Highly Rated Ventura Divorce Attorney Offering Legal Representation

Sophisticated Representation for High-Asset Divorces

If your divorce involves a considerable amount of wealth or high-value assets, it’s important to seek the right kind of legal representation that can take these factors into account. Rest assured that SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation has the legal experience, knowledge, and skill to help you protect your financial interests.

Identifying Community and Separate Property

California law requires an equal split of all community assets and debts. With this in mind, we must assist you in identifying which property is yours to take separately and which belongs to the community for equal division. We can use the services of consultants like forensic accountants and tax professionals to help us make these distinctions and argue for your right to a specific property in your divorce.

California Child Support & Alimony in High-Asset Divorce

Likewise, child and spousal support might play a role in your divorce. High-income earners like you and your spouse can face a more complicated legal process when calculating these support payments. Our attorneys, however, can help you identify and consider multiple income sources to get a fair and accurate picture of what you are owed or should pay.

What Is the Process for Getting Divorced in California?

If you do not qualify for a summary dissolution, a typical divorce consists of the following steps:

1. One spouse will file for divorce and serve the other divorce papers.
2. The spouse who was served has 30 days to file a response.
3. One spouse may request a temporary child custody, child support, and/or restraining order if needed.
4. The spouses go through a discovery period where they prepare the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure, disclosing information about their finances, assets, property, and debts.
5. 5. If each spouse has an attorney, they will all discuss a settlement.
6. If the case is resolved with legal agreements, one attorney will prepare a Marital Settlement Agreement and each spouse, along with their attorneys, will sign this.
7. If a settlement cannot be reached, the case will be taken to court.

Once a settlement has been reached – whether by a Marital Settlement Agreement or court order– a judge will issue a Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

How to Get Divorce in Ventura County?

You have to file signed and dated documents at the Ventura County Clerk. First, pay the filing cost and take copies of the submitted divorce papers. Then, ask a family member or a friend to complete the service process. They can hand-deliver or mail the legal documents and additional forms to your ex-spouse throughout Ventura County, CA.

Is It Better to File for Divorce First in California?

It does not matter who files first for divorce in California because it is a no-fault state. Considering no spouse needs evidence of any "cause" for divorce aside from "irreconcilable difference," there is no impact or challenges either party faces filing for divorce first.

How Long Does It Take to Get Divorced/End a Domestic Partnership in California?

The CA divorce process takes at least six months to finalize and starts once one spouse files for divorce and serves the other party with divorce papers. Therefore, it may take longer to finalize a divorce in California, but it will not be shorter than six months to complete.

Is California a Community Property State?

When it comes time to divide property during a divorce, all community property will be divided equally, or 50-50, in the state of California. California is a community property state, meaning all property and debt acquired from the date of marriage until the date of legal separation is subject to this type of division.

All community assets will either be divided according to the couple’s agreement, or, if they cannot reach an agreement, by the court in CA.

Mediation Services

At SANTO MEHAS A Professional Law Corporation, we also offer mediation services led by attorney Donna Carol Santo, a certified specialist, Family Law California Board of Legal Specialization and certified mediator through the Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law.

Known as alternative dispute resolution, divorce mediation is led by a neutral, third-party individual who helps you and your spouse come to legal agreements regarding any issues you have about spousal support, child custody, and more.

Divorce mediation can offer several benefits for couples who are seeking an amicable and cost-effective way to end their marriage and resolve related issues. Here are some of the advantages of divorce mediation:

• Reduced Conflict: Mediation encourages open and constructive communication between spouses. It can help de-escalate conflict, which is often essential when children are involved.
• Control and Flexibility: In mediation, both parties have a say in the outcome and can work together to create a customized agreement that suits their unique needs and circumstances. This is in contrast to litigation, where a judge makes the final decisions.
• Cost-Effective: Mediation is typically less expensive than a contested divorce that goes to court. It usually requires fewer billable hours for attorneys and avoids costly litigation expenses.
• Quicker Resolution: Mediation tends to be a faster process than litigation. It allows couples to reach agreements more efficiently, potentially saving months or even years of legal proceedings.
• Privacy: Mediation is a private process, unlike court proceedings, which are generally a matter of public record.
• Child-Centered Focus: Mediation often places a strong emphasis on the best interests of the children involved, helping parents develop a co-parenting plan that benefits their kids.
• Preservation of Relationships: If there are ongoing relationships that need to be maintained (e.g., co-parenting or business partnerships), mediation can help preserve these relationships more effectively than adversarial litigation.
• Higher Compliance: Parties are generally more likely to comply with the terms of a mediated agreement since they had a direct hand in crafting it.
• Legal Guidance: While a mediator cannot provide legal advice, they can facilitate discussions and provide information about legal issues, helping both parties make informed decisions.

When both spouses are willing to work together to find common ground and reach agreements, mediation can be a highly beneficial and efficient process for resolving divorce-related issues.

Helpful Resources

• California Courts - Self-Help Center
• Ventura County Clerk and Recorder