Family Law Attorney Santa Barbara, CA
Affordable legal help
Family Law Attorney Santa Barbara, CA
Matters related to family law can be an emotional roller-coaster for everyone involved. The way you manage these issues has a significant effect on your future decisions.
At Affordable Legal Help, you can seek the legal assistance you need. Our family law attorneys in Santa Barbara, CA can provide you with unbundled legal services for issues related to divorce, child support, child adoption, child custody and grandparents rights.
To understand the various laws regarding the family matters mentioned above, a Santa Barbara family law attorney can be of immense help.
Divorce Laws in Santa Barbara, CA
According to the California state laws, the petitioner or the respondent must have resided in California for at least six months or three months in Santa Barbara County. In case they don't fall in this criteria, they can file for legal separation and wait for the six or three month period to be completed, before filing for divorce.
Also, the whole process takes up to 6 months to be finalized, from the time when the paperwork is presented to the respondent. In case the judge notices any sign of reconciliation, they may halt the final judgment for an extra 30 days.
Being a no-fault state, divorce can simply be filed based on irreconcilable differences, which means that the spouses are not getting along and want to end the marriage. The couple doesn't have to provide any specific reason for getting divorced.
Filing for a divorce and then going through all the documentation can be overwhelming and confusing. Hence, seeking legal help from a divorce attorney Santa Barbara, CA may be the best option in this situation.
Child Custody Laws in Santa Barbara, CA
Although divorce is an upsetting phase, what is even more aggravating is to decide whom the child gets to live with. This whole scenario is distressing for the child as well as the parents. Luckily, child custody laws in California arrange a schedule for custody and visitation, so that the child can meet the non-custodial parent even when the parents are not together.
Parents are usually aware of what is right or wrong for the child, therefore they mutually agree upon a schedule for visitation and custody. Thereupon, they have to make a parenting plan which states with whom the child will reside and how and when the other parent might visit them.
Parenting Plan
If the parents have mutually agreed upon a parenting plan, they have to complete the following steps:
- Fill out the court form
- Both parents must go through the agreement and then sign it.
- Have a family law facilitator Santa Barbara go through the form.
- Make two copies of it
- Get the judge to approve and sign the agreement
- File the form in the court
Having said that, there are instances when the parents do not agree on a parenting plan. In such a situation, a custody order must be obtained, for which a family law case needs to be opened in court. The following family law cases need to be initiated to request for a child custody order:
- Divorce or legal separation
- Domestic violence
- Local child support agency case
- Petition for custody and support of minor children
- Paternity case
Request Child Custody
Once either of the aforementioned family cases has been initiated, one of the parents can request a custody order by following the steps given below:
- Fill out the court form
- Have a family law facilitator Santa Barbara go through the form.
- Make two copies
- File the form in the court
- Get a court date
- Get the paperwork delivered to the other parent, at least 2 weeks before the court date.
- The person who delivered the papers to the other parent needs to fill a "Proof of Service" form and file it with the court.
- Go to the court on the given date.
The judge will go through the custody order and sign it after approving it. They can also make changes if any condition is not in the best interest of the child.
Child custody matters can be very complex and emotionally draining. Taking legal help from a Santa Barbara custody attorney can prove to be quite helpful in this matter.
Child Support Laws in Santa Barbara County, CA
Child support payment is taken very pensively in California. According to the law, the non-custodial parent is supposed to pay child support till:
- The child turns 18
- Is emancipated
- Becomes self-supporting
What is Child Support Used For?
Child support isn't necessarily for basic necessities like food, shelter or clothing. It can be used to cover other things such as:
- Medical expenses
- Education and school fees
- Entertainment
- Extracurricular activities
The point of child support payment is to make sure that the child's lifestyle remains the same as it was before the parents split up.
How is Child Support Paid?
Child support payment is made every month from the date the judgement was passed by the court. Usually, the payment is done through the method of wage assignment. This means that the employer of the non-custodial parent will take out the child support payments from the salary of the parent and have it delivered to the other parent.
If a child support agency is involved, they will prefer that the child support payment is taken out from the parents' wage and sent to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU). The SDU tracks, collects and sends out child support payments to the person responsible for collecting the payment.
Seek Legal Help from Us
All cases that come under family laws are intricate and involve a lot of legal documentation. To go through this process smoothly and without ambiguity, you can hire our family law facilitator Santa Barbara.
Our attorneys are experienced and friendly. They can help you in several ways and even handle complex cases. Our family law attorneys in Santa Barbara, CA live up to their name and will gladly be of assistance at a very affordable price. We charge $500 to $1000, depending on the nature of the case.
So contact us without any hesitation, to set up a free consultation appointment.