Compassionate Divorce Lawyers in La Quinta, California
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., our lawyers are here to assist you in addressing the gravity of a failed marriage and your worries about your future. Whether you’re focused on safeguarding your children, securing a fair financial settlement, or smoothly navigating the divorce proceedings, our La Quinta divorce attorney is ready to support you.
We have extensive experience in all aspects of divorce and can confidently represent you in the following areas:
- Legal separation
- Visitation and parenting time
- Child custody and support
- Division of marital property, debts, and assets
- Spousal support
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we’ll help you make practical, well-informed decisions to reach your most important divorce objectives. Let us work in your best interests and vigorously protect your valuable assets.
What Makes Clients Choose Us for Divorce Representation in La Quinta
- Our lead attorney, Debra R. Schoenberg, holds the title of Certified Family Law Specialist. She has undergone additional education and training and successfully passed a written examination focusing on family law, earning certification from the State Board of Legal Specialists as a specialist in this field.
- We specialize exclusively in family law. With extensive experience in this domain, our divorce attorneys are adept at resolving intricate and sensitive matters that arise during a La Quinta divorce, which can profoundly affect you and your family.
- As trial lawyers, we’re ready to tackle any challenge. Our team has significant experience litigating high-conflict, high-asset, and high-stakes divorce cases across California. We diligently pursue your case objectives while striving to minimize associated stress.
Reasons for Divorce in La Quinta, California
In California, you don’t need to demonstrate that your spouse is to blame to secure a divorce. It’s a no-fault divorce state, permitting dissolution based on irreconcilable differences or an irreparable marriage breakdown. Neither party is deemed responsible, and either can end the marriage irrespective of the other’s wishes to reconcile.
Residency prerequisites apply to divorce proceedings in California. At least one spouse must have lived in California for at least six months and in the County for 3 months before filing the divorce petition. Furthermore, after filing and serving the divorce petition to the other spouse, there’s a mandatory six-month waiting period before the court can finalize the divorce.
Legal Separation in La Quinta
Legal separation and divorce share similarities, yet each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Both involve the division of property, debts, and assets and the creation of child custody and visitation arrangements. However, a legal separation prevents parties from entering into new marriages. Opting for legal separation means you’re still legally married, though you and your spouse can lead separate lives.
Unlike divorce, one benefit of legal separation is the absence of residency requirements. Regardless of how long you’ve resided in California, you’re eligible for legal separation. Another advantage is retaining certain marriage-related benefits, like employee or insurance benefits. Additionally, personal considerations, such as religious beliefs that prohibit divorce or the hope for reconciliation in the future, might lead you to choose legal separation.
Helpful and supportive
Debra and team were so helpful and supportive through the most difficult time in my life. Grateful to the team for their advice – would highly recommend their services to anyone needing a divorce attorney.
Serving Divorce Papers to a Spouse with an Unknown Location in California
When initiating divorce proceedings in California, the initial step involves serving the divorce papers directly to your spouse. If you’ve exhausted all avenues to locate your spouse and their whereabouts remain unknown, you can seek court approval to publish the summons in a widely circulated newspaper.
A few years ago, a well-known case from another state brought up an important question. A woman’s husband had been elusive since their 2009 marriage, maintaining contact only through the phone and Facebook. She needed to serve him divorce papers personally, but despite hiring a private investigator and other efforts, she couldn’t find him. The court devised a solution. Since the woman had exhausted all avenues to locate her husband, the judge permitted the divorce summons to be sent via a private message on Facebook.
The interpretation of “publication” by courts in our state may determine if sharing a message and photo of the court summons on Facebook could be considered a valid notification method, especially if the spouse would see it. Whether our state’s judges would concur remains uncertain, but this case presents an intriguing legal question and illustrates an innovative use of technology to handle family law matters like divorce.
Annulments in La Quinta
While uncommon, some couples meet the criteria and opt for an annulment, effectively nullifying their marriage. A spouse may seek an annulment for the following reasons:
- Incest
- Bigamy
- Lack of informed consent to the marriage
- Unsound mind
- Fraud
- Force, except if the forced party subsequently lived with the other as a spouse by choice
- Physical incapacity of either party at the time of marriage, if the incapacity appears incurable
If you’re considering the possibility of annulment and would like to explore it further, one of our attorneys can meet with you to discuss your situation in detail.
Schedule A Confidential Case Review with our La Quinta Divorce Attorney Today
When dealing with divorce or any family law issue, it’s crucial to have a reliable attorney who can present all aspects of your case and explore all viable options. At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., our team will guide and support you at every stage of your divorce process. We’ll work diligently to construct a strong case that aligns with your goals and priorities.
Arrange a confidential consultation with one of our attorneys today. We’ll address your most urgent legal concerns and devise a strategy for your future.
