What to Expect During Your First Meeting with an Orange County Divorce Attorney? 2025
By Stephane Quinn | By Quinn & Dworakowski LLP |If you are planning to divorce, it is vital to know what to expect during your first meeting with an Orange County divorce attorney. Your initial consultation will help you understand what your attorney can do for you throughout this process, and you can feel more confident about your upcoming proceedings once you have a dedicated legal advocate on your side.
What to Expect During Your First Meeting With an Orange County Divorce Attorney
Before you take any formal steps toward divorce in Orange County, it’s a good idea to have serious conversations with your spouse about your respective goals and expectations for this process, if you are able to do so amicably. Once you have an idea of what you can expect, you should reach out to an Orange County divorce lawyer at your first opportunity.
When you choose Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, as your legal representatives, we can take time to carefully review the details of your situation, identify your greatest areas of concern for your divorce, and explain what to expect as this process unfolds. During your initial consultation with our team, we can help you understand the various issues you will likely need to address in your divorce, including:
- Property division. California enforces a community property law for dividing marital assets and debts, so all marital property in divorce is divided 50/50 between spouses. Both spouses will need to submit financial disclosure statements that include complete and accurate financial records in order to ensure property division is fair to both parties.
- Child custody. If you and your spouse have children, we can explain what you can expect in your child custody determination and develop a strategy to improve your chances of securing the custody arrangements you hope to secure. It’s possible for one parent to receive sole custody or for parents to have a joint custody agreement.
- Child support. Divorcing parents will need to contribute equally to the financial cost of raising their children. One spouse will be paying child support to the other, and we can assist you in reaching a fair outcome, whether you expect to pay or receive support.
- Alimony or spousal support. One spouse may have been financially dependent on the other, in which case, they may be eligible to receive spousal support for a period of time following the divorce. We can explain how alimony is calculated and will do everything we can to ensure a fair outcome to this aspect of your divorce proceedings.
According to the US Census data from 2023, about 10.5% of women and 7% of men in California have been divorced, and everyone who goes through this process will need to resolve various challenges. During your initial consultation with an Orange County divorce attorney, use this opportunity to ask various questions about your case to get a better idea of whether the attorney is right for you.
The attorneys at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, have extensive experience representing clients in their divorce cases, and we know you are likely to have many pressing legal questions about your situation. Divorce is a daunting process, but you can feel more confident about the situation once you have experienced legal counsel on your side.
Reach out to our firm at your first opportunity to learn more about the services we provide and how we can help you navigate your divorce case.
FAQs
How Long Does Divorce Take in California?
The time a divorce can take in California depends on the unique issues the divorcing couple must resolve. Some couples are able to negotiate divorce terms relatively quickly, while others must litigate some aspects of their case. However, all divorces in California are subject to a mandatory six-month waiting period, so the soonest divorce can be finalized in California is six months from the date the divorce petition was filed.
Does It Matter Who Files for Divorce in California?
No, it does not matter who files for divorce in California. Being the one to file does not offer any type of advantage in your divorce proceedings. All divorce cases in California are processed on a no-fault basis, meaning that it does not matter in the court’s eyes whether either spouse did anything to directly cause the breakdown of the marriage.
Why Should I Hire an Orange County Divorce Attorney?
You should hire an Orange County divorce attorney to have a better chance of reaching the results you hope to see from your divorce case. Any divorce can potentially evolve into a contentious legal battle, so it’s important to have an experienced legal advocate on your side as you approach this difficult situation. Hiring an attorney offers peace of mind during a very emotionally stressful process.
What Does It Cost to Hire an Orange County Divorce Attorney?
The cost to hire an Orange County divorce attorney varies by attorney, but the majority of family lawyers throughout California accept divorce cases on an hourly fee basis. This means the attorney tracks the time they spend working on a client’s case and bills the client per hour. Your attorney should review the details of their billing policy at the outset of your case so you know what to expect.
When Should I Hire an Orange County Divorce Attorney?
You should hire an Orange County divorce attorney as quickly as possible once you have confirmed that you are ending your marriage. Before you take any formal steps to start the divorce process, it’s a good idea to have legal counsel on your side to ensure you meet all procedural and filing requirements. Your attorney can help you with financial disclosure and will prepare you for the proceedings ahead.
The attorneys at Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP, offer client-focused and results-driven legal counsel for divorce cases in Orange County. Ending a marriage is never easy, but having the right attorney on your side can help you reach optimal results in your case. If you are ready to learn what a seasoned Orange County divorce attorney can do for you, contact our team today to schedule a strategy consultation and learn more about the legal services we offer.
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