Newport Beach Family Lawyer

Newport Beach Family Attorney

Family law matters are extremely complex due to their emotional nature. A Newport Beach family lawyer understands the high stakes of cases involving family law, including the well-being of your loved ones, as well as your financial future. Our dedicated legal team can assist you with addressing your family law challenges by engineering a legal strategy based on knowledge, integrity, and compassion.

Whether you are concerned about obtaining adequate child support for your child’s special needs or are worried about how your business assets will be divided in your contested divorce, a dedicated Newport Beach family lawyer from our firm is here for you. Together, we can review the details of your case, immediately address any questions or concerns you may have, and move forward with a sound legal plan.

Types of Family Law Cases a Newport Beach Attorney From Engels-Janzen Can Help With

The experienced legal team at Engels-Janzen has an in-depth and successful track record of helping clients work through complex family law cases. We can work to protect your rights and interests across a diverse range of family law cases, including the following:

• Divorce
• Legal Separation
• Child Custody
• Child Visitation
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Property Division
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Postnuptial Agreements
• Paternity Matters
• Domestic Violence Issues
• Restraining Orders
• Guardianship
• Adoption

The ambitious legal team at Engels-Janzen does not shy away from complexity or challenge. Come to us with your family law issues, and we can help you craft and implement a robust legal solution.

Benefits of Working With the Family Law Team at Engels-Janzen

While it is crucial for any experienced litigator to have deep knowledge of family law, this alone is not enough to be a successful family attorney. A Newport Beach family lawyer from Engels-Janzen brings not only legal know-how and understanding of local, state, and federal family rules and regulations but also empathy and personal commitment to your case.

People in Newport Beach come to us with their family law challenges because we offer the following:

• Tailored legal strategies. As each family situation is highly unique, our legal team works to develop and implement a strategy that clearly reflects the complex matters that the family is facing.
• Diverse experience. Our family law team has deep experience tackling high-asset divorce cases as well as quickly closing amicable divorce cases so clients can move forward with their lives.
• Consistent communication. Family law cases can be highly complex and overwhelming, involving multiple phases. A lawyer from our firm can keep you updated about your case each step of the way, always leaving the door open for discussion and answering any questions or concerns you may have that arise.
• Results-oriented representation. The results of our previous cases speak for themselves. Your goal may be to secure a child custody and support agreement that reflects the interests of your children, or you may want to draft a prenuptial agreement that ensures the legacy of your family business will continue into the future despite unforeseen circumstances. Regardless, we can get the job done for you.

At Engels-Janzen, our compassionate legal team understands that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t cut it for family law cases. If you are looking for a human-centered, detail-oriented approach that is highly adaptable to your case progression and concerns, our firm is likely a good fit for you.

Understanding Divorce in Newport Beach, California

Going through a divorce can be an emotionally heavy period for individuals, necessitating strong legal representation who can take on bureaucratic and legal burdens so that they can focus on the well-being of their family. A skilled lawyer from Engels-Janzen can provide legal support for the following divorce-related aspects:

• Uncontested divorce. Uncontested divorce involves situations where the divorcing parties agree on all aspects of their divorce settlement, such as child visitation and spousal support. This type of divorce is usually the quickest and simplest way.
• Contested divorce. In contrast to uncontested divorce, contested divorces can drag on for long periods of time and lead to long-term or permanent resentment among the parties. In contested divorces, each party will need to present their case in court, and a family court will decide on the final agreement.
• Property division. As California is a community property state, this means that all assets and debt gained throughout the marriage are typically divided equally among each spouse; however, determining what constitutes marital versus individual properties can be a highly detailed and intricate process.
• Spousal support. California courts determine spousal support or alimony payments to a spouse based on details such as the length of the marriage, the lifestyle maintained during the marriage, the income and earning capacity of each party, and the specific financial needs of each party. It is recommended that you work with an experienced lawyer to secure a reasonable and fair spousal agreement.

Although divorce can feel like an emotionally draining time, it can also serve as a new beginning. By working with an experienced and empathetic family lawyer from Engels-Janzen, you can secure a fair and just divorce agreement that allows you to move forward confidently into your new life.

A Breakdown of Child Custody and Visitation in California

One of the most contentious family law matters involves child custody and visitation terms. These legal decisions can ultimately dictate how much time you will spend with your child and what your relationship with them will look like in the future.

An experienced lawyer from our firm can help you navigate the following child custody and visitation matters:

• Physical custody dictates where a child will be living and which parent will be responsible for daily care and meeting the child’s needs. Physical custody can either be awarded jointly (both parents are responsible) or solely (one parent is responsible). California courts tend to prioritize joint custody arrangements unless outstanding circumstances indicate that this would not be in the child’s interest.
• Legal custody. Legal custody involves a parent’s ability to make crucial decisions that dictate a child’s life, including those related to education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. Legal custody can also be joint or sole.
• Child visitation. If only one parent is granted physical custody, the other parent is typically entitled to visit the child so that they can maintain their presence and influence in the child’s life. If they have a history of abuse or neglect, however, they may be denied visitation rights.

Whether you are looking to negotiate an amicable child custody agreement, or your ex-spouse poses a danger to your child, and you need to advocate for sole custody, a diligent lawyer from our law firm is here for you to help you achieve your goals.

FAQs

How Does California Determine Child Custody?

In California, child custody decisions are made with the interest of the child in mind. In order to determine what constitutes a child’s interest, elements such as the relationship of the child with each parent, whether each parent is capable of providing a nurturing environment for the child, and whether a history of abuse exists are taken into account. Courts will generally prioritize an arrangement that involves the presence of each parent in the child’s life.

What Is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Custody in California?

In California, legal custody refers to the authority of a parent to make important decisions that dictate a child’s life, such as those related to education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. Physical custody, on the other hand, refers to where the child will be living. Both physical and legal custody can be either joint (shared by both parents) or sole (only dictated by one parent).

How Is Child Support Calculated in California?

Child support payments are calculated in California using a standardized formula, which takes into account multiple variables, such as the proportion of time the child is located with each parent, the income of each parent, as well as overall childcare and health insurance costs. An experienced lawyer can help ensure that all crucial elements are taken into account so that a fair child support payment amount is decided by the courts.

What Is Spousal Support, and How Is It Determined in California?

Spousal support, which is also known as alimony, is a payment that is offered from one party to another upon divorce or separation. Spousal support payments are calculated by the courts by taking into account various factors, including the amount of time the couple was married, the earning capacity of each spouse, the required expenses of each spouse, as well as the age and health status of each spouse. These payments can be temporary or permanent.

What Happens If My Spouse and I Agree on the Terms of Our California Divorce?

If you and your spouse are in agreement about the terms of your California divorce, you can try to work out an uncontested divorce. To follow through with an uncontested divorce, you will need to draft an agreement for a settlement together that lays out the terms of your divorce. This marital settlement should cover all relevant aspects, including spousal support, property division, and child custody and visitation. The final agreement must be approved by the California courts.

Tackle Your Family Law Challenges With a Skilled Newport Beach Family Lawyer

Whether you are in the middle of a complex and highly contested divorce or would like to make a modification to an existing child support agreement, an experienced family lawyer in the Newport Beach area can provide you with crucial legal support. A family lawyer from Engels-Janzen can work closely with you to understand your case details and concerns and implement an effective legal plan. Contact us today to start discussing your case.