Monterey Legal Services: Divorce and Property Division
The decision to dissolve or annul a marriage or domestic partnership, or to file for legal separation is never easy, but once it becomes clear that a break-up of the relationship will occur, you need to think of the future. What do you need in order to have financial stability? Who will keep the family home? Who will care for children?
At the Law Office of Barbara J. May, we strive to put clients in the best position to move forward with the next phase of their life. Our goals during the family law or divorce process include empowering you to reach agreements that work for you, safeguarding your financial interests, and protecting your most important relationship — that of parent and child.
Options for Achieving a Divorce
In her many years providing family law services, Monterey divorce attorney Barbara J. May has seen that clients are ultimately happier when they are able to arrive at important decisions on their own, rather than letting a judge decide those decisions for them. When possible, Ms. May uses negotiation and mediation if these methods can achieve satisfactory results.
There are, however, some cases in which mediation is not a good option and negotiation fails. When it is in a client's best interest to take a case to family court, Ms. May will aggressively advocate for the outcome you deserve. She has often secured results for clients that they had not thought possible, or were unaware of as an option.
What is the Best Route for You?
Attorney May will evaluate your circumstances and advise you on the best, most cost-effective and timely route to take to achieve your goals, such as:
- Contested or uncontested divorce: One of the parties must be a resident of California for at least the past six months in order to file for divorce in California. There is no requirement that you must have lived separate and apart for any length of time. If the parties have not resided in California for six months, the parties may file a petition for legal separation. The parties may later amend their petition to a petition for dissolution of their marriage once they have lived in California for the required time.
- Summary dissolution: Summary dissolution is a simpler process than divorce. You may qualify for a summary dissolution of your marriage if your family assets are under a certain value and you have no children.
- Nullity: The court considers a number of factors when someone seeks to annul a marriage. To find out if you may qualify for annulment, contact our office.
- Legal separation: For couples who have not yet satisfied the California residency requirements, who are not ready to divorce, or for whom divorce is not an option due to religious or family considerations, we can assist you in filing for a legal separation to settle property, support and child custody issues.
Comprehensive Marital Settlement Agreements Minimize Problems
Ms. May ensures that all property has been accurately valued and all debt noted, taking into account the tax ramifications of division of property and retirement assets. She ensures all factors are considered in decisions regarding spousal support.
Should issues arise in the future because of a change in circumstances or failure to meet the conditions of the divorce decree, Ms. May assists clients with modifications or enforcement of court orders.
At the Law Office of Barbara J. May, we offer compassionate, attentive legal services as you move through the process of divorce. Contact our downtown Monterey office online or call 831-649-1253 to schedule a consultation with an experienced family lawyer about divorce, child custody, and paternity issues.
