- DivorceI will guide you through every step of the divorce process to make sure there are no mistakes along the way that may prolong or complicate your case. I can also lend a professional eye as we parse through the legal jargon of your divorce agreement to ensure the terms meet your needs and interests. - Christina Ferrante
- Child SupportChild support plays a vital part in protecting your child’s future. How will the costs of rearing a child be worked out between two parents who have decided to part? There is a general formula that is used in California which is calculated through a computer program. I subscribe to the identical formula program that a judge would use so can accurately predict (as long as we have the correct facts to include) what support amount would be ordered. There are individual factors such as income and time share that are variable in each case. I am a Rancho Cucamonga child support lawyer with over 25 years of experience, and I can utilize that experience to help parents negotiate a fair agreement.
- Child Custody and VisitationChild custody is a serious legal issue, and it is important that it is properly handled at the very beginning, as it may affect your and your child’s life and relationship in the future. Once there are court orders issued, you are obligated to follow the terms of the order. As a result, you will want to retain an agreement that meets your interests and goals as a parent.
- AdoptionWhat a great thing it is to become the legal parent of a stepchild that you have become bonded to! To terminate the other biological parent’s rights so that you can step in as the legal parent is the only sure way to make sure a stepparent’s custodial position is secured in case of the death of the custodial parent. If you would like to adopt your stepchild, you should contact a stepparent adoption attorney in your area. I have helped many, many stepparents adopt a loved child successfully, with or without the consent of the other biological parent. Sometimes the biological parent is still living but can’t be found or he or she may have deserted the family that is now yours. Sometimes the actual parent may be incarcerated or in trouble with the law or that parent simply has made no effort to take care of their own child. These may all be precursors to your adoption quest.
- Paternity
- GuardianshipThere are numerous situations that might cause the need to assign a legal guardian for a child. This may occur if the child is unsafe with the parents, a parent is incarcerated, or a parent has passed away. Guardianship is not the same as adoption. The adopting person becomes the legal parent of the child with the same duties and privileges as a birth parent.
- Spousal SupportEach set of facts which may or may not support spousal support is very different and it is important to have a local family law attorney advise you about what is best done in your case. Spousal support (alimony) amounts may also be modified. An existing agreement or court order
- Legal SeparationA legal separation is an action similar to a dissolution of the marriage (divorce) but the parties are not free to remarry at conclusion of it. There may be several reasons why parties would choose to proceed in this manner. One could be for religious reasons. Another so that health insurance can be maintained for an ailing partner. The processes are the same in that property and debt are divided and a judgment signed by the court formally separates the parties’ financial responsibilities. The issues with a legal separation are the same as those in a divorce. Who is going to takeover and pay the mortgage? Which party will pay which credit cards and how will this impact the credit ratings? Will one of the individuals receive spousal support ? What will be the division of responsibility for the children? All of these issues can get resolved and worked out in a legal separation agreement with the help of an experienced family law attorney such as myself. An attorney will eliminate the necessity of the two spouses dealing with each other under a very stressful and emotional time. It is important that the lawyer you choose has your best interests as the main focus.
- AnnulmentAn annulment of marriage action is similar to a divorce, however, the court’s finding is that there was never a valid marriage to begin with. It is based upon certain grounds which legally render the marriage void. If a person was forced into a marriage with duress or there was fraud involved or the person did not have the capacity, (mental or physical) to enter into the marriage. Similarly, someone who is still married to a prior spouse cannot enter into a valid marriage without terminating that prior marriage.
- Restraining OrderPeople do not always put forth their best behavior when involved in a stressful and emotional circumstance such as divorce. Sometimes it may be necessary to obtain a restraining order to block the other party form certain actions such as removing children from the state or inflicting physical harm such as domestic violence. Once a child has left the state, it is much more complex to obtain the return.
- Personal InjuryIt is a tragedy of our culture that domestic violence is fairly common. What is particularly horrible is that it is one’s own family member or loved one is perpetrating the crime. Not only is it illegal but it can have far reaching effects as to child custody, spousal support and other areas of family law. Further, it may develop into a very dangerous situation where personal injury or even death is the result.
- Probate