Seal Beach Divorce Lawyer
Practice Areas
Divorce in the Seal Beach Area
While you may have never imagined your marriage would end in divorce court, if you do find yourself in this situation, the best course of action is to hire a skilled divorce lawyer. Our Seal Beach family law attorney has decades of legal experience, a compassionate nature and the drive to help you get the best possible outcome in your case.
Divorce involves many challenges, including the cost of divorce, that you must navigate to get the results you want. You will have to completely untangle your and your spouse’s lives, which can be legally difficult and emotionally draining.
With family law attorney Stacy L. Campuzano by your side, you can feel stronger and more capable because she will help you understand the process and make important decisions. She’ll act as your partner to enable you to stand up for yourself and seek out a divorce decree that is favorable.
Using Family Law to Properly Divide Your Lives in Two
An essential part of any divorce is the property division phase. During this part of your case, you and your spouse will divide your assets and debts according to the law.
Under California law, property you obtain during your marriage becomes the equal property of both of you or community property. The same is true for debts you incur during the marriage. Anything you had prior to the marriage is separate property, which means you can each keep what was yours.
While it may seem simple enough to figure out who owns what, it really is not. Property division is one of the hardest tasks you will take on in your divorce. There are many exceptions and details that make it tricky to label assets as community or separate property.
Because of the difficulty of the process, you need an Orange County or Los Angeles County family law attorney who knows what she is doing. Stacy has experience in assisting families with this task. She understands the community property laws so that she can advise you on what decisions to make to ensure a fair settlement.
Financial Stability After the Divorce
Many people worry about what will happen after the divorce, especially when it comes to finances. Dividing a household only creates double the expenses, so it is not surprising that many people struggle after their marriages end.
The law accounts for the potential of one spouse having serious financial issues after the divorce by providing the court with the opportunity to award alimony or spousal support. If the court feels that one spouse will face extreme hardship and be unable to afford his or her basic necessities, then it will likely decide to award spousal support.
There are many ways a court may do so and many different types of arrangements. When determining support, the court will consider different aspects of your finances, your marriage and your work situations:
- Earnings or earning capabilities
- Need for job education or training
- Care of the children
- Prior work history
- Health issues
- Financial needs
- Standard of living during the marriage
- Length of marriage
To look out for your best interests, Stacy will ensure that the court considers every detail and important point to award the proper amount of spousal support. Whether you will have to pay or you will receive, an experienced divorce attorney like Stacy will work to make sure it is a fair decision.
Issues Related to Child Custody and More
If you have children, it will complicate your divorce. Not only do you and your spouse have to separate your lives, but you also have to accommodate the children. Divorce laws ensure that both parents continue to support their children, which means the court must assign child support.
Child support is money that one parent pays to the other to financially take care of the children. If you have custody of the children the majority of the time, then you will typically receive child support. However, there are a number of factors that go into determining who pays support and how much the payment is:
- Ages of the children
- Earnings of each parent
- Special needs of children
- Number of children
- Time spent with children
- Tax filing status
- Pay deductions
- Child care expenses
- Healthcare expenses
- Other income or support
The state does have a guideline for calculating child and spousal support, which the court must follow except in limited circumstances. There is not much room for deviation, so it is essential that you provide the court with complete and accurate information.
Your divorce lawyer in Seal Beach will work with you to obtain all the necessary information and ensure you properly submit it. If there are any issues, your attorney will advocate for you and your children.
Custody is another important factor when it comes to children and divorce. Ideally, you and your spouse will agree on custody and visitation arrangements. The court wants to see cooperation in this situation. However, coming to an agreement is tough.
The goal with custody is to always do what is best for the children. Stacy will work with you to figure out a parenting plan that best addresses your children’s needs.
Stacy can assist with figuring out holiday schedules, travel arrangements, weekday visitations and special situations. She has experience helping families just like yours to reach agreements. Your focus should be on working towards a solution that allows your children to develop healthy and beneficial relationships with you and their other parent.
Of course, if you have a situation involving manipulation, abuse, violence or other issues that put your children’s safety at risk, Stacy will be diligent in protecting them and you. It is her priority to ensure the situation resolves peacefully and in a way that is safe for your children and you
Special Situations
If you have a domestic violence situation, you should expect your divorce lawyer to stand up for you and fight to keep you safe. As your family law attorney, Stacy L. Campuzano will work tirelessly to ensure you get away from the violent situation and remain safe throughout your divorce.
She can help you to secure a domestic violence restraining order and to make arrangements to provide you with security as you go through the legal process of ending your marriage. Stacy is there to protect you and to help you start a new life without fear.
Moving Forward
Once you make the decision that your marriage is over, you need to seek a law firm with experienced divorce lawyers who can provide you the legal advice you need to get through the process. Stacy has decades of experience working on Orange County and LA County family law issues. She knows what needs to be done and how to do it.
When you are facing any type of family law matter, it’s vital to seek legal counsel from a reliable and experienced professional. Your Seal Beach family lawyer can answer any questions you might have about your case and guide you through the procedural steps of the family law system of Seal Beach. We’ve compiled some of the most common questions we hear from new Seal Beach clients about the fundamentals of family law and our answers for your reference.
FAQ’s
How Long Does a Divorce Take in Seal Beach, CA?
Do I Really Need to Hire a Seal Beach Divorce Attorney?
Hiring an attorney to guide you through your divorce proceedings is highly advisable, especially if your spouse retains legal representation. Your Seal Beach divorce lawyer can help ensure a reasonable and equitable divorce under California laws and handle procedural requirements on your behalf to keep your case moving. Ultimately, hiring an attorney equates to investing in peace of mind and security during your divorce proceedings.
What Is Divorce Mediation?
What Does the Court Consider During Property Division Determinations?
California is a community property state, meaning all property a couple obtains during their marriage is equally shared property of both spouses. This means that during divorce, all the marital assets and property the couple owns that meets the criteria for community property will be subject to division during their divorce proceedings. Anything that qualifies as one of the spouse’s separate property, such as assets they owned prior to their marriage, inheritances, and gifts, would remain the separate property of the owner following the divorce in most cases. An experienced Seal Beach, CA divorce attorney is a great resource for specific questions about California property division in divorce.
Will the Court Determine a Child Custody Arrangement?
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse cannot reach a mutual agreement during divorce mediation concerning custody of your children, the decision may wind up in the hands of a California family court judge. The California court system has a duty to ensure all child custody agreements align with the best interests of the children subject to those agreements. Family court judges will weigh numerous factors when they must make child custody determinations, such as the income levels of the parents, where they intend to live following their divorce, and the children’s day-to-day needs.
How Much Could I Receive in Child Support?
If the court determines child support payments are necessary, the amount paid and the payment schedule will vary from case to case based on multiple factors. The level of custody each parent retains, the income levels of the two parents, and the needs of their children are just a few of the fundamental factors a judge will consider when deciding an appropriate child support arrangement.
How Does the Court Determine Alimony and Spousal Support?
How Can a Seal Beach, CA Family Law Attorney Help With Domestic Violence Issues?
What is Joint Custody?
Will I Need to Sell My Home?
Many California divorce cases involve the sale of the marital home and division of the proceeds. In some cases, the court may decide that one spouse may retain ownership of the family home. In other cases, the divorcing spouses may negotiate who will remain in the marital home and who will move out. A Seal Beach, CA divorce attorney is a great resource if you want a better idea of what to expect when it comes to your specific case.
These are just some of the most common family law questions our team hears from new clients. Divorce and other family law matters can be incredibly challenging without professional legal representation. Law Offices of Stacy L. Campuzano is ready to answer questions about your specific family law situation and provide comprehensive legal counsel in the most complex Seal Beach, CA divorce cases.
If you want to learn more about how Stacy can help or get further information about divorce in California, then please call our firm at 562-242-7979. You can also visit our website and book a consultation with our lawyers.
