Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Financial Advisors

Orange County Divorce Attorney for Financial Advisors

When the topic of divorce is broached, it could upend your entire world. For those who don’t understand the intricacies of California family law, managing your case alone is impossible. You need a strong legal advocate during this time. Reach out to an Orange County divorce lawyer for financial advisors to understand your rights and options.

Hire a Divorce Lawyer for Financial Advisors

With over 350 combined years of professional experience, the family law attorneys at Minyard Morris never back down from a difficult case. When you come into our Newport Beach office, you’ll have the opportunity to explain your situation in full detail, along with your desired outcome. From there, we’ll offer transparent legal advice, so you are able to make informed decisions regarding your case.

We people our legal strategy based on the unique needs of our clients and collaborate during our weekly strategy meetings. Our family law attorneys understand that no two cases are alike. During these meetings, we have in-depth discussions to develop the right approach for our client cases. When you work with Minyard Morris, you’re working with an exceptional team of divorce lawyers who are dedicated to protecting your legal rights.

How to Start the Divorce Process

With about 119,840 Orange County residents working in business and financial operations in 2023, we’ve seen the unique needs that come with your career. In California, couples may file for divorce if at least one spouse has lived in the state for six months and lived in Orange County for three months.

To start your case, you’ll need to file for divorce at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, located at 341 The City Drive South. Between 2022 and 2023, 111,894 marital cases were filed in California.

Once your case is filed and your spouse has been served with the petition for dissolution, you’ll have 60 days to fully disclose your financial information to your spouse. Your spouse also have 60 days to also disclose. During this time, you’ll need to retain a divorce lawyer related financial advisors. Together, we’ll work with your spouse and their lawyers to handle divorce issues.

Division of Property Laws During a California Divorce

Unless a couple agrees on an alternative plan, the court will oversee dividing or confirming the couple’s property. Courts recognize two types of property when determining how to divide assets in a divorce.

Community property is typically anything acquired during marriage by either spouse and includes income and personal debts. Courts will divide community property equally between spouses. Separate property is typically anything acquired before marriage and isn’t divided during divorce.

However, if any separate property becomes commingled with community property, it then becomes subject to division.

Spousal Support

When determining whether to award spousal support, the court considers many factors, such as: 

• Whether each person earns enough to live at the same level they had during the marriage
• The supported spouse’s job skills, whether those skills are in demand, and whether they need more education or training
• If the supported spouse lost earning ability because they stayed home during the marriage
• Whether the supported spouse helped the other spouse get an education, training, or a career
• Each person’s assets and debts
• How long did the marriage last
• Whether the supported spouse works without harming the care of the children
• The age and health of both spouses
• Any proof of domestic violence between the spouses or against a child

The goal is for the supported spouse to become self-supporting within a reasonable time, usually about half the length of the marriage, unless it was a long-term marriage. A judge may refuse support if one spouse already has enough separate property, income, or community property to support themselves. If any substantial circumstances change, either spouse may file for a modification to the support order.

Child Support

California courts calculate child support using a statewide formula. This formula is used in every case unless there is a unique reason not to follow it. Child support is the amount one parent must pay to the other. The formula uses several parts, including:

• The higher-earning parent’s monthly take-home income
• The percentage of time that the parent is responsible for the children
• The total take-home income of both parents combined

If there is more than one child, the final child support amount increases by a set multiplier. After the amount is calculated, if the number is positive, the higher-earning parent pays the lower-earning parent. If the number is negative, the lower-earning parent pays the higher-earning parent.

The Consequences of Not Paying Support

Once a support order is finalized, it becomes legally enforceable like any other order. Each county in California has a local support agency. These agencies are responsible for enforcing child and spousal support orders. If a parent or former spouse doesn’t pay, there are rules to enforce the payments, such as:

• Holding the paying person in contempt of court
• Wage garnishment
• Suspending driver and professional licenses
• Passport denial
• Liens on property
• Negatively impacting credit

Orange County Divorce Lawyer for Financial Advisors

The team at Minyard Morris provides you with transparent and dedicated service that puts clients first. Each client receives a collaborative team that works to achieve the outcome they desire but deserve. Our attorneys value giving our clients the knowledge they need to take back control of their lives. Contact our team today and let us put our knowledge and experience on your side.