Many clients exploring their options in divorce have similar questions. How will our property be divided? Can I get full custody of our children? How much will I owe in child support? To help clients learn more about their case I offer consultations by phone or Zoom. My consultation is designed to help clients make an informed decision before proceeding with their family law case.

While it can be advantageous to be aggressive in family court, it’s often practical to pursue a negotiated settlement. As a trial attorney, I understand that most cases never reach trial. Rather, both parties and their attorneys can often reach a settlement on property division, child custody, child support, and spousal support.

To schedule your confidential consultation by phone or Zoom call my office at (916) 250-1610 or book online through our website.

Why I Believe In Staying Affordable

It’s an open secret among divorce attorneys that few clients can afford a contested divorce. That’s due in part to the mounting attorney fees. Parties who hire a $400 per hour attorney find themselves crushed by monthly invoices with no end in sight. Accordingly, I charge a reasonable hourly rate and don’t over-bill my clients. Whereas many other divorce attorneys round up their billable time per their representation agreement, I am conservative with my billable time.

Child Support

California child support is calculated according to the Guideline formula which is heavily influenced by the parties’ income and percentage of custody. In cases of single-income households or great disparities in wealth, the breadwinner may pay more than the actual cost of raising a child.

Child Custody

While the calculation of child support in California follows an algebraic formula, child custody is led by a multi-factored inquiry to find a custody arrangement that is in the child’s best interest. In general, your family law attorney will utilize the following factors when arguing for your custody objective.

• Child’s health, safety and welfare
• Frequency of contacts with both parents
• Child’s need for bonding, stability and continuity
• History or abuse, including abuse of drugs or alcohol

Property Division

El Dorado Hills is a wealthy area, but with high real estate prices and lucrative compensation come property division issues in divorce. Many homeowners facing divorce in El Dorado Hills who purchased their home before marriage contest the community property interest in the family home. Other clients have pensions or investment accounts with a fractional community property interest. In many cases, property division issues can be settled without trial if parties (and their attorneys) are reasonable.

How Much Will My Divorce Cost?

The total cost of your divorce will depend heavily upon the other party and whether the parties can agree upon issues. In the simplest cases, an uncontested divorce can cost only a few thousand dollars. On the other hand, when the parties disagree upon issues relating to child support, custody, or the division of community property the cost of divorce will depend upon the number of hours your attorney spends on the case and their hourly rate.

Other factors such as location may play a role in the total cost of your divorce. If you hire a Sacramento divorce lawyer to represent you in a Modesto, you’ll end up paying for the lawyer’s commute to court. Accordingly, hiring a local divorce lawyer can help you save on attorney travel costs.