PERSONALIZED COUNSEL FOR DIVORCE, CUSTODY AND MORE

Experienced Divorce Attorneys Helping Families Throughout Monterey County

Whether you were the one who decided divorce was necessary or your spouse was the one who filed, from a legal perspective the questions are largely the same. What will happen to the family home? Who will keep the assets we spent years earning together? And perhaps most importantly, where will the children live?

With more than 55 years of combined experience at R.S.C. Law Group, Inc., our legal team devotes itself to answering these questions and more for our clients. One of our experienced and compassionate divorce attorneys will make sure you come through the process on a solid financial footing and that your rights as a parent are honored. We serve clients in Monterey County, California, and the surrounding communities.

Tough, Compassionate Divorce Representation

Depending on the length of your marriage and other factors, there may be many things that must be resolved in order to finalize your divorce, including:

Division of property, such as real estate, bank accounts and family-owned businesses
Whether the parents will share child custody, if one parent will receive sole custody and the other will have visitation rights
Whether one spouse will pay child support and/or spousal support to the other
Whether there is a valid prenuptial or postnuptial agreement in place
Whether the circumstances of military divorce apply

How Long Does Divorce Take In Monterey County?

Under California law, there is a six-month waiting period for divorce. From the time the divorce petition is filed to the day that the court issues a final order, six months must have elapsed. This means that six months is the absolute minimum amount of time a divorce takes in California, even with an experienced family law lawyer, just because of these legal restrictions.

That said, there are a few things that can make divorce take longer. For example, an uncontested divorce or a divorce using mediation may go faster since the couple agrees on the terms and just needs to follow the proper legal steps. A contested and litigated divorce, on the other hand, requires the court to make a ruling because the couple cannot agree. This can extend the time frame from start to finish substantially. Some issues include:

Complex property division: Some couples have complicated assets, like business ownership shares or overseas investments, that take longer to divide.
Disagreements between parents: When parents cannot agree on a custody schedule, it can take time for the court to find a fair legal solution that prioritizes the child’s best interests.
A spouse who won’t respond: If your spouse refuses to sign the paperwork, experienced attorneys can help you proceed with a default divorce. This can extend the time frame since you must wait for your spouse to miss the 30-day deadline to respond.

Every family law case is unique, so what you should expect depends on the specific situation. Is your spouse likely to contest the terms of the divorce and fight over asset division and child custody? In some cases, divorce can take over a year.

Is it an amicable divorce where you and your spouse just agree that you want to end the marriage? You could get that divorce order just six months after filing.

Either way, the key to a smooth and effective divorce is to have legal guidance from an experienced and dedicated team of attorneys like those here at R.S.C. Law Group, Inc.

Your Divorce Support Network

Divorce is often an emotionally painful process for everyone involved. Besides our depth of legal knowledge and courtroom experience, we provide peace of mind to our clients. We will handle your divorce with compassion. We will do what is necessary to finalize your case as quickly and smoothly as possible, but we will never advise you to accept an inadequate settlement just to avoid a fight.