Rancho Cucamonga Family Law Lawyer

What is a Family Law Case?

Family law encompasses many issues of marriage, divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, and spousal support. Other issues that might arise during a family law case include property and child custody disputes or child support and visitation rights.

Difference Between Divorce and Legal Separation

While a legal separation is similar to divorce in many ways, including the grounds for filing, it is different in one key way: unlike divorce, it does not officially end or dissolve a marriage. While you can remarry after a divorce, you cannot remarry or be part of a domestic partnership following a legal separation. Generally, legal separation is for legally married couples who decide to live apart.  

What is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Child Custody?

In a child custody case, the judge can grant either legal custody, physical custody, or a combination of the two. Physical custody refers to the actual visitation arrangement. On the other hand, legal custody refers to who gets to make important decisions about the child’s welfare, like on subjects such as education, religion, and medical or healthcare wellbeing. In either case, the court can grant sole custody to one parent or joint custody to both.

Can I Get a Divorce Judgment or Order Modified?

It is possible to get a modification to a divorce judgement or order even after the completion of the divorce process. If changes in your life have made the original divorce agreements unfair or unworkable, you can seek the legal modification of several or all of the terms of the agreement. You can request a modification either by appealing the divorce judgement in the Court of Appeals or by filing a modification motion with the court that issued the divorce judgement.