"... a divorce can be a very stressful time... I was so afraid the process would be grueling. Thank you so much for your calming attitude, timeliness, thoroughness... for making me feel like I am your only client"
--Jennie
Client, Legal Action Workshop
Need divorce advice?
Christina Rowe has written an article on some of the hardships you encounter when faced with divorce. Whatever problems arise that lead to divorce, whether it be physical or emotional abuse, financial worries, or failed relationships; divorce will always be a scary issue fraught with stress and unanswered questions. It is ultimately up to you to decide whether divorce will be the right decision to enhance your security and happicness. Look to this article for some beginning pointers. continue reading...
Visit the State of California's website for basic divorce information and resources. When choosing your options for filing, remember that only an attorney can give legal advice, but you don't always need full-priced attorneys.
Legal Action Workshop's Divorce Lawyers offer expert assistance to California residents.
I remember when I got divorced. I was living in Los Angeles, and didn't get any legal advice whatsoever. I was full of contradictory emotions: Anger, Guilt, Hurt- and depending on which I was feeling at the time, I made contradictory decisions. Sometime I thought about protecting myself financially, and other times, I didn't care.
MSN Money listed ten things to do after a divorce. These are a great guide... regardless of how you feel, you need to protect yourself financially.
Many people feel that their divorce is simple and can be accomplished without the help of an attorney. In addition, those who feel that they would like to hire an attorney, do not do so because they feel that an attorney is too costly and they cannot afford to have one. continue reading...
There are many contentious issues in family law, but custody seems to be the most egregious of the issues. This is egregious both when couples are married and when they are not.
Often couples share legal custody—meaning that each has a say in medical decisions as well as decisions with regard to schooling. Physical custody is the decision that is often disputed i.e. where will the child live? Couples can opt for one parent getting primary physical custody while the other gets visitation or they can share physical custody equally. The partner that gets primary physical custody usually gets child support. Many times one of the partners wants physical custody primarily because he/she does not want to pay child support. Often, he/she is not thinking of the welfare of the child. If the couple opt for shared physical custody, it is important that the parents live close enough to each other, so that moving from house to house is not difficult for the child and school is not affected.
Couples really need to think of the welfare of the child when considering custody. Social psychological factors need to be considered and these involve the age of the child, schooling, after school programs, ability to do homework, friends etc. When couples disregard the needs of the child and instead focus on child support issues or retribution for past pains, then the child is the one that suffers.
When couples are married, they can discuss child custody with the attorney and make their wishes known in a Marital Settlement Agreement where custody, along with support and visitation can be detailed. Once signed and notarized, this agreement becomes a roadmap for how the couple and the child will coexist. If the couple cannot agree on their issues, then a court appearance would be necessary. Once the couple is divorced, changes may need to be made to the Marital Settlement Agreement or to the final judgment. Reasons for the change may be due to a change in employment, a wage increase or decrease, a need to move or an illness etc. When this occurs, either party can arrange for an Order to Show Cause to be filed which would detail the change needed. If both parties agree on the change, then a court appearance would not be needed. If both parties disagree, then the change would be decided in court.
When couples are not married, child custody is usually decided by a Paternity Action that outlines custody, visitation and support for the child. If the couple can agree on these issues, then an attorney can prepare a stipulated judgment which outlines the agreed upon arrangement. However, if they do not agree, a court appearance would be necessary. Once the court order or judgment is in effect, a change may be necessary for reasons as stated above such as change in employment, illness or other reasons, and then one party would file an Order to Show Cause. Again, if both parties agree, then a court appearance would not be necessary. Likewise, if they do not agree, then the change would be decided by the judge in court.
Stephen Drucker is a Divorce Attorney in Los Angeles. continue reading...
Californians can now have attorney divorce assistance for one low flat fee- saving the high hourly rates and retainer fees typically charged. Los Angeles based law-firm Legal Action Workshop has announced that its unique flat fee attorney-assisted divorce service can now be purchased online at www.legalactionworkshoplaw.com anywhere in California. This balanced approach bridges the gap between high-priced attorney fees and significantly lower flat fees offered by non-attorney document service companies.
“The experience we had before… was a nightmare--an attorney... took our retainer, and never did a thing after 3 months” says James, a client of Legal Action Workshop, of his previous experience with a full-representation lawyer. His experience is all too familiar for many people seeking divorce. Attorneys regularly charge hourly rates as high as $500 as well as a retainer fee between $2,000.00- $5,000.00. Attorneys who fully represent charge their clients hourly for consultations, phone conversations and paperwork which often eat through retainer fees quickly. This leaves clients feeling like very little was done and yet huge fees were paid. Things dramatically improved after James hired Legal Action Workshop to do his paperwork and render legal advice. “Believe me, this is a dream in comparison!”
On the other hand, to save money, many people may think that non-attorney document services can help. “There’s always a question of quality- only attorneys can give legal advice,” says Jared, a divorcee who used a paralegal document preparation service for his divorce. “We wanted to keep expenses down. We didn’t know we could have had Attorney assistance and guidance for an affordable flat fee.”
The balanced approach to divorce takes advantage of California’s progressive self-representation laws, removing the need to hire a full-representation lawyer. Legal Action Workshop’s lawyers will not only prepare, file and serve the necessary documents, they’ll oversee the entire divorce and counsel clients throughout the process.
The attorney-assisted method is primarily used when both spouses are cooperative. It can also be used when one spouse cannot be located, or when one spouse does not respond to the divorce petition. However, in divorce cases where one spouse responds to the divorce petition, Legal Action Workshop’s attorney-assisted method can still be used- they can counsel the client, prepare necessary legal documents and can represent the client in court under ‘limited scope options,’ again for lower flat fees.
Built by web development firm Tribute Media (www.tributemedia.com), Legal Action Workshop’s new state-of-the-art website allows clients in California to start their divorce anywhere, anytime. Jared Hawk, Vice-President of Search Marketing at Tribute Media says, “When you’re going through a divorce, your schedule is busy enough. You want to find out how much your divorce is going to cost, and exactly what services you’ll get- that’s what Legal Action Workshop does. And it does it well. ”
Visit www.legalactionworkshoplaw.com for rates, enrollment and program details. continue reading...
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