San Bernardino Divorce Lawyer

A divorce is a difficult experience, but it can be made easier. A San Bernardino divorce attorney can help you get what you need out of your divorce and will work hard to help you get your life back on track.

There’s a reason the thought of a divorce makes people react with fear—it’s because it’s an extremely difficult and personal situation to be in. Separating two entwined lives is painful and overwhelming, and it may seem like too much to handle.

The trick is to concentrate on what you need out of this situation and what’s best for any children you may have. It can be incredibly stressful to deal with a divorce on your own. In addition to all the emotional issues of breaking up with a spouse, you must also deal with all the financial and legal issues—issues that you may not fully understand.

You don’t have to go through this alone. A San Bernardino divorce lawyer from the Law Office of Laurence J. Brock is here to help you with your family law matter. No matter the difficulty of the situation you’re in, we can help you resolve it and move on with your life.

Debt and Asset Division in San Bernardino Divorce Cases

When two people have lived together and shared a life, it can be extremely difficult to fairly split debts and assets during a divorce. Sometimes, a couple may only share a house and a car, making the division a little easier, but some couples share a lot more.

For example, if a divorcing couple shares a business, how exactly is that going to be split? Do you sell your half of the business to your spouse? Do you still run the business together? Does one run the business and pay the other? Or do you divide the business in some other way?

That’s just one example. The truth is that dividing a shared life can get a whole lot more complex than that. Most people in a divorce need help making sure they aren’t being taken advantage of and that everything is divided fairly.

Even if you and your spouse are able to agree on property division, you can still have a divorce lawyer in San Bernardino look things over to verify that the split is fair. Getting help from a divorce attorney can also put your mind at ease. You’ll know that someone who understands what’s fair in a divorce settlement is approving all of your decisions.

Resolving Child Custody Issues

Child custody is a very difficult issue to resolve. Both parents likely want as much time with the child as possible, and they may have different ideas on the best way to raise the child. These issues lead to arguments, and a compromise can be difficult to come by.

Sometimes, it takes a third party to help divorcing or separating couples reach an agreement on child custody matters that both parents can feel good about. You can have a divorce attorney in San Bernardino by your side to make sure you and your ex reach a fair agreement.

The following are some of the factors that should be considered when determining a child custody arrangement that works for both parents in a divorce:

Who does most of the caregiving for the child?
Where will the child be living?
Would joint custody be a viable option?
Will the child have to change schools?
What are the child’s ties to the community?
Do both parents work?
How are the relationships between the parents and the child?
Does either parent have any domestic violence or substance abuse issues?
What’s the child’s preference?
Will both parents be living in the same city?

A qualified and experienced lawyer for divorces in San Bernardino can help you build a compelling argument for why your idea of a fair child custody arrangement is the correct one.

Understanding the Need for Spousal Support

Sometimes, spousal support can be a hot-button issue between divorcing couples. One spouse believes he or she is entitled to alimony payments, and the other doesn’t want to pay. Whatever your circumstances, it’s important to understand that spousal support isn’t meant to be a punishment for one spouse or a reward for the other.

Alimony was designed to even the financial playing field between divorcing couples until both spouses can support themselves.

A spouse could be owed support payments if he or she stayed home for fifteen years to take care of the kids and didn’t work during that time. That person needs the money until he or she can become independent.

What are some of the factors California courts consider when deciding fair spousal support arrangements? See below:

How long did the marriage last?
Did one spouse stay home to be a homemaker or raise the kids?
Did one spouse sacrifice education or a career to further the other spouse’s education or career?
Do both spouses have the physical, emotional, and mental capacity to work?
Will one spouse need to care for children or a disabled child?

Whether you’re fighting for alimony or trying to arrange a fair amount to pay your ex, your San Bernardino divorce attorney can help you make a strong argument for what’s right.

Mediation vs. Litigation

Most divorcing couples have a hard time coming to an agreement on all the issues discussed above: spousal support, child custody and visitation, and separation of debts and assets. These are tough decisions, and you’re likely going to need some help coming to an agreement with your soon-to-be ex.

There are a few different ways to reach an agreement and finalize your divorce. One is, of course, an uncontested divorce. That’s likely the simplest resolution. Another option is to use alternative dispute resolutions to reach an agreement before going to court.

Alternative dispute resolution is simply the use of other methods (alternatives) to resolve your family legal issues. Your attorneys can try to reach an agreement on your behalf, or you can try mediation, in which a mediator monitors conversations between you and your spouse as you try to work out an agreement on the issues at hand.

If you and your spouse can agree on these issues outside of court, then you will not have to go through the litigation process. In litigation, it’s left up to the court to come to a final decision on divorce issues.

Whatever you decide—mediation, litigation, or another method—an attorney for divorces in San Bernardino can help.

Your attorney will help you decide which route is best for your situation and walk you through the process you choose, always looking out for your best interests and advising you on the best course of action.

Contact a San Bernardino Divorce Attorney

A divorce is one of the most difficult life experiences a person can encounter. Working out family legal issues like child custody, visitation, and support payments may seem impossible. An experienced attorney can make things go a lot more smoothly and help you and your spouse reach agreements on these difficult issues.

It’s possible to settle these matters, and having a San Bernardino divorce lawyer beside you during the process can make all the difference in the world. This process is difficult enough without trying to go through it on your own. To reach the Law Office of Laurence J. Brock, call 909-466-7661 or fill out the online contact form below.

The Law Office of Laurence J. Brock

Description: I live out of state and I was served with a divorce in California. I needed a California attorney immediately. On referral, I found Larry Brock and found that he is extremely knowledgeable and skillful. Even though I live all the way across the country from California, Mr. Brock was very good at keeping me informed about my case and the litigation, and stayed in constant contact with me. He represented me with diligence at the trial, protected my rights, and addressed the issues with great skill. I would recommend Mr. Brock and his wonderful staff, Maria and Della, to anyone with a difficult family law matter.

Farshad Heshmatpoor

Rating: 5 out of 5