San Francisco Divorce Lawyers
We Address All Aspects of Divorce
Divorce is a difficult time for most people. Not only can many overwhelming emotions arise during this process, but the process itself can be overwhelming for many people. If you need to end your marriage so you can build a brighter future, you need compassionate and dedicated family law attorneys who can help you achieve your divorce goals.
The San Francisco divorce attorneys at Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker, LLP share more than 65 years of combined legal experience. When it comes to helping people disentangle their lives from their spouses or significant others, we possess the necessary experience, skill, and compassion to complete this divorce process. Divorce often involves a variety of issues and there is more than one path to achieving your goals. No matter how you wish to proceed or what you hope to achieve, rest assured that our committed divorce lawyers serving San Francisco, CA, will have your best interests in mind and will guide you with information and consideration of options.
Call (415) 855-9344today to request a consultation with our San Francisco divorce lawyers.
How Our Divorce Lawyers in San Francisco Can Help
We previously mentioned that divorce can include many different issues. Sometimes, spouses are able to agree on a resolution of all of the issues; other times, they cannot agree on any of them. Regardless of the path needed to resolve the family law issues, the San Francisco divorce attorneys at Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker, LLP will help guide you to the best possible outcome.
We can address many different family law issues, such as:
- Property Division
- Spousal Support
- Child Custody & Child Support
- International Family Law
- Enforcement of, or challenges to, Premarital, Postmarital, and Cohabitation Agreements
Our divorce attorneys serving San Francisco are prepared to help you negotiate or litigate any issue important to you when it comes to your divorce.
What is the 10-Year Rule in Divorce in California?
Under California law, a marriage will be considered "of long duration" if it lasts longer than ten years, from when the partners married until they finally separated. This does not include any temporary separation periods in the meantime.
Do You Have to Go to Court for Divorce?
No, you do not have to go to court if you want to get a divorce.
If you can agree on the issues related to divorcing your spouse, or at least come to a compromise on them, you won't have to appear in the courtroom. This is known as an “uncontested divorce.”
Uncontested vs. Contested Divorce in California
A divorce may be uncontested or contested. An uncontested divorce means that both parties agree on all divorce-related issues (such as those we mentioned above). If spouses can’t agree on all significant terms of their divorce, this is known as a contested divorce.
Generally speaking, successful mediation or collaborative divorce efforts result in uncontested divorce filings. This is because important decisions were made between spouses without the court’s intervention. Contested divorce issues often require litigation to resolve. This can mean leaving important decisions about property and debt division, child custody, support, and more up to a judge.
Do I Need Grounds for Divorce in California?
California is a “no-fault” divorce state, which means neither party in a divorce is required to file for divorce on any specific grounds or prove a reason for the divorce. In most cases, divorces are instead filed on the basis of “irreconcilable differences,” even if there are specific underlying causes, such as infidelity. While other states may take these specific reasons for filing into account, California doesn’t.
The other (and far less commonly used) grounds for divorce in California is “incurable insanity.” These grounds are reserved for those who wish to divorce spouses who are considered to have an incurable mental illness that may be debilitating. Medical and psychiatric testimony is required to prove a spouse is “incurably insane.”
What Is Divorce Mediation?
Divorce mediation is a process by which spouses meet with a neutral third-party mediator, who helps them work out a divorce settlement outside of the courtroom.
We can provide legal advice and help guide you through the mediation process. Our firm also provides mediation services and can guide productive discussions between you and your spouse. By walking through the entire divorce process together, it’s possible to come up with creative solutions that neither side may have considered.
Mediation often takes several sessions to complete, but it can be much quicker and more cost-efficient than litigation. It’s worth noting, however, that this type of divorce is usually best suited for spouses who have an amicable relationship and want to work together on completing their divorce.
What Is a Collaborative Divorce?
A collaborative divorce also involves negotiation outside of the courtroom, but a settlement is worked out between two spouses who are each represented by their own legal counsel. There are also often elements of mediation involved, but the point is that a collaborative divorce can be a much more thorough process to reach a divorce settlement.
Upon hiring legal counsel, both parties agree to resolve any disputes outside of court. If this isn’t possible, the collaborative divorce meetings cease and both attorneys leave the case. This important caveat creates a fail-safe mechanism to help prevent litigation unless it becomes absolutely necessary.
Do You Have a High Net Worth?
High-asset divorces are common in San Francisco and the Bay Area in general. These divorces are different because they often involve complex assets, such as:
- Businesses
- Investments
- Securities
- Intellectual property
- Overseas assets
- And other things that most couples may not have
High-asset divorce requires sophisticated legal representation, and our high net worth divorce lawyers in San Francisco have what it takes to help our clients favorably resolve complicated property division matters. Although spouses hiding assets is uncommon, we can also provide our clients with the resources necessary to help them investigate and discover hidden assets.
Contact Our Divorce Lawyers in San Francisco Now for Legal Guidance
For the legal guidance and support you need to help you get through your divorce, don’t hesitate to reach out to Nachlis | Cohade | Lopez-Whitaker, LLP for assistance. With more than 65 years of combined experience, our divorce lawyers serving San Francisco can ensure your best interests are always at the forefront of what we do for you.