Services
Practice Areas
We provide comprehensive legal representation across family law, estate planning, and protective orders. Our experienced team is dedicated to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcomes.
Divorce
Expert guidance through every step of the divorce process, from initial consultation to final settlement and decree.
Child Custody & Visitation
We advocate for arrangements that serve the best interests of your children while protecting your parental rights.
Child Support
Fair and enforceable child support agreements that ensure financial stability for your children's wellbeing.
Spousal Support
Skillful negotiation and advocacy for fair spousal support arrangements that reflect current circumstances.
Property & Debt Division
Aggressive representation to ensure equitable division of marital assets and fair allocation of liabilities.
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Immediate legal protection and representation to keep you and your children safe from abuse and harassment.
Civil Harassment Restraining Orders
Legal remedies to protect you from unwanted contact, threats, or harassment in non-domestic situations.
Estate Planning
Comprehensive estate planning services to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are legally documented and honored.
Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
No. California is a "no-fault" state. The court typically grants divorces based on "irreconcilable differences," meaning you do not need to prove misconduct by your spouse to end the marriage.
In California, there is a mandatory six-month waiting period from the date the respondent is served before the divorce can be finalized. Even if you reach an agreement quickly, you will not be legally single until this period expires.
Legal separation allows you to resolve issues like property division and support while remaining legally married. This is often chosen for religious reasons or to maintain certain benefits like health insurance. Unlike a divorce, there is no six-month waiting period for a legal separation to become effective.
There is no fixed age where a child "chooses," but California law states that if a child is of "sufficient age and capacity to reason" (often considered around age 14), the court must consider their preference. However, the judge always makes the final decision based on the child's best interests.
The Placerville judges focus on the child’s health, safety, and welfare. They look for stability, the continuity of the child’s environment (school, friends, and community in the Foothills), and each parent’s ability to support the child's relationship with the other parent.
California is a community property state. Generally, any assets or debts acquired during the marriage are split 50/50. Property owned before the marriage or received as an inheritance is usually considered separate property, though "commingling" assets can complicate this.