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San Diego Family Law Attorneys

Since 1974, the Family Law Offices of Beatrice L. Snider, APC has been here to help families in San Diego with all their legal needs. Our team brings together over 200 years of combined experience in family law. Our proven track record shows we excel in our field, and we’re prepared to assist you with your legal needs.

What We Do Best

Our San Diego family lawyers have experience in all types of family law cases. Here’s how we can help:

  • Divorce and Separations: Making things clear and fair.
  • Taking Care of Your Kids: Sorting out custody and support.
  • Protecting Your Stuff: Helping divide property and assets.
  • Agreements Before and After Marriage: We’ve got this covered too.
  • Keeping You Safe: Standing up against domestic violence.
  • Special Situations: Like when parents aren’t married or if a divorce involves a lot of money.

We understand that every family’s story is unique, filled with its own challenges and emotions. That’s why we listen closely and tailor our advice to align perfectly with your individual needs. Our team is not just made up of specialists known for their skills and knowledge, but also compassionate professionals who genuinely care. Plus, if you speak Spanish, we’ve got you covered, ensuring no language barrier stands in the way of getting the support you need.

In these trying times, having someone who not only understands the legal landscape but also empathizes with your situation can make all the difference. We’re here to be that steadfast support for you and your family, guiding you through every step with both expertise and understanding.

Understanding California’s Laws

California has its own rules about divorce and how things are split up. Whether it’s deciding on custody or dividing property, we make these rules clear for you. We’re here to guide you through each step.

We’re Here for Every Family

Every family is different, and we respect that. We have lots of experience with all kinds of families, including same-sex couples. We know how to navigate these unique challenges to get the best outcome for you.

Divorce

In California, divorces are always considered “no fault divorce.” That means that no reason has to be given for the dissolution of the marriage and fault is not considered when dividing assets or determining spousal support. To establish residence in California, one of the divorcing parties must have lived in California for at least 6 months prior to filing for divorce. The petitioner must have also lived in the specific county where the divorce is being filed for at least 3 months.

California is considered a “community property” state, which means that all assets acquired during the marriage are considered shared property between the two parties. This can make divorce exceptionally complex, especially in high net worth divorce cases. Our attorneys have special expertise in handling these types of financially complex divorces.

Child Custody & Child Visitation

Establishing child custody and visitation in a California divorce can be one of the most legally and emotionally challenging aspects of family law. When establishing child custody, there are two main components that have to be decided: 1.) Legal custody, which means who makes important decisions for your child, such as schooling, religious upbringing and health decisions; and 2.) Physical custody, which is where the child lives, how long and how often visitation may occur, etc.

Joint or sole legal or physical custody may be granted to both or either parents depending on the parents’ agreement or the input of a family court judge according to the “best interests of the child” if the parents are not able to agree. A detailed visitation schedule, supervised visitation or no visitation granted will also be determined during the divorce process. Having the best possible legal representation helps ensure the healthiest outcome for children of divorce.
Spousal Support

Depending on the circumstances of a divorce in California, the court may award permanent or temporary spousal support or alimony. The judge will take many factors into consideration, including the earning potential of each spouse, contributions to the marriage, financial support for education or training, duration of the marriage, assets/income and any other contributing factors.

Paternity

Establishing paternity is critical for determining financial responsibility for a child and also to establish parental rights. By having both parents on a child’s birth certificate, the child is able to inherit from either parent, receive social security or veteran’s benefits (if applicable), be provided health insurance and of course child support. Paternity is also important for documenting a child’s hereditary health history. If a child is not born into a marital relationship, genetic testing may be necessary to formally establish paternity. Our attorneys at BLSAPC have lengthy experience in paternity cases and can provide expert counsel in paternity cases.

Child Support

Determining child support under California law involves a number of factors, including the income of each parent, the age of the children, whether physical custody is joint or solely granted to one parent, as well as health insurance and other expenses that are necessary for the care of the child.

Same-Sex Divorce

Same-sex divorce can be complex in California, as some of the laws have not yet caught up to the realities of same-sex marriage. For example, in a same-sex marriage, the partner who bore the child is automatically considered a legal parent, yet the other spouse doesn’t have any formal parenting rights over a child unless the couple already went through the process of legally establishing parentage. If a parent is not legally recognized as a mother or father, this will be one of the many issues that will have to be determined in court.

Financial issues may also be more complex for same-sex couples, such a dividing retirement assets or obtaining access to account records or employment information. While legal protection exists under California law for same-sex couples, the practical aspects of ensuring a fair divorce requires experienced legal counsel, specific the legalities of same-sex divorce.

High Net Worth

At BLSAPC, our attorneys have in-depth experience in helping high net worth clients navigate the complexities of divorce where there are significant assets to divide. The stakes for these types of divorce can be high and have far-reaching implications for each spouse as well as any children involved.

California is a community property state; however assets held by each party prior to the marriage are considered separate assets. It’s essential to have expert counsel in dividing separate and community assets, as well as getting accurate valuations of business, investments, real estate, intellectual property and other valuable resources.

Mediation

Our litigators are expert in helping clients through the mediation process. Mediation can be one way to help both parties reach an acceptable agreement without the cost, complexity and time of a formal court hearing. The mediator is impartial and helps facilitate the negotiation process. Even if all issues are not resolved, meditation can help expedite the divorce process by expediting agreement on some of the key issues that need to be addressed.

Mediation can also be an effective way to handle post-divorce conflict as issues arise, without the expense and time needed to go to court. Mediation may help you save money in legal fees; however there’s no guarantee it will result in an agreement. A judge may also order parents to participate in mediation if they’ve not been able to reach a custody agreement for minors.

Collaborative Divorce

At BLSAPC, our attorneys are specially trained in collaborative divorce law. In a collaborative divorce, you and your spouse hire collaborative divorce lawyers to help negotiate a formal divorce agreement to reach a legal settlement. Expert advisors may still be brought into the process, including finance specialists, accountants or child custody experts. Having a collaborative divorce allows a resolution without having to go to court. However, if an agreement isn’t reached, a formal court hearing would still be necessary.

Trust Our Award-Winning Team

Hannah M. Hickman

Hannah M. Hickman

Alexandria M Jones

Alexandria M Jones

Jessica B. Medina

Jessica B. Medina

Stephen R. Murphy, CLS-F

Stephen R. Murphy, CLS-F

Christine Hayes Sickler, CLS-F

Christine Hayes Sickler, CLS-F

Beatrice L Snider Family Law Attorney

Beatrice L. Snider, CLS-F

John L. Romaker

John L. Romaker

Robert M. Garland CLS-F

Robert M. Garland CLS-F

Our Proud History

Our story began with Beatrice L. Snider, a trailblazer in family law. Today, we’re one of the top family law firms in California, thanks to our incredible team. We’re known for solving problems efficiently and making the legal process as stress-free as possible.

Visit Our Local San Diego Office

Our office is in Scripps Ranch, a peaceful spot perfect for discussing sensitive matters, and strategically located to be near the San Diego court office. We’re not just about legal solutions; we also offer support and understanding during tough times.

In addition to serving clients in San Diego, we proudly represent clients in the communities of CoronadoLa JollaPowayRancho Bernardo, and Rancho Santa Fe.

Results-Focussed Representation

For all matters of Family Law

“When the sky fell after more than 30 years of marriage, I knew I would need a family law firm that had the depth of experience and expertise to assist me in forming a new life for my five children and myself. In the midst of this emotional and financial chaos, I reached out to the Family Law Offices of Beatrice L. Snider to guide me through this confusing maze of unpredictable discoveries and extensive court hearings. I could not have predicted the discovery of hidden fraudulent loans, the foreclosure of our home, the difficulty in evaluation of our businesses and the unpaid federal tax lien issues. My attorney’s extensive legal knowledge and perseverance enabled my children and me to emerge from this turbulence with our sense of family still intact, and a clear plan for our future.”

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