Glendale
Family Lawyer
Glendale Family Law Attorney
If you or someone in your family are having conflicts or legal issues, you should consider hiring a family lawyer. Family lawyers and family law firms handle a range of issues, including divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence cases, and adoption. You do not need to resolve contentious family issues alone. Hiring a Glendale family lawyer can be beneficial to you and your family.
What Are Family Law Practice Areas?
Family law deals with issues involving people within the same families. Although most of us seek peace, harmony, and safety within our families, this is not always attainable. When serious conflicts cannot be resolved within the family unit, a family lawyer can be tremendously helpful. Here are some of the practice areas for which one might require a family lawyer in Glendale, CA:
Divorce
When two people decide to end their marriage in divorce, a family lawyer can help guide them through the process. Sometimes, divorce proceedings are amicable, and each partner is agreeable, and other times, divorces are contentious and wrought with issues. No matter the circumstance, a family lawyer can provide the couple with support, information, legal guidance, and representation if the divorce requires a court hearing.
Parentage
Sometimes, there are circumstances where a child’s legal parentage must be determined. Examples of these situations include visitation and custody rights, as well as child support. To be granted either of these, you must be the child’s legal parent. Parents who adopt, including step-parents who choose to do so, domestic partners, same-sex couples, or estranged parents, will need to prove their legal parentage.
Child Custody and Visitation
Divorced or separated couples with children may find themselves dealing with child custody arrangements. Even though both parents are responsible for the financial, physical, and emotional support of their children, one parent may receive physical custody, meaning the child lives with them.
If the couple cannot come to an agreement regarding this, a family lawyer can help mediate the situation, ensuring the best interest of the child is met. Furthermore, the parent who does not have full custody or physical custody will need to outline their visitation rights.
Child Support
In addition to child custody, parents who separate will also have to address the issue of child support. All children need to be financially supported in order to thrive, and child support payments ensure this occurs. Determining who pays child support and how much can be a major issue. A family lawyer can work with parents to ensure they receive the child support they and their children deserve.
Domestic Violence and Restraining Orders
Unfortunately, there are some couples who struggle with domestic violence. Domestic violence can involve physical or emotional abuse, including isolation and threatening situations. If you are a victim of domestic violence, a family lawyer can help you obtain a restraining order. A restraining order protects you from the abuser, whether they are an intimate partner or a family member. This is because it limits their access to you both physically and emotionally.
Guardianship
Not all parents are parents by birth. Sometimes, people choose to parent a child because the birth parent loses parental rights or because one or both of the parents passes away. In this case, the person who seeks guardianship has to go through the family law court to receive custody of the child. Choosing the right family law firm can ensure this process goes smoothly and that the guardianship is legally binding.
When Do I Know It’s Time to Consult With a Family Lawyer?
Sometimes, families can come to agreements on serious issues without the need for intervention. However, there are times when issues become so contentious that lawyers need to get involved. If you have a contentious divorce, for instance, or if you and your partner are determining child custody arrangements, you should consider consulting with a family lawyer.
Family lawyers understand the law as it pertains to issues involving family members and children. Their experience and knowledge can help you both inside and outside of court.
FAQs About Glendale, CA Family Law
What Is the Charge Per Hour for a Family Lawyer in California?
The charge per hour for a family lawyer in California varies based on experience, location, and time commitment. Lawyers who work in counties with a high cost of living may charge higher hourly rates, while those in lower-income communities may charge less. Further, lawyers with more knowledge and experience can justify charging a higher hourly rate. Finally, if the case is more complicated, the hourly rate may increase.
Do All Family Cases Go to Court in California?
No, sometimes family lawyers can mediate conflicts out of court. Not all family law cases go to trial or require court proceedings. Sometimes, families simply need a neutral third party to help them resolve issues. In these situations, family lawyers may charge hourly rates to help their clients come to an agreement. Examples of these cases are custody arrangements where both parents agree, divorce mediation, or non-violent domestic disputes.
Will My Family Law Dispute Have to Go to Court in California?
Whether or not your family law dispute will have to go to court in California will depend on whether family members can resolve it through other means. For example, some divorcing couples are able to work out their divorce arrangements through mediation. If they can negotiate terms this way, they will not have to go to court. When family members cannot come to an agreement about legal matters, they may need to go to court to have a judge find a resolution.
What Does a Family Lawyer Do in California?
A family lawyer in California has a range of responsibilities. To start, family lawyers can represent their clients in court, draw up legal documents, or mediate conflicts amongst family members. Some common practice areas are divorce, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, and child custody. Ultimately, family lawyers help families with the legal actions required to resolve their issues.
Legal Support From the Law Offices of Patricia A. Rigdon
If you need help with your divorce, child custody arrangements, or domestic violence disputes, you should speak with a family lawyer. Family lawyers are trained to help resolve family conflicts. At the Law Offices of Patricia A. Rigdon, our legal team can guide you to a successful resolution to your legal issue. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Glendale Practice Areas
DO YOU NEED LEGAL HELP?
The mediation process provides a more peaceful alternative to fighting about your personal issues in court. Read more to see if divorce mediation is right for you.
Collaboration brings attorneys, mental health professionals & accountants together to resolve family issues without going to court. Read more to see if a Collaborative Divorce is right for you.
Litigation in the divorce process involves submitting issues to family court in order to resolve them with the assistance of a judge, if both parties cannot reach an agreement in other ways. Read more to see if Divorce Litigation will be needed.
