Upland Family Lawyer
Helping Families Across San Bernardino County
Family law cases are challenging and require the guidance and direction of a skillful
San Bernardino family law attorney. Most of the clients who come to the Law Offices of Heidi H. Romeo in San Bernardino County, have never gone through the court process before being faced with their divorce or family law case.
Divorce
The divorce process usually involves disputes over finances, assets, and child custody in addition to the separation of spouses. These factors can often add up to be a confusing legal matter with surprising complications - a fact that explains why even the most experienced divorce attorneys hire outside legal for their own divorces.
Child Custody & Visitation
A judge in a California family court will determine whether one parent or both parents should have custody of their children by considering a set of crucial factors. These considerations help the court to arrive at a ruling for an arrangement that is in the best interest of the child. If one parent believes they should have sole custody of the child, he or she must demonstrate to the court that they are the better parent.
Are you dealing with a family issues in San Bernardino County? Call the Law Offices of Heidi Romeo & Associates today at (888) 880-8803 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our
San Bernardinofamily law attorney in Upland, California!
Child Support
In the event of a divorce, the state of California requires both parents to financially support any children that were a result of that union. Sometimes the parent paying child support - or the parent receiving it - will consider the payment amount to be inequitable. There are laws in place to protect parents in cases where child support is involved, and modifications to these orders can be requested with the help of a child custody lawyer.
Domestic Violence
The court considers either and / or both actual abuse and threats of abuse in an intimate relationship to constitute domestic violence. Whether you are the victim of domestic violence or have been falsely accused of inflicting domestic violence, it is crucial that you have the legal support and representation you need to protect yourself.
Guardianship
The court will sometimes grant guardianship of a child or of a child's property, such as an inheritance, to an individual other than the child's parents. A guardianship is different from an adoption because the parents of the child still maintain their parental rights, including the right to see the child, and the court oversees the guardian.
Legal Separation
Whether because of a religious conviction or another motivation, some couples choose to pursue a legal separation rather than a divorce. A legal separation does not dissolve the marriage or open the door for either spouse to remarry. As with divorce cases, the court can still grant child support and custody, spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, and visitation orders in a separation case.
Paternity Cases
Paternity is assumed in a marriage, but outside of marriage it is not. In order to establish the identity of the legal father of a child, either both parents must arrive at a mutual agreement or a paternity test can be administered. Either the mother or the father of a child may pursue legal action in order to prove or disprove the paternity of a child.
Property & Debt Division
Many divorcing couples arrive at an agreement as to the division of their estate and financial obligations independent from a court of law, but they must still have that agreement approved by a judge. Unless this has been done, the property and debt is still considered shared.
Same-Sex Marriage Legalization
The Supreme Court's June 2015 ruling on marriage equality means that existing same-sex couples of California have new access to previously unavailable federal benefits. These benefits could potentially change the circumstances of a prenuptial agreement, divorce, or other family law matter. The experienced Upland family lawyer at the Law Offices of Heidi H. Romeo, APLC is prepared to assist LGBT families dealing with these family law issues.
Spousal Support
In a separation or divorce, a California family law court can award one spouse monthly support (also called alimony) to be paid by the other spouse. The judge will consider a number of factors before granting spousal support. An informed Upland family law attorney can help you understand how to obtain spousal support or can help you defend yourself from having to pay it.
Stepparent Adoption
Unlike guardianship, the adoption process establishes a legal parental relationship between a child and the child's adoptive, non-biological mother or father. Stepparent adoption is the most common form of adoption and differs from independent, agency, or international adoption because one birth parent remains the parent of the child.
Start Your Legal Journey Today
With more than two decades of experience, the Upland divorce attorney at the law firm is here to help pilot you through the complex California legal system while conveying personalized consideration for you and your loved ones during this difficult time. Ms. Romeo holds to a strict standard of professionalism and communicates frequently with her clients.
