Whether you are getting married, divorced, or negotiating custody or abuse cases, you need to protect yourself. We help individuals and families get the outcomes they need at any stage of family life. Focus on your future, and let us do the rest.
At the Simmrin Law Group, we have plenty of experience dealing with all sorts of family law cases. Give us a call or fill out the form to the right to get a free, no-obligation case evaluation today.
Types of Family Law Cases We Represent
Family law covers a range of different cases. As a result, a family law attorney in Los Angeles must be well versed in several different areas.
When hiring a family law attorney, you are going to want someone with plenty of experience. A few of the issues that fall under family law include:
- Divorce and legal separation
- High net worth divorce
- High profile/celebrity divorce
- Executive divorce
- Military divorce
- Child custody and child visitation
- Child support
- Spousal support and alimony
- Division of marital property
- Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
- Paternity
- Estate planning
- Adoptions
- Domestic violence
If you are facing any of these situations, it is important to hire an experienced family law attorney who can help protect your rights and get you a favorable outcome.
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What a Los Angeles Family Law Attorney Does
While most people probably think about divorce lawyers when considering family law, there are many other areas in which a family law lawyer is typically familiar. A family law lawyer can help you with your custody battle or a variety of other issues.
While divorce is likely not the first thing on your mind when planning your wedding, creating a prenuptial agreement can be an important step to protect both you and your future spouse. A family law attorney can help draft a prenuptial agreement so that both your premarital assets are protected in the event of a divorce.
A family law attorney may also be able to help you sort through all the legal documents when attempting to adopt a child. Some family lawyers also help domestic violence victims safely extricate themselves from an abusive relationship. You can also get help writing your will or dealing with settling the estate of a deceased loved one.
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Do I Need a Family Law Lawyer?
Some family law matters are often manageable without a family law lawyer. Adopting a child or drafting a will are both actions that are often taken up without legal counsel. While these situations can both get complicated, in some instances, they are more straightforward.
When dealing with these issues, you should use your own judgment about whether or not you can handle the situation on your own.
However, when it comes to issues like child custody, you are always going to want to have an experienced family law attorney by your side in Los Angeles. The battle for custody is too important to attempt to fight it on your own.
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5 Things You Should Look for in a Family Law Attorney in Los Angeles
Many law offices claim they do family law, but that doesn’t mean they have experience handling complicated cases. At the Simmrin Law Group, we believe there are five things you should look for in any family law attorney before letting them represent you.
1) A Good Listener
The worst thing an attorney can do is act busy, disinterested, or simply aloof when talking to a client. Your family law attorney should treat you with respect, make time for you, and listen to you. You are the person who knows your situation best, and you deserve an attorney who will treat you as an equal.
2) Experience with Your Type of Case
Many lawyers dabble in family law as a way to get more clients. There is nothing wrong with this, but it means their experience may be limited. Before hiring a lawyer, ask them to talk about past cases similar to yours and how they handled them.
A lawyer with 20 years of experience in tax law probably won’t be able to help you as much as a young lawyer who has been practicing law for a single year while focusing solely on family law.
3) Someone Concerned with Keeping You in the Loop
Your lawyer’s job is not only to represent you. It is also to counsel you and help you understand legal issues no matter how complex they are. Family law cases can be among the most complicated of all legal situations. You deserve an advocate who will help you understand your options and the best outcome.
You will want to know exactly what is happening in your case. You don’t want to leave it all in the hands of your lawyer and only find out where you stand once your case has been settled.
4) Honesty
Some attorneys will promise the world – but can they deliver? Beware of any lawyer who assures you they will win your case or get you the result you want. No lawyer can promise a win, but a good lawyer can explain the strategy they will use and why it’s the strongest one in your particular case.
If a lawyer starts making guarantees other than that they will work hard for you, it is probably time to make your exit and continue your search.
5) A Proven Track Record
The results you get are all that will matter to you one year, five years, or ten years in the future. A good family law attorney has a long history of getting wins for clients just like you. If your prospective attorney can show you several examples of cases like yours, in which they got positive results for their clients, you are likely in good hands.
Beyond these five things, it is also critical that you choose a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable. You do not want to trust your future to someone you don’t feel will put your best interests first. Need a family law attorney who cares? The Simmrin Law Group is here to help.
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Do I Need a Prenup?
Prenups are completely optional, but some couples will benefit in a big way. Prenuptial agreements are not only used by the wealthy. These documents help protect couples in a variety of situations.
The most common situations where a prenuptial agreement will benefit you and your partner are when:
- One or both of you owns property prior to the marriage.
- Either or both of you have a business or other asset (even a small or medium business).
- You have assets from a previous marriage and want to make sure they are preserved for your children.
- You or your partner have a high net worth or earn a high income.
Prenups are never about favoring one party over the other. The law requires that they are fair to both parties, however, without a prenup the court is likely to divide all assets 50/50 in the event of a divorce. This division includes those items that you had before the marriage.
What Is the Best Way to Handle a High-Profile Divorce?
Divorces are always difficult. However, a high net worth makes them especially complex. Successful couples often have multiple investments, properties, even businesses, both separately and together. The courts are not adept at handling these situations. High-profile couples need to know that everything will be handled with discretion.
In these situations, you cannot count on just any family law attorney. You need someone experienced with complex issues such as:
- Closely held businesses
- Partnerships and shared businesses
- Real estate holdings and investments
- Separate property holdings
- Stock options, investments, IRAs/401(k) plans, and profit-sharing plans
- Pensions
- Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
- Inheritance law
- Property from before the marriage
- Negotiating or enforcing the terms of a prenuptial agreement
- Postnuptial agreements
As a rule, the higher your net worth and the larger your holdings, the more complex the divorce. A seasoned attorney will help you avoid a lengthy divorce proceeding, minimize disputes and get the outcome you need.
How Can I Make Sure I Get Custody of My Children?
Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee that the court will award you custody. However, there are several ways to ensure that you are in the best possible position to receive a favorable decision. The courts look at a number of factors to make custody rulings, including:
- What is best for the child
- Which parent is open to frequent visits from the other parent
- Any history of domestic violence
- Any history of drug use
- The child’s own preferences, if the child is 12 or older (in most cases)
Many of these factors are subjective or require a judgment call from the court. That means that the way you present your case, the image you present personally, and how you respond to challenges from the other parent can all affect the outcome.
The best lawyers do more than preparing the paperwork. They also coach you at every step. An experienced family law lawyer will move proactively to show the courts why you should have legal or physical custody of your child.
Talk to a Los Angeles Family Law Attorney for Free
You have a right to determine your own future and to do what’s best for you and your family. We can help you do that. At the Simmrin Law Group, we will work tirelessly to assure we get a favorable outcome for you and your family.
Give us a call or fill out our easy online contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. One of our Los Angeles family law attorneys will review your case and advise you of all of your legal rights and options.
Call or text (310) 928-9347 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form