Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Engineers

Orange County Divorce Attorney for Engineers

Divorce is difficult for anyone to go through. When you’re dealing with the stress of your profession, trying to manage personal life stress is nearly impossible to do alone. When the topic of divorce is broached, reach out to one of our Orange County divorce lawyers for engineers to help you understand the unique aspects of your situation.

Hire a Divorce Lawyer for Engineers

At Minyard Morris, our skilled team of 19 attorneys has over 350 years of combined professional experience. We approach every new client with the attention to detail they need and the determination necessary for a successful outcome. Our team knows that a successful outcome for your case relies on strategic thinking, collaboration, and dedication to quality, accuracy and service.

Our clients benefit not only from their Minyard Morris attorney but also from the skills of the entire team at our firm. Every week, our lawyers gather for a weekly strategy meeting. We believe that cases have the greatest chance of success if multiple minds are accessed. When you work with Minyard Morris, you won’t have one lawyer on your side, you will be supported by a team.

How to Start the Divorce Process

Before being able to file for divorce, couples must meet the state’s residency requirements. At least one spouse must have lived in Orange County, California for six months and lived in Orange County for three months. Once the requirements are met, either spouse may file a divorce case at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, located at 341 The City Drive South. There were 111,894 marital cases filed in California during 2022 and 2023.

While this process may seem overwhelming at first, we support our clients and simplify the divorce procedure. Hire a divorce lawyer for engineers, as they’ll understand the unique aspects of your job and help you manage your case.

Once the case is filed and the non-filing spouse has been served, the filing spouse will have 60 days to fully disclose their financial information to the non-filing spouse. This includes bank accounts, taxes, real estate, property, and more.

The non-filing spouse will also have 60 days to serve their disclosure. If either spouse lies about their finances, there may be legal consequences and finance sanctions

California Spousal Support Laws During Divorce

Around 101,436 residents of Orange County worked in engineering and architectural occupations in 2023. The orders made about spousal support have lifelong ramifications and must be approached in a strategic manner.

When a court decides how much spousal support should be paid, it looks at many factors, including: 

• The standard of living maintained during the duration of marriage
• The skills of the suppored spouse and whether they need extended training or education to financially provide for themselves
• If the supported spouse gave up their career to maintain the home or raise children during the marriage
• Whether the supported spouse helped the other spouse go to school and build their career
• If the supporting spouse has the financial means to support the other
• Each spouse’s financial needs and assets
• The length of the marriage
• The age and health of both spouses
• Whether the supported spouse can work without negatively impacting the children
• Potential tax consequences for both spouses

The goal is for the supported spouse to become self-supporting within a reasonable amount of time, which is usually about half the length of the marriage, unless it was a long duration marriage.

Temporary Spousal Support During a California Divorce Case

While a divorce case is ongoing, the court may order one spouse to pay the other an amount needed for support. The court decides the amount based on attempting to maintain the status quo. The court could also order a parent to pay the amount necessary to support a child during this time frame.

These payments are meant to maintain the living standards and meet the basic needs of the spouse or child until the case is resolved.

How to Modify a Support Order

A spousal or child support order can be modified or ended whenever the court finds it necessary, unless other laws or agreements limit this. Any previous unpaid support amounts won’t be affected by a modified support order request. If there’s a significant change in circumstances that makes the current order unfair or unworkable, either spouse may request a modification. Common reasons include:

• A substantial change in income, such as losing a job, getting a raise, or retiring
• Changes in employment
• Disability
• Changes in the financial needs of the supported spouse or child, such as increased living costs or medical expenses
• Changes in child custody

Spousal support can’t be modified if the parties have a written agreement stating it can’t be modified.

Asset Division Laws in California

Dividing assets during divorce can be overwhelming. Courts will split community property equally between spouses unless they can agree otherwise. This is anything acquired during marriage. Property includes:

• Income
• Checking or savings accounts
• Cash
• Real estate, such as the family home or rental properties
• Cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, or other vehicles
• Retirement accounts
• Investment accounts
• Businesses
• Furniture, appliances, and household items
• Jewelry, artwork, or collectibles
• Life insurance
• Intellectual property
• Cryptocurrency
• Timeshares or vacation property
• Credit card debt
• Medical bills
• Taxes owed

However, any assets acquired before the marriage are considered separate and aren’t divided during divorce. Exceptions to this include any separate property that has become commingled with community property.

If you use an inheritance, for example, acquired before marriage to make home improvements on your marital home, that money may become subject to division during divorce.

Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Engineers

At Minyard Morris, you will have a team with the knowledge and experience you need and can count on. We believe in helping our clients with their unique needs, so they receive the outcome they want and deserve. Divorces can be difficult, which is why we continue to keep a client-first approach throughout. Not only will you receive the legal help that you need and deserve, but you will also have the confidence that comes with nearly 350 years of experience.

Contact our team today to find out how our dedicated team will work to employ the right strategy for your needs. Your case deserves a team that is committed to meeting your needs. At Minyard Morris, that is our promise to you.