FAMILY LAW
FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY SERVING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Family law touches the things that matter most: your children, your home, your financial security, and your future. The decisions made during a divorce or custody proceeding can shape your life for years to come. Having an experienced attorney who understands California family law and is focused on your specific circumstances makes a meaningful difference in the outcome.
FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY SERVING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Family law touches the things that matter most: your children, your home, your financial security, and your future. The decisions made during a divorce or custody proceeding can shape your life for years to come. Having an experienced attorney who understands California family law and is focused on your specific circumstances makes a meaningful difference in the outcome.
The Geller Firm represents individuals and families throughout the Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Solano counties.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO FILE FOR DIVORCE IN CALIFORNIA?
To file for divorce in California, you must have lived in the state for at least six months and in the county where you plan to file for at least three months. Once the petition is filed and served on the other party, California law imposes a mandatory six-month waiting period before a final judgment of dissolution can be entered.
California is a no-fault divorce state. You are not required to prove that either spouse caused the breakdown of the marriage. Establishing irreconcilable differences is sufficient, and it is a low bar that presents no obstacle in the vast majority of cases.
WHAT DOES FAMILY LAW COVER IN CALIFORNIA?
Family law governs the legal relationships between spouses, domestic partners, parents, and children. In California, family law matters are heard in superior court and governed primarily by the California Family Code. The issues that arise in these cases are often deeply personal, financially significant, and legally complex.
The Geller Firm handles the full range of California family law matters, including divorce and legal separation, child custody and parenting time, child support, spousal support, division of community property, domestic violence restraining orders, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity actions for unmarried couples with children, same-sex marriage and domestic partnership issues, post-judgment modifications, and resolution through mediation.
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Once a dissolution action is filed, the process involves a comprehensive analysis of both spouses' finances, custody and parenting arrangements if children are involved, division of community property, and determinations regarding child support and spousal support where applicable.
California law requires both spouses to complete financial disclosures, including preliminary and final declarations of disclosure, income and expense declarations, and supporting financial documents. These disclosures are not optional. They must be completed truthfully and accurately, and failure to do so carries serious legal consequences.
The discovery process allows your attorney to obtain financial records, account statements, business valuations, and other information necessary to fully assess the marital estate and build an accurate picture of the finances involved.
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A divorce becomes final on the effective date, which is at minimum six months and one day after the other spouse is served with the summons and petition. If the parties reach a settlement, the effective date can be incorporated into the judgment packet submitted to the court. If the case proceeds to trial, the court enters the effective date following the conclusion of proceedings.
The judgment of dissolution affects your right to remarry, your eligibility for health insurance coverage through a former spouse, and how you file your taxes. Understanding these consequences before the judgment is entered is important.
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There is no fixed answer. Cost depends on the complexity of the marital estate, whether children are involved, the degree of conflict between the parties, and whether the case resolves through settlement or proceeds to trial. Uncontested divorces with cooperative parties cost significantly less than contested cases requiring litigation, expert witnesses, and multiple court appearances.
Early legal counsel often reduces overall cost. An experienced attorney identifies where agreement is realistic and where it is not, allowing the parties to focus their energy and resources on the issues that actually require resolution.
SPEAK WITH A CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, or any other family law matter, The Geller Firm is available to help. Consultations are offered in person or virtually throughout the Bay Area. Contact The Geller Firm today to schedule your confidential consultation.
