Alameda County Family Lawyer

Family Lawyer Alameda County, CA

When you are going through a difficult situation with your spouse such as paternity issues, a divorce, alimony disagreements, or matters of child support, you should be looking to work with a family lawyer Alameda County, CA residents rely on from Attorney Bernie. We believe in giving our clients the opportunity to bring everything to the table and without an attorney by your side, you may be losing out.

Family legal issues can already be stressful enough as it is. Why risk losing out on alimony or time with your children by not working with an attorney? To schedule an appointment with one of our team members, contact our office now.

How do I know that I need a family law attorney?

There are many reasons to hire a lawyer that is familiar with family legalities. If you hire a legal team that has not worked with clients in the past on issues such as divorce, legal separation, child custody, alimony, etc., then they may not prove to be as helpful as a lawyer who has plenty of experience. In fact, hiring a lawyer that is not knowledgeable in that area of law related to your case can end up being detrimental to the outcome. If you aren’t sure if you need a lawyer, here are signs that you probably do: 

• Your spouse has bullied you. If you are dealing with a divorce, then things may be tension-filled between you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse. It isn’t uncommon for one spouse to be mean and bully the other so that they still feel as though they have control over the situation. A lawyer can intervene and put a stop to this behavior immediately.

• You prefer protection and need someone to advocate for you. It is easier for the average person to get taken advantage of during family-related disputes, compared to a legal professional who has been trained and handled delicate cases like yours before. Your lawyer can advocate for you when you find it difficult to do so yourself.

• You have concerns about attending court. The courtroom can be intimidating, to say the least, so having a lawyer to prepare you beforehand and represent you during the hearing can take a heavy weight off your shoulders. Your lawyer can walk you through how the court proceeding will go and practice having you answer questions that are similar to what the judge will ask. 

• You don’t know what documents to gather. A lawyer knows the proper procedures and documentation needed to yield the most success in your case. Instead of researching and trying to figure out how to build a strong case for yourself, your lawyer can do that for you. 

• All you want is a peace of mind at this time. Family disputes are stressful, and there may be tons at stake. With so much pressure, having the peace of mind of a lawyer to guide you through every step of the way may be the best decision you will make. 

• You don’t have time or energy to work on your case. Lawyers handle legal cases for a living, it’s what they do. If you are someone who has a busy schedule or just can’t fathom trying to figure out legalities yourself, your lawyer can provide the clarity you need. 

5 Key Financial Considerations in Your Divorce

A divorce can be a gut-wrenching experience. It’s a major life decision, and one of the highest-stress events in your life. But you have to regard divorce as a business decision. Here are five key financial considerations for your divorce case.

1. Document Your Assets and Liabilities

Everything you own is an asset, and everything you owe is a liability. Assets can include big things such as your home or car, or small things such as your dishes or towels. Liabilities include your mortgage, joint credit cards and outstanding bills. A family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, such as Attorney Bernie, could suggest you cataloging all your assets and liabilities as soon as possible. Take pictures with the front page of the day’s newspaper showing the date clearly, and keep those photos in a safe place.

2. Consider Pensions and Retirement Accounts

After your home, your biggest possessions are your pensions and retirement accounts. Your family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, may recommend that you speak with a financial advisor about how to separate these accounts equitably between you and your spouse. If you live in a community property state like California, all assets gained during your marriage could be split 50/50 if you go to court. If you can work things out with your spouse instead, either on your own or in mediation, you may be able to keep more of your accounts in return for other concessions.

3. Joint and Separate Property

Generally speaking, any property you owned before the marriage will still be yours after the marriage, and anything you purchased while married must be divided up either equally or equitably depending on the state you’re in. A family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, such as Attorney Bernie, can help you determine which of your belongings are joint property and which are separate property.

4. Health Insurance

It’s often the case in marriage that one spouse holds a health insurance policy that the other spouse and any children benefit from. You may be required to keep your spouse and children on your health insurance account for some period of time. If you wind up without health insurance after the divorce, you may be eligible for COBRA coverage until you obtain other health insurance on your own.

5. Child Support and Alimony

Depending on a variety of factors, your family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, may be able to tell you if and how much child support and alimony you might wind up paying post-divorce. Factors in these decisions may include whether one spouse has been a stay-at-home parent, both spouse’s earnings and earning potential and the number of children.

Alameda County Family Lawyer Infographic

Why Hire A Family Lawyer?

It can be difficult to have serious issues involving your family; however, if all the facts support you, you may think you can handle it on your own. After all, why should you hire a lawyer if you believe you have done everything right? There are several important reasons why you should hire a family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, such as a lawyer from Attorney Bernie, who can help you. Take a look at a few of the top reasons why you should work with a family lawyer.

Handle the Paperwork For You

One of the most confusing aspects of going through the legal system is that there is a significant amount of paperwork you need to do. A lot of this paperwork is filled with legal jargon, and it can be difficult to interpret unless you have legal training. You need a family lawyer who can handle the paperwork for you, explain what is included, and help you make the best decision. 

Guide You Through The Legal System

Another issue involving the legal system is that the court system can be confusing. A lot of people have never set foot in a courtroom before, let alone had a case go before a judge. It can be intimidating, and you need an objective professional who can advise you on what to do. If you have some expectation of how the court case will unfold, you will have an easier time making decisions. For this reason, work with a family lawyer in Alameda County, CA. 

Save You Time and Money

A family lawyer can also save you a lot of time and money. Many family lawyers have connections throughout the legal system they can use to handle your case quickly. Furthermore, a family lawyer can anticipate legal obstacles that may develop, helping you navigate them. This could help you save a lot of money during the case. 

A Family Lawyer Fights For You

In the end, the biggest reason why you should hire a family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, such as a lawyer from Attorney Bernie, is that a family lawyer will fight for you. You need someone in your corner who can explain the legal system to you, advocate for your rights, and fight for your best interests. If you want to put your case in the best position possible to be successful, you need to work with a family attorney. 

5 Questions to Ask Your Family Lawyer

If you’re considering hiring a family lawyer, you want to be confident in your choice of representation. To find the attorney that suits your needs best, you should ask a few questions before deciding who will represent you. Not sure what to ask? Keep reading for a few examples. 

What Kind of Experience Do You Have?

All family lawyers are not created equal, so you should always ask what kind of background your potential lawyer has and choose the one with the most experience. An experienced family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, such as Attorney Bernie, will add a unique touch to your defense that can help get your case settled quickly.

What Will Be Expected of Me?

A lot will be asked of you for the duration of your case. For example, a family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, may ask you to provide evidence, such as paperwork or photographs, to bolster your case. In addition, you’ll also be responsible for payment to your attorney. Gather a list of what fees you might incur and make a plan to prepare for them.

What Is the Most Likely Outcome?

No family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, can predict the future. However, an experienced lawyer, such as Attorney Bernie, will be able to give you an idea of what the outcome of your case might be. Knowing the potential outcome of your case can help you and your attorney decide what strategies to use going forward. 

When Will You Communicate With Me?

Going through legal proceedings can be stressful, which is why your lawyer needs to keep an open line of communication. However, your attorney may not be available to discuss your case daily. Therefore, make sure you find out when your attorney will be contacting you so you can make sure you have a list of questions or concerns before each meeting.

Can I Avoid Going to Court?

A family lawyer in Alameda County, CA, will be able to walk you through all of the options for settling your case. There are out-of-court solutions, such as mediation or arbitration, that can keep your legal costs down but can still give you a favorable outcome. You should be fully informed of all of your options before choosing how to proceed with your case.

Although your circumstances might be stressful, hiring a lawyer doesn’t have to be. Keep these questions in mind when choosing your attorney to feel confident in your choice of representation. 

What are the different benefits to working with one of our attorneys?

Almost any legal issue will have some degree of complexity. Especially when you are dealing with something as important as family, you want to make sure you are getting the best representation possible. Whether you plan to go to court or hope to come to an agreement outside of court, working with an attorney from our office can help you be as prepared as possible. We can help:

• Retain key witnesses to help solidify our argument
• Provide you with a legal strategy that can help guide your case
• Retain expert witnesses, especially helpful in cases of abuse or domestic violence
• Value your assets and help you get a fair division of property

How do I know how much a divorce is going to cost me?

An Alameda County, California family lawyer knows that there is no one specific answer that will tell you how much a divorce will cost. Some of the different factors that will go into it are what assets you both have, how long you have been married, how many children you share, etc. Another factor that will play a huge part in what a divorce will cost is whether you will pay or receive spousal support.

If you make a larger amount of money in the marriage, it is possible that you will need to pay your ex-spouse spousal support. On the other hand, if your spouse makes more than you do, your attorney may fight to win spousal support (and child support) on your behalf.

Does all of this need to be decided before a judge finalizes the divorce?

Yes. Especially when it comes to child support and custody, a judge will need to make a decision before finalizing the divorce. This can also be beneficial because it can help set clear standards post-divorce. If you would like to speak with our trusted family lawyer in Alameda County, California from Attorney Bernie, please give our office a call at your earliest convenience.

Attorney Bernie Alameda County Family Lawyer