Family Lawyers in Fresno

Helping You Through Your Family Dispute

Some of the most difficult times in any family are times when there are disputes over the terms of a divorce, child custody arrangements, child support, spousal maintenance, or other financial agreements. Things get even more complicated if there are issues of domestic violence or abuse involved. It is in these trying times that you need the help and support of a knowledgeable and experienced family law attorney to make sure that a fair and beneficial outcome is reached.

The family law attorneys at Bains Law Offices have the skill and compassion to advocate for you and your rights when you may not have the emotional stamina to fight for what you, and possibly your children, want and deserve. Call our Fresno office today at 559-282-8924, and let us support you during this challenging time.

What Can Family Law Attorneys Help Me With?

Many different types of cases fall under the umbrella of “family law.” Many common family law cases involve a divorce. Your divorce proceeding might bring up questions of child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, division of assets like your real estate and retirement accounts, or other complicated matters that require skilled legal counsel.

Family law can also encompass dissolving domestic partnerships, enforcing or denying grandparents’ rights, and a host of other complex topics. Any dispute involving family members and loved ones is bound to be emotional and stressful. Having a knowledgeable family law lawyer on your side can help you get the outcomes you are hoping for while relieving some of the burdens of having to do all of the legwork yourself. Furthermore, putting a family law attorney between you and the party or parties you are struggling with can give you the distance you need as you allow the attorney to do the necessary communication to avoid further conflict.

What Are the Most Common Family Law Matters?

The family court system in California is tasked with handling cases that involve the creation (adoption) or dissolution (divorce) of families. It also handles cases that involve child custody or child support for parents who were never married. At Bains Law Offices, some of the most common family law cases we see include those below.

Property Division in a Divorce

Every divorce involves property division, which includes both the assets and debts accumulated during the marriage. California’s community property rules can be challenging to understand and apply in some cases, which is why it’s important to have an attorney who can ensure you get what you’re entitled to in the divorce settlement. These cases can range from fairly simple, such as when the parties are able to have a collaborative divorce, to complex, especially when the marriage includes high-value assets or business holdings.

Child Custody

Child custody disputes are some of the most contentious cases the family courts see. It’s common for parents to disagree over how to split time with their children or for both parents to want primary legal or physical custody. In California, there is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the children as long as both parents are in agreement. If there is a dispute, the judge will need to hear arguments from both sides to determine what is in the best interests of the children.

Child custody cases, in particular, can be high conflict and take several months or even years to resolve. If you want to ensure that you can maintain a relationship with your children after a divorce or the end of a relationship, you need an experienced family law attorney to represent you.

Child Support

If married parents are divorcing, the need for child support will be evaluated as part of the divorce case. In some cases, such as when the parents have fairly equal incomes and are splitting parenting time evenly, child support may not be ordered at all. When it is, it’s based on the parents’ incomes, the number of children involved, and any special expenses, such as health insurance premiums or childcare costs.

If the parents were never married, the case may start with California’s Child Support Services (CSS) department. CSS can help establish parentage and set an initial child support amount. If there is any dispute regarding these matters, the case may need to go before a family court judge.

Spousal Maintenance

Also known as spousal support, spousal maintenance is determined as part of the divorce proceedings. An attorney can help you understand whether spousal maintenance may be relevant to your situation and whether it is likely to be granted on a temporary or long-term basis.

Is Going to Court the Only Way to Resolve a Family Dispute in California?

It is not always necessary to go through the full court system to resolve a family dispute. Sometimes, a practiced family law attorney can help you settle your dispute through mediation or negotiation before getting to court. Mediation can be particularly helpful because it involves a neutral third party who can help keep the discussion productive while negotiating the terms of the divorce or another family law matter.

The main benefit of mediation or negotiation is that this approach saves time, money, and headaches for you. Mediation proceedings are also confidential and not part of the public record, which can be especially attractive to those who have high-value assets or want to keep their family’s business private.

Not every case can be solved through mediation or negotiation, but a family law attorney from Bains Law Offices will have the negotiation skills to minimize conflict, whether in court or through mediation or negotiation. This can reduce your time and money spent, your stress levels, and your interactions with difficult family members.

What Are Other Kinds of Family Law Disputes?

In addition to the most common family law disputes that revolve around divorce and separation, such as child custody and child support, family law also includes things like child abuse and neglect, adoption, the emancipation of minors, and guardianships. Resolving questions about the visitation of children after a divorce is final and custody has been awarded also falls under the category of family law, as does domestic abuse and violence. Our well-qualified family lawyers stand ready to apply their experience and knowledge to your case.

Can a Family Law Attorney Help Me Modify a Court Order?

In other aspects of the law, the judge’s order is generally final — with the exception of appeals in some cases. However, family law is unique in that orders related to child custody and child support can and often are modified at least once over the years. Children’s needs change as they grow up, and what worked when they were in preschool, for example, may not be what’s best when they are teenagers.

A family lawyer can evaluate your situation to determine whether the current order is still working in the children’s best interests and suggest modifications if changes need to be made.

Is Hiring a Family Law Attorney Worth It?

Some of the most difficult disputes to resolve are those with people we love or once loved. There are a lot of powerful emotions involved, and stress levels are usually very high. Standing up for yourself in such a difficult time can be hard, especially if you don’t know what you are legally entitled to or what your rights are. In addition, it can be nearly impossible to interact with someone you are in a contentious legal battle with without suffering further emotional upset and conflict.

An experienced family law lawyer can make sure that you don’t miss any steps in resolving your dispute, ensuring that your rights are respected and you get what you are legally entitled to, as well as communicate with the party you are in dispute with, protecting you from further conflict and possible emotional trauma. Don’t go through this legal battle alone. Get compassionate, knowledgeable help from a family law attorney from Bains Law Offices in Fresno. Call today at 559-282-8924 to let us help you get the relief you need.