s preventing your divorce from moving forward. In either case, arbitration might be the best solution.
Arbitration is essentially a private trial. You and your spouse argue your respective cases in front of a neutral third party known as an arbitrator.
Through arbitration, however, you give up the right to have the final say in how terms are resolved.
The arbitrator will make an impartial decision based on the arguments they hear. Whatever the arbitrator decides is final. You’ll be required to comply with those terms.
Schedule Your Complimentary Case Evaluation with a San Diego Divorce Lawyer
We know that ending a marriage can be tough. It’s emotional. It’s hard. It’s also a complex legal process. You shouldn’t have to go through it on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to. Let the experienced family law attorneys at the San Diego Divorce Lawyers, APC help.
For more than a decade, we’ve been dedicated to helping families like yours navigate complicated family law issues in San Diego, CA. Our team of attorneys will be there for you every step of the way.
We’ll look out for your best interests and do everything we can to achieve the results you’d like.
We’ll also fight to make sure that your rights and wishes are respected.
We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so please call our San Diego law firm for help with your divorce, child custody, child support, and other family law issues today.