Services

My services are not recommended for contested situations where you and the other party are unable or unwilling to reach an agreement. These services are designed for people who wish to maximize the potential for resolving a family law matter by agreement — whether you've already worked out the terms, or you need help getting there.

Consulting

This involves my working with one party as a consultant, advisor, and document preparer. In this capacity I do not represent you in the traditional sense and am not your "attorney of record." I assist you in understanding everything and making decisions pertaining to your case, as well as preparing all necessary court documents and a settlement agreement for both parties' review and signature.

With this option, the party I am working with directly is the "client for conflict purposes" and discusses all issues with the other party directly. Note: I cannot speak with the other party independently, as this creates a conflict of interest.

Consulting is also appropriate if you have a potentially contested case — the goal is to maximize the potential for handling the case as an uncontested one, with the option to proceed contested if necessary.

Mediation

This involves my working with both parties to work out the details for a divorce agreement or any other family law issue. See the Mediation page for a full explanation of this process and how the conflict rules apply.

Collaboration

In a collaborative law case, I represent one party as their attorney of record, and the other party has a separate collaborative law attorney. All four of us agree to resolve the case entirely outside of the court system. See the Collaborative Law page for full details.

Contested Cases

I do not handle contested cases. If your case is contested, I can consult with you for educational purposes — to help you understand your situation and available options — but this does not provide representation. I am not a litigator, and if your case requires litigation, I will advise you to seek a litigator.

Full Disclosure Required

California disclosure laws require a full disclosure from each spouse as to assets, debts, and income — including both separate property and community property. The disclosure process requires certain paperwork to be completed by each party at specific stages. The penalties for failing to comply can be severe. This is mandatory and there is no safe way to avoid it.

A Note About Paralegals

One of the most common questions I receive is about the use of paralegals. Paralegals are not licensed to give legal advice, and in my opinion it is not possible to properly assist anyone with a family law case without providing legal advice. Incorrect documents can create problems that are difficult — or impossible — to fix without significant cost. It is better to have your paperwork completed correctly the first time.

Note: This does not refer to paralegals operating under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney.

Fee Information

My policy for fees is either “Pay as You Go” or an optional retainer. Most people use Pay as You Go, which means that any fee which applies to you is due at the time that the particular service is provided. Using the retainer option is necessary for Collaborative cases, and is available if you prefer that over Pay as You Go.

I accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, most debit cards, cash, checks with sufficient funds, and Zelle. Please email me for the current fee schedule.

Free Telephone Consultation

Our first discussion is a one-half hour scheduled telephone appointment at no charge. To schedule, please email me. I am required to complete a conflicts check, and to speed things up, please provide your and your spouse’s full name and all names ever used. It is also helpful to have a general idea of your situation.

In-Office Consultation

In our in-office meeting(s), we cover all needed information in a two-part process, Phase One and Phase Two. Phase One is identifying all relevant information in your case and reviewing 6 different subject areas. Phase Two is pulling it all together and detailing the terms of “the deal” in all subject areas. I can usually estimate how long that may take, but please understand that each situation is different. We cover assets, debts, minor children, support, procedural options, and other topics.

Document Preparation

• Basic Court Forms — Required documents to begin and end all Family Law cases, including all copies, envelopes, stamps, a file, and instructions.
• Marital Settlement Agreement — The most important document; reflects all details of your agreement. Quote depends on complexity.
• Deed — Various types depending on the facts of your case. Notary and recording fees also apply.
• Promissory Note & Deed of Trust — When one party receives a note secured by real property. Notary and recording fees apply.
• QDRO and Joinder — Required when the non-employee spouse retains an interest in a retirement plan (401k, 457 DCP, CalSTRS, CalPERS, etc.).