Legal Separation

Orange County Legal Separation Lawyers

There are instances where people wish to effectively end their marriage without filing for divorce. This may be due to a desire to to fix the relationship at some point or out of a need to maintain a legally married status. Those who find themselves in such a situation may seek a legal separation. Doing so gives them many of the legal protections offered by divorce while leaving the parties in a legally married state. Our legal separation lawyers assist California residents who wish to go through this process. Contact our office today to speak an an attorney. We service Anaheim, Santa Ana, and the rest of Orange County.

Orange County attorneys assisting Anaheim and Santa Ana residents who wish to separate from their spouses without filing for divorce

There are multiple reasons why one may wish to legally separate from their spouse while maintaining the status of being legally married. It may be that one does not wish to end the marriage and hopes to work things out in the future. There may also be a situation where the parties wish to go their separate ways but need to remain legally married for health insurance or retirement reasons. Others may have a religious opposition to divorce. A legal separation may be appropriate in such instances. By putting a separate maintenance order in place you gain several legal protections – the Court will rule on issues of community property, spousal support, child custody, and more. One will also be protected from their spouse’s future financial decisions. This allows people to effectively end their marriage without filing for divorce.

Most legal separations are agreed upon by the spouses. The process to a stipulated separation requires the filing of a Petition with the Court. The spouses will also file settlement documents stating how assets will be divided, who will be responsible for which debts, the amounts of support to be paid (if any), a visitation schedule for the children, etc. The Court will often hold a brief one-time hearing to ensure that the spouses understand the ramifications of the matter and that they wish to proceed. Once the final Order is entered then each spouse will be responsible for their own affairs. Hiring a lawyer to assist with this process can help to ensure that all issues are properly addressed and that the matter goes smoothly.

Our Orange County family law lawyers handle such matters throughout the area. We will use your initial consultation to help you understand whether a separation is in your best interest and what matters need to be covered in a settlement. By ensuring that all relevant issues are covered in your agreement, we can help you be protected from being liable for future debts which your spouse may incur or from claims to assets and income you may acquire in the future. Our office will take steps to ensure that your matter is handled efficiently and that you move on to the next chapter of your life as quickly as possible. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.

Our attorneys service all of Orange County, including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Lawyers staying in regular communication with Orange County residents filing for legal separation

We understand that you wish to put this matter behind you as quickly as possible. The last thing you need at a time like this is to deal with attorneys who do not stay in communication with their clients. We respond to emails and phone messages within twenty-four hours, if not the same day. We ensure that our clients receive copies of all correspondence, court filings, and other necessary documents. Most importantly, we make ourselves available to address your questions and concerns. Our office understands that this is a serious time in your life and we will take it seriously. Contact us today.