Divorce Mediator in Orange County

Addressing Marital Property Division through Mediation

When two people divorce one of the many legal issues that must be decided on is the division of the marital property. California is a community property state and follows equitable division laws. Therefore, all property other than gifts or inheritances acquired during the marriage will be split among both spouses equitably. Any items acquired before the marriage or with one spouse’s income will be considered separate property and cannot be divided - unless it can be proven otherwise. For instance, if one spouse purchased a vehicle before the marriage, but then during the marriage the other spouse maintained the vehicle with his or her own money, the vehicle may then be considered marital property.

As an Orange County family law attorney it is my often my advice to try mediation first to resolve any marital property issues you may have with your spouse. This will allow for you both to come to a mutual agreement regarding property division that you both can be satisfied with in the long term. As a professional Orange County mediation lawyer I can help both of you to communicate in a positive manner in an effort for you to avoid further litigation in court that may take years to resolve. Mediation would also allow for you and your spouse to make your own decisions instead of a judge deciding on your behalf (which in the end may not be what either one of you would want.)

Property Division and Mediation Cases

When you work with my firm, you can expect high quality legal advice, guidance and representation for your case. As an experienced Orange County family law attorney and mediator I am extremely dedicated to providing my clients with excellent service. In the event that you are not divorcing, but are seeking a separation or looking for a way to protect your property in the event of a divorce, I can help you. I can create a separation agreement or prenuptial agreement in order to protect you now and in the future.

The following items will be looked into when deciding on marital property division during a divorce or separation:

• Bank accounts
• Credit cards
• Real property such as residential homes, vacation homes, rental properties, and time shares
• Pension, retirement plans and 401k
• Investments including annuities, trusts, and money market funds
• Business division
• Capital investments
• Family trust funds

It is always a good idea to keep accurate financial records during the course of a marriage in order to have the proof required by the courts in the event of a divorce. Records showing finances of the marriage including: debts, assets, expenses, incomes, gifts and inheritances or anything paid for, or maintained on your behalf would be very useful in insuring that marital property is fairly distributed. You should keep these notes in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box.

Orange County Divorce Mediation Attorney

Please contact me today to schedule a free case consultation. I can typically meet with you within 48 hours to discuss your case and decide what your next course of action should be. As an Orange County divorce mediation attorney I represent clients throughout Orange County, California, including: Orange, Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach, La Habra, Anaheim Hills, and Riverside County.