Practice Areas
Sacramento Divorce Attorney
Why Choose Our Divorce Lawyers in Sacramento?
Without the necessary guidance and support provided by an experienced law firm, a divorce can be a taxing and difficult situation for people to deal with. Involved parties often experience a number of different emotions ranging from guilt and anger to relief and gratification.
Amidst these feelings, important choices must be made concerning how assets are divided or shared, as well as emotional decisions regarding children, pets and alimony. Compromise may seem unlikely at times. To ensure that your divorce is as smooth and stress-free as possible, contact one of our Boyd Law Sacramento divorce lawyers.
Boyd Law’s Karie Boyd is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), which means her advanced experience, knowledge, ethics and expertise in this practice area have been tested and verified by the State Bar of California. This certification is a distinction held by less than 1 percent of lawyers in California.
The attorneys at our Northern California law firm will make sure your divorce is priority number one for them until the desired outcome is reached. Contact Boyd Law today or give us a call at (916)-249-2648 to schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers.
Table of Contents
Why You Need A Sacramento Divorce Lawyer?
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Certified Family Law Specialist?
Trust The Sacramento Divorce Attorneys From Boyd Law
How Much Does A Divorce Lawyer Cost In Sacramento?
How Long Do Divorces Take In California?
Are Alternative Divorce Resolutions Possible?
Why You Need A Divorce Lawyer in Sacramento?
A divorce can become more confusing and difficult to handle on your own if one or both of the parties involved fit into one or more of the following categories:
- High net worth
- Celebrity
- Military
- Executive
If you are facing a divorce and fit into any of these titles, qualified legal support is critical. The stakes are higher in these situations, making it that much more important that you have expert legal advice and counsel to help guide you successfully through the divorce process.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Certified Family Law Specialist?
A Certified Family Law Specialist in Sacramento has a higher level of skill and greater knowledge surrounding divorce cases than lawyers who have not gone through the additional steps to become a CFLS. This can be a significant advantage to you during your divorce case.
Hiring a certified divorce specialist can give you an edge against the opposition during settlement negotiations or in-trial divorce litigation. A certified attorney has a substantial level of hands-on experience in your practice area, as verified by independent counsel. This means your lawyer will be able to come up with smart and effective legal strategies for your unique legal issues.
A CFLS has passed a challenging and rigorous written exam on family law and dedicated at least 25 percent of their legal practice solely to family law for a minimum number of years. The attorney has many hours of continuing legal education beyond what is required of non-certified attorneys. Finally, the specialist has received strong recommendations from peers and judges.
The skills, education and commitment it takes to become certified in family law in California show that an attorney is extremely dedicated to this practice area. Their in-depth knowledge of family law statutes and local courts means that they can often settle divorce cases expeditiously and prevent costly mistakes and delays.
You Can Trust The Sacramento Divorce Attorneys From Boyd Law
Family law cases range from amicable settlements between spouses to complex property division and child custody cases. Every situation and case is different. Hence, there is no formulaic approach to a divorce settlement or child custody concerns. We look at the people in each case, what is important to them, and how we can make their lives a little easier.
We help families work through:
- Legal separation and divorce
- Child support, custody, and visitation
- Spousal support
- Paternity/parentage
- Same sex marriage and domestic partner matters
- Complex property division
- Stepparent adoption
- Unique family legal matters
To succeed in divorce cases, we have developed the soft skills of negotiation and mediation along with skills in investigation and litigation. Our team believes in finding creative answers for some of the hardest divorce questions, and we offer compassionate support and effective legal counsel.
Good Sacramento divorce attorneys know when to bring an expert’s opinion into a case, and the team at Boyd Law in Sacramento has access to a network of some of the country’s most respected industry professionals. We routinely reach out to financial advisers, psychologists, CPAs, forensic accountants, educators, medical experts, and social works to build strong cases for our clients.
How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost in Sacramento?
The cost of a divorce lawyer in Sacramento can vary depending on the complexity of your case and the services you need. Typically, divorce lawyers charge either a flat fee or an hourly rate. More complex cases, like those involving property division or child custody disputes, may require more time and thus higher costs.
At Boyd Law, we offer a free consultation to discuss your case and provide you with a clearer idea of the potential costs. While most divorce cases aren’t handled on a contingency fee basis, it’s important to know that some financial arrangements can be flexible depending on your situation. Reach out to our team of Sacramento divorce attorneys today for personalized guidance.
How Long Do Divorces Take in California?
It is normal to want your Sacramento divorce to be over as quickly as possible. However, having reasonable expectations for the timeline of your divorce can make it easier to be patient and allow your case the time it needs to reach an amicable or positive resolution. This can help you avoid jumping into a quick settlement that is unfairly favorable toward your spouse.
By law, a California divorce can be finalized no sooner than six months from the date that the petition is filed. Six months is the waiting period required by state law to ensure that binding legal decisions are not made hastily or in the heat of the moment. Even if you and your spouse agree on every term of your divorce, it will not be finalized before at least six months have passed.
How long your divorce case takes in excess of these six months depends on the circumstances. An uncontested divorce where you and your spouse agree on all critical terms could be over in just six to eight months. A contested divorce where there is a breakdown in communication or disagreements on major decisions, however, could take multiple years.
Are Alternative Divorce Resolutions Possible?
Alternative divorce resolutions, also known as alternative dispute resolutions or ADR, are ways to resolve a divorce dispute outside of court and without a trial. ADR is a desirable resolution for most divorcing couples, as it saves the time and expense of a full trial in Sacramento. These meetings also keep both parties in control of the outcome of the divorce case. Multiple alternative divorce resolutions are possible.
Collaborative Divorce
If a couple is able to communicate effectively with one another and work together to resolve any case disputes without a court’s help, they can achieve a collaborative or uncontested divorce. A collaborative divorce does not require anything other than private meetings between the couple and their attorneys.
Mediation
Divorce mediation is an informal, out-of-court meeting between both spouses, their lawyers and a mediator. The mediator is an unbiased third party whose job it is to facilitate better communication and resolve conflicts between both parties so that they can reach a settlement. Mediation will not end in any binding decisions unless the couple decides to sign a settlement agreement.
Arbitration
Arbitration is more formal than mediation, but less formal than a divorce trial in Sacramento. The couple sits before an arbitrator who may or may not have the authority to pass a judgment on the case at the conclusion of the meeting (binding vs. non-binding arbitration). During arbitration, both sides will have the chance to present evidence, witnesses and arguments to the arbitrator, who will issue a written decision to settle the dispute at the end of the meeting.
Default Divorce
A default divorce can be granted when the respondent fails to respond to the initial divorce petition by the 30-day deadline. If this occurs, the petitioner can file a Request to Enter Default (Form FL-165), and a judge may grant the divorce according to only the petitioner’s requests regarding its terms. The respondent surrenders his or her right to participate in the outcome of the divorce.
We Offer Our Divorce Services Throughout Sacramento County
Find more information about local services at:
Contact A Divorce Attorney in Sacramento Today
If you are uncomfortable with your spouse’s proposed divorce settlement agreement, do not sign it without a divorce lawyer reviewing it. There may be areas where you are entitled to more than the contract states, or there may be missing compensation that should be added via legal representation.
Divorce in any of these special circumstances can be incredibly time consuming and emotionally taxing. Your emotional and financial well-being deserves to remain intact through these proceeding. Get in touch with the team of attorneys at Boyd Law for more information. Our divorce attorneys in the Sacramento area have extensive experience in complicated, high-risk divorce cases. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Divorce in Sacramento
What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Sacramento?
Since California is a no-fault divorce state, the only grounds necessary for getting a divorce in Sacramento is “irreconcilable differences.” It is not necessary to prove that you or your spouse was at fault for ending the marriage. Providing evidence of adultery, for example, is not necessary. You simply have to declare that major relationship problems have eliminated the possibility of getting back together.
How Does High Level Executive Divorce Work?
If an executive career has led to divorce papers, your case is especially sensitive. Executive divorce affects the individual, his or her family, and the corporation for which he or she works. The individual and the company will want to avoid bad publicity at all costs.
The high visibility of an executive means the damage of a divorce can be far-reaching and affect the company’s reputation, sales, and stock prices. Court orders can limit business owners on what they can spend on their companies until the divorce is finalized.
For this reason, businesses are taking the once private matter of divorce into consideration. Companies are acting to protect the business’ reputation, such as creating contracts asking spouses to waive their interests in a partner’s operations.
If you are getting divorced as a high-level executive in Sacramento, our attorneys can help you protect your high-net-worth community property and minimize the impact of your divorce on your career or business operations as much as possible. We will protect you with strict confidentiality agreements and mediation to keep your personal business out of public court records.
Is Divorce More Complicated If You’re In The Military?
Yes, divorce is more complicated if one of the spouses is in the military. This is due to additional state laws, federal laws, and military codes you must take into account. Federal and military laws decide how to divide pensions (Uniformed Services Former Spouses’ Protection Act (USFSPA)), health insurance, properties and pay, while state laws determine issues like child custody, debt, spousal support and child support.
The USFSPA states that the state in which the military member lives has the authority to divide a military pension. If you decide to file for a divorce in a state other than where your military spouse lives, it is important to understand how this will affect the pension’s distribution. The non-military spouse will also have access to health care after a divorce.
Are High Net Worth Divorces Easier To Settle?
No; high net worth divorces are more difficult to settle due to the increased complexity of financial assets. There are also more property division and assets to divide. Thus, it is important to hire an experienced Sacramento, CA divorce attorney in these cases.
The increased complexity and duration of the divorce opens the door for more mistakes to be made. A Sacramento family attorney can help you anticipate divorce issues that may arise so you will end up with a fair outcome, such as one spouse trying to hide assets from the other.
Do not take your spouse’s word that a financial affidavit is filled out accurately and honestly. You and your Sacramento divorce law attorney should do a thorough investigation to ensure all assets are listed.
Tax implications due to the divorce are another area each party will need to study. It is important to have both your Sacramento divorce lawyer and accountant work together to determine what you will gain once taxes have been taken out of distributions, such as alimony.
What To Do If Your Spouse Is Of Celebrity Status
If you are seeking divorce and you or your spouse is of celebrity status, seek legal advice and get your financials in order before making a desire for divorce known. Meet with a divorce lawyer in Sacramento before taking any action on legal issues.
Next, make an action plan. Determine what is most important to you and what steps need to occur to make it happen. Share your priorities with your legal counsel for his or her expertise on the subject. These main concerns may include child custody, asset protection, and maintaining positive publicity.
What Are Martial Settlement Agreements?
A marital settlement agreement (also known as a divorce or property settlement agreement) is a crucial part of your divorce case that is written by your divorce and Sacramento divorce attorney. Its purpose is to sanctify all agreements reached between the two parties.
In most situations, the goal is to have a marital settlement agreement created and mutually agreed on before going to court. This is the best way to avoid unnecessary attorney’s fees and keep the divorce private and less stressful. When this is not possible, the case must be presented in front of a judge. He or she will make the final decisions for your case.
Do I Have to Go to Court for My Sacramento Divorce?
The answer to this depends on your specific circumstances and your willingness as a couple to communicate and cooperate with one another to reach a settlement. With good communication and tools such as mediation and arbitration, it is often possible for a divorcing couple in Sacramento to avoid the courtroom.
Hiring an experienced divorce attorney can also help you and your spouse avoid the cost and stress of a trial. Your lawyer can come up with creative legal solutions to help facilitate an out-of-court agreement that works for both of you. Only a contested case requires a trial, so working with a lawyer to achieve an uncontested divorce is the best way to avoid a lengthy legal battle.
Our clients include people from all walks of life. We work with families, divorcees, high net worth individuals, and people in the LGBTQ community, and our goal is to provide every client a sense of comfort and trust. When you face a divorce matter that requires legal advice, our Sacramento divorce attorneys at our law offices have the Northern California legal expertise needed to reach a successful resolution.
