Santa Paula Family Law Attorney
Providing Comprehensive Representation To Families
The resolution of any family law matter has the power to impact your life for years into the future. As such, you should choose an attorney who will take your case as seriously as you do. At Richard Ross Associates, we dedicate ourselves to providing comprehensive representation. Whether you are struggling through a divorce, need to establish custody, or figure out property division, you can rely on our commitment to protect your rights and your best interests.
Do not face this time without proven representation on your side. Contact our Santa Paula family law attorney online or call (805) 777-1011 today!
Family Law Cases We Handle
Divorce rates in the United States, including Santa Paula, California, have slowly declined since reaching record highs. A substantial number of individuals each year are forced to experience all the emotions that come along with the end of a personal relationship, as well as all the legal ramifications.
We can assist you with all the following, and more:
- Divorce
- Domestic violence
- Property division
- Spousal support
- Child custody
- Child support
Navigating Divorce in Santa Paula
Divorce is one of the most challenging experiences a person can face. It involves not only the dissolution of a marriage but also the division of assets, financial support, and, if children are involved, the determination of custody arrangements. In Santa Paula, California, divorce proceedings follow specific legal guidelines that must be adhered to for the process to move forward smoothly.
A family law attorney will help you understand the legal requirements for filing for divorce, such as meeting residency requirements and understanding the grounds for divorce. California is a no-fault state, meaning that the reason for the divorce is typically "irreconcilable differences." However, this doesn’t simplify the emotional or financial challenges that come with divorce, especially when disputes arise over property division or child custody.
Having a lawyer who understands the complexities of family law is crucial in ensuring that your rights are protected, and the process is as stress-free as possible. They will work closely with you to negotiate fair terms, and if necessary, represent you in court to achieve a favorable outcome.
Child Custody and Support
When children are involved in a family law case, the stakes are even higher. Child custody and support arrangements can have a profound effect on the well-being of both the children and parents involved. In Santa Paula, the courts prioritize the best interests of the child, which means that custody decisions are based on a variety of factors, including the child’s emotional and physical needs, the ability of each parent to care for the child, and the child’s relationship with each parent.
A family law lawyer will advocate for your parental rights while ensuring that the arrangement is in your child’s best interest. They will help navigate both physical and legal custody decisions. Physical custody refers to where the child will live, while legal custody refers to which parent will make important decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, and general welfare.
Child support is another crucial aspect of family law. The non-custodial parent is typically required to provide financial support to ensure that the child’s needs are met. An experienced family law attorney will work to ensure that child support orders are fair and reflect the true financial
Contact Richard Ross Associates Today
Beginning any family law process can be stressful, but it doesn’t need to be. When you work with our team, we can help you reach an efficient resolution to your case regardless of the complexity of the issues at hand. Our team of attorneys can manage your case from start to finish, allowing you to begin the next chapter of your life with confidence.
Don’t wait to contact our Santa Paula family law attorneys – dial (805) 777-1011 to speak with our office today.
Dedicated TO CLIENT CARE & SUCCESS
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I heartily recommend him to anybody in need of a well qualified, results-oriented, family law specialist.
“I would not hesitate to, again, retain the legal services of Richard Ross.”
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Our family and our dignity have been restored.
“Mr. Ross and his supportive, competent staff put their hearts into their work and literally turned our lives around.”
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The results far exceeded my expectations.
“The entire staff at Richard Ross Associates really helped me through my divorce and they were with me the whole way.”
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Extremely thorough and professional!
“Richard has helped me through a very difficult divorce and I can't say enough good things about him.”
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Polite, caring, and quick to respond.
“Richard Ross is a subject matter expert in the field of family law.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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This is very important: If you have separated from your spouse before one of you has filed for dissolution of marriage or legal separation, avoid agreeing to and placing into effect a temporary parenting plan arrangement regarding the children unless you will be able to live with this arrangement after the divorce papers have been filed. Once you begin a parenting plan that seems to be working, it becomes the "status quo." It is very difficult to convince a mediator or judge to change the status quo, especially if it is working or appears to be working and is not detrimental to the minor children.
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If you have not received a judgment dissolving your marriage before the end of the year, you may file an individual tax return under the status of "married, filing separately" or a joint tax return with your spouse. You should consult your accountant as to the advantages of these options. You may obtain special information booklets regarding tax information for divorce or separated individuals from your local IRS office or read the IRS booklet online.
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To file an action for divorce, also known as dissolution of marriage, a person must have resided in the state of California for six months and in the county where the action is filed for three months prior to filing the petition in court. This is true of either the petitioner or the respondent - either person can meet the test and allow a filing. If your spouse meets the residency requirement, you can file even if you do not meet it yourself.
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The court can and usually will order you to move out of your residence if your spouse convinces the court that you have been violent toward your spouse or threatened your spouse. You could be given ex-parte notice to be in court the next day because your spouse is seeking an order to make you move out and stay out. You can be ordered to leave immediately and not return even if your spouse is not on the property title or lease agreement! Once you are ordered to leave, it is not likely that you will be allowed to return.
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Before you get a divorce, photocopy all relevant financial documents that you can obtain and store them off-site with a trusted friend or relative. Do not store them in the trunk of your car where they can easily be found and removed by your spouse. There may be both personal and strategic reasons not to tip off your spouse that documents are being reviewed for a possible dissolution proceeding. Make copies of documents that you find in the residence and return the original documents to their original location as soon as possible so that your spouse won't notice that they are missing. It is often advisable to make the photocopies when you are sure your spouse is away for an extended time, such as during a workday. It is advisable to gather as many relevant financial documents as possible while they are still available and before they have been removed or destroyed by your spouse. This will significantly reduce the cost of divorce litigation if the documents do not have to be recovered later. It will also permit us to get a true picture of all community assets and debts as soon as possible.
