Family Law Lawyer Contra Costa County, CA 
Since family law can be such a vast area, you may not even know where to start when it comes to filing a claim and starting a case, which is why a family law lawyer in Contra Costa County, CA is right for you. To make things a bit easier for you, the Law Office of Ariel Brownell has compiled some commonly asked questions to help lead you down the right path. If you would like to speak with someone from our office now and get in touch with a family law lawyer Contra Costa County, CA trusts, call us today.
What Are the Grounds for Divorce?
Each state has different legal grounds for divorce, however you will have to file a no-fault or fault claim on the document. No-fault means the spouses have come to a mutual agreement that their marriage isn’t working anymore, and in this situation they will claim either irreconcilable differences or incompatibility. On the other hand, a fault divorce is where one spouse brings claims citing that the other spouse is responsible for the breakup of their marriage. Some common examples of this include:
- Abuse
- Desertion
- Use of drugs and/or alcohol
- Addiction
- Insanity, or
- Impotency
What is the Difference Between Divorce and Legal Separation?
Divorce is the legal termination of a marriage, and legal separation is not. Typically, two partners choose a temporary legal separation if they are unsure if divorce is the right option for them, because at the end of the separation period they are still married. During this time, there will still be spousal support along with child custody and visitation. If you would like to speak with a Contra Costa County, California family law lawyer on legal separation, please call our office.
Do I Have to Go to Court to Get Divorced?
Not always. Depending on how amicable your divorce is, you can simply settle out of court via the help of a mediator. This goes for legal separation as well. As an added bonus, settling out of court is both cheaper and faster than going through the court system.
What Does Child Custody Entail?
There are two types of child custody, physical and legal. Physical is the decision on who lives with the child and legal happens when the parent can make all large decisions on behalf of the child. Both of these custody types can be split equally, or made into more of a personalized solution depending on your family’s needs.
The amount of child custody each parent has helps to determine child support and what parent gets what amount, and how often.
What Goes Into Determining Child Custody?
The judge will first and foremost look into which solution has the child’s best interests in mind. They will consider the child’s age, location of their school, their physical and mental health, their current situation, and if they are old enough, their preference on where they want to live. Additionally, the judge will look at the parent’s income, their living situation, and if they have created and established a bond with the child during the divorce.
It is important to know that when it comes to determining child custody, visitation, and child support can all be modified in case of a large life change such as an income increase/decrease or even if the child requests a change.
Get In Touch With a Contra Costa County, California Family Law Lawyer Today!
If you have any questions when it comes to family law, make sure to contact a family law attorney you can trust. A family law lawyer Contra Costa County, CA relies on from The Law Office of Ariel Brownell can help you navigate the court system and can protect your rights during this trying time.