California Family Law

Families are the foundation of our lives.  This is why family law is often considered to be the most difficult of legal areas.  Emotions run high, whether we are starting a marriage or ending one.  

This is why it is so important to obtain sensitive and caring legal support when family issues arise.  With a strong knowledge of California’s family law requirements, Boyle, Olson & Robinson is the firm you need to resolve these sensitive situations.  We provide solid advice and support that is not colored by emotions.

Prenuptial agreements

Nobody wants to think about a prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement).  But, prenuptial agreements make sense in some situations, particularly when the couple’s financial situation is complex.  Consider these situations:

• Your intended spouse is entering the marriage with significant debt.
• You have significant assets or property.
• You both have children from prior marriages that need financial protection.

The attorneys at Boyle, Olson & Robinson can help you and your intended determine when you need a prenuptial agreement.  We are knowledgeable in the California legal requirements, and we can prepare a prenuptial agreement when it makes sense do have one.

Dissolution of marriage

The dissolution of a marriage is possibly the most emotional family situation possible.  Often, anger and desperation get in the way of achieving an equitable settlement when property needs to be divided and debts need to be addressed.    

The attorneys at Boyle, Olson & Robinson do everything possible to ease the emotions of this painful process.

• If you both want to avoid a painful courtroom trial and are willing to work together, we can help negotiate a fair settlement out of court.
• If you need a little more help coming to agreement, but you still want to avoid the courtroom, we can represent your interests through mediation or arbitration.
• When your interests will not be preserved outside of a courtroom, we will provide the strong litigation skills you need.

Collaborative Divorce

California offers an alternative to the traditional process of obtaining a divorce.  The collaborative divorce can be effective if both parties support its three basic principles:

• A promise to reach agreement without going to court
• The ability of both spouses to honestly exchange information
• Willingness to reach a solution that puts the highest priorities of both spouses and their children at the forefront

In a collaborative divorce, both spouses control the decisions surrounding the settlement.  No judge is available to help.

A collaborative divorce is typically handled by the two spouses and their own attorneys, who provide support and advice.  It is possible to add professionals, such as a therapist, financial advisor, and child specialist to form a team that supports the wide range of issues that can arise.

Your attorney and any other specialists should have specialized experience in the requirements of collaborative divorce.  The attorneys at Boyle, Olson & Robinson have this specialized experience, particularly as it applies to California law.

Child custody and visitation

When children are involved, divorces become even more emotional and complex.  The California courts look at such issues as child custody and visitation rights purely in terms of the best interests of the children.  

At Boyle, Olson & Robinson, we have decades of experience to help negotiate a child custody agreement that will provide your children with the best mix of parental support to ensure they continue to live happy and safe lives.  

Child support issues

Often, the parent who retains custody of the children is not capable of handling their financial needs.  In most situations, just as they want to provide emotional support to their children, both parents want to provide whatever financial support they can afford to make sure the children continue to be happy and well-cared for.  

Even with the best intentions, parents will typically experience difficulty in negotiating a fair child support settlement.  Boyle, Olson & Robinson has the experience dealing with the parents’ financial issues and the requirements of California state laws to make sure the children receive the support they need.

Property settlement

In California, you can prepare a Marital Settlement Agreement at any time, even before you separate.  If you come to court with this agreement, your divorce pleadings will be simpler and less complicated and it will be absolutely clear to the court that you have an uncontested divorce.

But, not all divorces are uncontested, and the courts may need to get involved in dividing your property.  California is a community property state.  This means that assets and debts that were acquired during the marriage, also known as marital property, will be divided equally during a divorce.

Of course, not all property is marital property, so the courts have to look at many factors when determining an equitable division.  The attorneys at Boyle, Olson & Robinson know the conditions that must be present for an asset to be considered pre-marital property.  We can help you keep those valuable and personal items that should remain with you.

Contact us

When you face emotional family legal issues, contact Boyle, Olson & Robinson at 626-796-7181 or contact us online.

Located in Pasadena, California the practice regularly assists clients in all counties in Southern California, including these: