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Trial Attorneys Committed To
Protecting And Defending Your Rights

Helping With A Wide Range Of Family Law Cases

Ending a marriage or domestic partnership is always difficult. When you have decided to divorce, it is important to have an attorney on your side to look out for your interests, both now and for the years to come.

At Donald R. Holben & Associates, APC, we will listen to your concerns, answer your questions and let you know what you can expect throughout the dissolution process. Every person has different needs when he or she files for dissolution. When we take your case, we will work to find creative solutions to meet your needs.

Dissolution Of Marriage And Domestic Partnership Considerations

In California, divorce is called dissolution. California is a no-fault state, which means that the court does not look at who is responsible for causing the breakdown of the marriage or domestic partnership. When dissolving a marriage or domestic partnership, there are four primary areas that must be considered:

  • Property division: California is a community property state, which requires spouses or domestic partners to split their assets and debts equally when they divorce.
  • Spousal support: Spousal/domestic partner support (“alimony”) is not automatic in California. When determining whether to award support, the court will look at several factors, including the age of the couple, the length of their marriage or domestic partnership, their earning capacity and their standard of living during the marriage/partnership.
  • Child custody and visitation: Physical custody determines where and how the child will live, while legal custody grants decision-making power about a child’s education, religion and medical care, as well as other general welfare choices. In California, custody and visitation are based on a child’s best interests. However, judges still maintain a great deal of latitude in making the ultimate decisions. Our lawyers will fight to protect the best interests of your children. We will always look for creative solutions to resolving your child custody dispute, but we will also go to trial if necessary.
  • Child support: California requires both parents to contribute to the support of their children. A child support calculator is used as a guideline to determine the appropriate amount of child support. This guideline may be deviated from, however, if a child has special expenses such as education or medical costs. Our attorneys work hard to ensure that child support arrangements are fair.

Contact An Experienced Law Firm To Discuss Your Case

When a family law matter affects your life, it is best to talk with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. We welcome your call. Contact our law offices in San Diego at 619-780-2820 or Palm Springs at 760-501-0615 for a free initial consultation. You may also call us toll free at 800-685-6950.