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With more than 30 years of experience in San Diego family law, Garwood Reeves understands the intricacies needed for various cases and provides comprehensive assistance for all family law services. Get a compassionate advocate for all of your family law needs.

Call (619) 692-8100 to talk with one of our skilled family law attorneys.
Privacy and confidentiality is our # 1 priority.

What is Family Law?

Family law encompasses a broad range of legal areas involving marriage and children, but the main topics are:

     ~ Divorce and Separation
     ~ Annulments
     ~ Complex Property Division
     ~ Child Custody and Visitation
     ~ Child Support
     ~ Spousal Support
     ~ Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements
     ~ Domestic Partnerships
     ~ Domestic Violence

Please click on any of the above areas for more information.

Schedule a Consultation with Garwood Reeves

Are you trying to determine if you need a lawyer for your family issues? Find out through an initial consultation with a San Diego family law attorney from our experienced and compassionate Garwood Reeves team. They will treat you like a member of their own family and give you the legal advice you need. 

Contact us today at (619) 692-8100.

Family Law FAQs

We understand that understanding how something works under the California Family Law can be confusing and stressful when you’re trying to make a family situation work. The following Family Law FAQs can help you get started by answering some of the most common family law questions.

If you are still not sure how something works or need help with something that you don’t find here, schedule a free consultation with us right away. We’re here to help!

Is it mandatory to have a lawyer to file for a divorce?
This question does not have a single answer. Your spouse and you may appear to agree on just about everything. People, however, can sometimes be inconsistent, and your partner could easily exploit this situation. We strongly advise you to consult with an attorney first. Then they can tell you if your matter necessitates legal support.
In the case of a divorce, how is property division decided?

All assets acquired throughout a marriage is considered community property in California. If both parties agree, a couple may split their property however they see fit. However, in the event of a dispute, the court will probably split up all marital property equally, or 50/50, and allocate it accordingly. Property obtained prior to marriage or through inheritance is typically considered separate property. However, the distinction between community and separate property isn’t always clear-cut.

A prenuptial or postnuptial contract can also specify who will receive which asset in case of a divorce.

At what point in the divorce should I ask for spousal or child support?

If you want to request support during the divorce process, you must do so as soon as possible, ideally at the time of the initial filing. Need is one of the aspects of family code 4320. If you wait a very long time to demand spousal support—say your divorce takes two years—the court is unlikely to conclude that you require it when you do. So, if you need money, whether you’re the wife or the husband, file a request for it immediately.

How long does it take to get a divorce in California?

In all divorce cases, the California law enforces a 6-month regulatory time period. As a result, you cannot obtain a divorce decree before six months have passed since the Respondent was served with the Petition for Dissolution. But many cases will be resolved before the six-month mark.

You may have a divorce judgment entered that specifies a future date for the marriage to end if your case is settled before the 6-month timeframe. Upon the implementation of the agreement, all the terms of your settlement, including the division of your assets and debts, child support and custody, spousal support, etc., will take effect. Your relationship status won’t become “single” until the day the judgment is finalized.

What factors influence the court’s decision about child custody?

Judges are prohibited from favoring a parent for custody in California purely on the basis of gender. The court considers a number of factors when deciding custody disputes to decide which parent best reflects the child’s best interests. These variables could include the child’s preference (if old enough), the parent-child relationship’s quality, and the existence of child abuse or substance abuse, among other variables.