Divorce Lawyers in Vista California
No matter where you are, the divorce process is an extremely complex set of legal realities. In Vista, you have a lot of options ahead of you for choosing your divorce representation. Choose an attorney whom you can trust to work in the way you want them to.
At Andrew P. Johnson, APC, our team of divorce lawyers has extensive experience guiding clients across Vista through California’s often confusing family law code. They prioritize simplifying what’s ahead and keeping you informed of everything that will impact your case.
Uncomplicating California’s Divorce Process
Our lawyers have a great deal of experience handling any and all divorce questions. They take on the burden of these difficulties so that you can focus on your life. However, your understanding of what’s ahead matters, and that’s why our team wants to guide you through this process one step at a time.
What do you need to divorce in California?
To pursue a divorce in California, you will need to have a few things. First, you’ll need to have been a resident for at least the last six months. You also have to be a resident of your county for at least three months. After that, you’ll need to complete the appropriate forms, which will include the following:
- The date of separation, which will impact how property division discussions go
- An affidavit of community and separate property
- Any spousal support and child support agreements
- Any child custody and visitation agreements
If you have all this information, then it will make your divorce filing much simpler and much faster.
What are the steps in the divorce process?
Generally speaking, the steps to procuring a divorce in California are as follows:
- Filing the petition: This step is about finding and filling out the proper paperwork.
- Discovery: This part includes offering important evidence of the divorce as well as any relevant financial information.
- Negotiation: Here, you and your attorney will meet with your spouse’s team to work out a deal for your divorce.
- Settlement: The hoped-for end result of the negotiation process is that you will have a working agreement for the division of property, child custody and so forth.
- Finalization: Here, you and your ex will go before the judge, who will formally end the marriage. If all goes well, this will be a bit of a formality.
However, this process assumes that all things go smoothly and that there is no conflict. That’s rarely the case, even in amicable divorces.
Do I need grounds for divorce?
Technically speaking, the answer here is both yes and no. In order to pursue a divorce in California, you will need to enter some information about “grounds.” However, California is a no-fault divorce state – in fact, the Golden State has the distinction of being the first state to use this model – and that means that you don’t need a specific fault for the divorce. You can simply say there are “irreconcilable differences.”
While pursuing a “fault divorce” is possible, that typically leads to a much more contentious, lengthy and expensive process.
How Andrew P. Johnson, APC Helps Clients Through Their Divorce
At every step of the process, a family law attorney can make this better. When we work with a client, we prioritize the paperwork first. That means we – with our years of experience and familiarity with California law – fill out your paperwork. We file it appropriately and make sure every deadline and legal requirement is met.
However, what people really need when they begin the divorce process are three important things:
- Guidance: With so many conflicting issues ahead and so many priorities, you need to know what your choices are. You need to know how to meet and succeed at all the contrary points.
- Support: Emotional support and legal support are pretty closely linked. Divorce is hard on everyone. You cannot expect yourself to get through it without someone to turn to who understands what you’re facing.
- Advocacy: At the end of the day, you might think it’s a lot easier to just “give in” to a demand. However, you have goals, and there are things that are in your best interest. When you don’t have the strength to demand what you deserve, your lawyer does.
From child custody to property division and everything in between, your attorney should stand with you and help. That’s what our team promises to each of our clients.
Why Choose Andrew P. Johnson, APC?
At Andrew P. Johnson, APC, our lawyers make a singular commitment to our clients and work to solve their family law issues with amicable, long-lasting solutions. To that end, our team utilizes the collaborative divorce process, which is somewhat different from other conflict-heavy resolutions. In collaborative divorce, all the attorneys and professionals involved sign an agreement to leave the case.
By forbidding further involvement, the collaborative divorce process ensures that everyone involved puts the good of the clients first. Our lawyers have a very successful history with this type of divorce because, at Andrew P. Johnson, APC, your needs always come first.
Whether your situation involves mediation or collaborative divorce – or any kind of alternative to traditional litigation – our attorneys are on your side. They take great pains to build the long-term solutions that you and your family need.
Get Started With A Free Consultation
When you’re looking at divorce as your biggest option, turn to a firm you can put your trust in. We prioritize an amicable, working result for our clients because anything else is extremely destructive. Our lawyers look out for you.
Reach out to our office in Vista to find out more about our team and get a free consultation. You can reach us by phone by calling 760-278-3262 or sending an email using this form.