Campbell Contested Divorce Lawyers Guiding Clients Through Complex Divorce Proceedings

As you start the divorce process, you need to think about important family law matters, such as property division, child support, and child custody. If you and your spouse can’t agree on how to handle these issues, you’re not alone. It’s common for two people seeking a divorce to disagree on many topics, leading to a contested divorce.

Fortunately, help is available when you hire skilled contested divorce attorneys in Campbell. The legal team at our Northern California law firm has successfully handled numerous contested divorces for clients needing help with complex divorce proceedings. Whether you’re prepared to go to trial for a high-conflict divorce or hope to agree on a settlement outside of court and end up with an uncontested divorce, we can help. Contact us for legal representation during your divorce in California.

What Is a Contested Divorce?

A contested divorce is a divorce where you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on major terms. These issues often include:

• Alimony
• Custody of the children
• Child support
• Property division

A contested divorce in California can involve a factual disagreement, legal disagreement, or the inability of both spouses to compromise on family law matters. If you cannot resolve issues on your own, you can expect to spend months in litigation in family court. If you need help determining your legal options, talk to a Campbell divorce lawyer today.

How Do You Begin the Contested Divorce Process?

If you’re ready to initiate a contested divorce in California, your first step is to hire a divorce attorney with experience handling contested and uncontested divorces for clients. Once you explain the details, your attorney will file a divorce petition with the court in Santa Clara County. Your divorce petition should explain how you want to handle spousal support, division of assets, and other details.

After you file your divorce petition, your spouse will be served with the legal paperwork. They will have one month to respond with their own idea of the best outcome for them regarding financial support, division of assets, and more.

If it’s clear that you don’t agree with these details and you want to move forward with a contested divorce in California, the next step is the discovery process, which involves disclosing financial information. The lawyers involved in your contested case want to ensure they know about all assets and debts before deciding who gets what during a high-conflict divorce in California. As such, this is an important step.

Can You Avoid a Trial During Your Contested Divorce?

After your lawyer and your spouse’s lawyer have gathered and examined certain documents, they can begin preparing for a trial. Note that you always have the option to settle with your spouse outside of the courtroom if you decide you want to avoid a long legal battle. In fact, settling outside the courtroom is the preferred way to preserve relationships and avoid a long trial.

This is why the pre-trial conference is a major part of the contested divorce process in California. At this meeting, the lawyers present let the judge know what terms their client would like to see. After the pre-trial motions, you and your spouse will be informed about how the judge will likely rule if the case goes to court. You can decide whether to proceed with the case or agree on a settlement. While most spouses try to agree on fair terms outside the courtroom to preserve relationships and finalize the divorce quickly, you have the right to tell your attorney you prefer a trial.

What Can Contested Divorce Lawyers in Campbell Do for Your Case?

If you’re going through a contested divorce in California, you need an attorney who will provide you with a warm, caring attitude and immediate answers to legal questions. At Hepner & Pagan, LLP, we realize how complex and emotional divorce proceedings can be for most spouses, so we strive to make the process go smoothly for our clients.

Deciding to end a marriage is challenging for most spouses, but getting legal guidance from experienced attorneys with your best interests at heart can help. If you are ready to consider all your options as you prepare to divorce your spouse, contact our legal team at 408-688-9153 to get started.