Divorce

Divorce is an emotionally draining and intellectually confusing process. When people contact a divorce lawyer, they want to know how much it will cost and what rights they have. They want to know what will happen with their children and if they will be responsible for paying child support. They have questions about selling the house or buying it out from their spouse.

With so much on the line, contacting a lawyer who understands the various elements that come into play during a divorce is essential. When clients contact my firm, Law Offices of Laura L. Westray, that is exactly what they will find. I have more than 30 years of experience representing clients in contested and uncontested divorce, and I am committed to protecting their best interests throughout the process. 

In California, there are two types of spousal support (also called alimony) that can be awarded — temporary and permanent. Spousal support may be awarded to one spouse after the marriage to help that spouse maintain the lifestyle he or she was accustomed to during the marriage. The type and amount of spousal support are both determined based on the length of the marriage and earning capacity of each party.  

California is a community property state, which means that all of the property and assets that your brought to your marriage and accumulated during your marriage is “marital property”, with very few exceptions.

In general, this property is divided equally between both spouses by California courts. Mediation gives you the opportunity to divide your property in a manner that may not be entirely 50/50, but is fair to both of you and best meets the needs of your family. 

Many people think that going to court is the only effective way to resolve marital disputes arising during the divorce process. In reality, it is probably the opposite. Court is expensive, and there is often less flexibility to craft solutions around your family’s unique needs, especially when it comes to child custody and support.

I work closely with my clients to help them create the effective solutions they need outside of court. I am committed to keeping my costs reasonable for my clients, and that is evident at every step of my practice. As an experienced divorce lawyer and sole practitioner, my clients know I am the one who will be working on their cases at every step of the process. As a cost-saving opportunity, I also offer as much or as little involvement as my clients need.

Clients who have more time than money often complete most of their own paperwork and only use my services to review it. Other clients would rather pay me so they can be as uninvolved as possible. Whatever your preference, I can work with you to find a solution that meets your needs.