Cerritos Family Law Attorney

Cerritos Family Law Lawyer

Family law attorneys handle a variety of cases involving domestic matters. When families find themselves seeking legal counsel, it is not easy for those involved. Most of these situations are difficult and involve those closest to us. In Los Angeles County, it can be challenging to find the right attorney for you. Here at The Law Offices of Ronda A. Middleton, we are a Cerritos family law attorney who provides individualized and compassionate attention for our clients.

Hire a Family Law Attorney

Ronda Middleton has been in practice for over 20 years in the state of California as a licensed attorney. In November of 2008, she was named “The IE’s Best Lawyers” in Inland Empire Magazine. Ronda ensures a 24-hour response and approaches all cases with the family’s emotional and financial situation in mind.

Family law matters can be some of the hardest issues a family may ever have to overcome. Issues range from divorce to adoption and everything in between. Events that lead to family law matters are emotionally charged and can alter family dynamics. Hiring a family law attorney can help you obtain favorable results. In California, the Center for Families, Children, & the Courts (CFCC) works with the Judicial Council to assist courts throughout the state in handling cases involving family law.

What Does Family Law Include?

Family law encompasses a broad scope of practice involving family matters. A Cerritos family lawyer can assist you with cases involving:

• Divorce. The legal process to end a marriage includes dividing assets and determining spousal support.
• Annulment. Legally voiding a marriage from its start due to specific grounds such as fraud or underage marriage.
• Child custody and support. Determines custody arrangements and establishes or enforces child support obligations. The state of California uses a guideline formula to calculate child support. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 88% of the 6.4 mil­lion cus­to­di­al par­ents with child sup­port agree­ments have legal orders, while the remain­ing 12% per­cent report­ed hav­ing infor­mal agreements.
• Marital property division. Division of property, usually due to divorce or annulment. California is a community property state and generally has property split 50/50. Courts aim for a fair distribution, but a family law attorney can argue for exceptions based on spouses’ economic circumstances and contributions to the marriage.
• Prenuptial agreements. Drafting a legal contract signed by a couple prior to marriage that describes how assets, debts, and spousal support will be handled in the case of future divorce or death. In recent years, Americans have been embracing prenuptial agreements, with a survey 50% of adults are open to signing one.
• Adoption. Legally transferring parental rights and responsibilities from biological parents to adoptive parents. This process terminates the rights of the birth parents voluntarily or involuntarily and transfers those rights to the adoptive parents.
• Mediation. Offering a neutral facilitator who helps when divorcing or separating couples cannot resolve disputes over support, property, or child custody themselves.
• Domestic violence. Legally addressing issues of physical, emotional, or financial abuse within the family unit.

State courts handle approximately 3.8 million family law cases per year, the majority being divorce cases. Family law encompasses all aspects of family legal matters. Attorneys help relieve the burden of having to navigate these matters alone. Often, these cases will be held in the Los Angeles Superior Court, making it imperative to find a Cerritos family law attorney who understands California law well and is familiar with the county court system.

FAQs

How Much Does a Family Law Attorney Cost in California?

Pricing for a child family law attorney in California can vary based on the length and complexity of your case. Contentious cases where the disputing parties cannot come to an agreement may take more time and cost more than an uncontested case. Prices also vary depending on what kind of family law case you need assistance with. To find out the potential costs of your case, ask your attorney during an initial consultation.

What’s the Difference Between a Family Law Attorney and a Divorce Attorney?

The difference between a family law attorney and a divorce attorney is not very complicated. A divorce attorney is a type of family law attorney who focuses on the practice of the dissolution of marriage. A family law attorney is a lawyer who handles a broader range of family-related legal issues. A family law attorney also handles divorces but may also handle child custody disputes, adoptions, prenuptial agreements, and more.

Is it Better to Have an Attorney or a Lawyer?

To decide if it is better to have an attorney or a lawyer, one must understand the differences. A lawyer is someone who has earned a law degree and has studied law. An attorney is a lawyer who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law and represent clients. It is important when seeking legal counsel that you choose a licensed attorney since they are authorized by the state of California.

Can You and Your Spouse Use the Same Attorney for Divorce?

For ethical reasons, you and your spouse cannot use the same attorney for divorce. This creates a conflict of interest since separating couples often have conflicting interests when it comes to property division, spousal support, and child custody. Having a lawyer represent both parties at the same time would be a disservice to one or both members. Due to these ethical rules and responsibilities and professional legal standards, an attorney is prohibited from representing both parties in a divorce case.

Hire a Family Law Attorney

Finding a family law attorney in the greater Los Angeles area can be challenging. It is important to find someone who will understand your family’s individualism and use compassion and strength to give you the outcomes your family needs. The Law Offices of Ronda A. Middleton makes your family their priority, using careful guidance while handling your family’s sensitive family law matters.

Contact our team today and find out how we can help you navigate your family law matters. We recognize how complicated and emotional these cases can be, and we support our clients with empathy and compassion. Let us put our knowledge and experience to work for you.