Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers
While you are processing the emotional impact, the financial and legal machinery of your divorce is already in motion. The decisions made in the coming weeks will directly dictate the terms of your financial independence and the future of your parental rights.
In a city like Los Angeles, you need a law firm that immediately moves to secure your position and protect your interests. You need more than an attorney; you need a strategic guide who can bring order to the process and protect what matters most.
The team at Wade Litigation serves as your Los Angeles divorce lawyers, providing assertive, intelligent, and compassionate representation to secure your future and help you move forward with confidence.
We know that your divorce is not just a legal file; it is your life. Our approach is a sophisticated legal strategy with a deep commitment to your well-being. We manage California’s divorce laws and the demanding Los Angeles court system so you can focus on building your new beginning.
Your framework for a new beginning
- California is a “no-fault” divorce state; you do not have to prove wrongdoing, as the court dissolves the marriage based on “irreconcilable differences.”
- To file for divorce in Los Angeles, at least one spouse must have resided in California for six months and in Los Angeles County for the three months just before filing.
- California’s community property law requires an equal division of nearly all assets and debts the parties acquired during the marriage, from real estate to retirement accounts.
- The court determines child custody and visitation arrangements based on the “best interest of the child” standard, a comprehensive legal test focused on the child’s welfare.
- A Los Angeles divorce lawyer is your advocate and strategist, working to protect your financial security and parental rights through every stage of the process.
Why Wade Litigation is Your Advocate in a Los Angeles Divorce
- In a city as vast as Los Angeles, the law firm you choose to represent you in your divorce is a decision of immense consequence. Wade Litigation provides the legal representation that complex and high-asset divorces demand, combined with the personalized attention your family deserves.
Skill in the Los Angeles Superior Court
The family law division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court is a massive and intricate system. Our family law attorneys practice in these courts every day. We possess a working knowledge of the local rules, the specific procedures of different courthouses, and the perspectives of the judicial officers.
This firsthand experience is a powerful advantage that allows us to manage your case with efficiency and strategic foresight.
A sophisticated approach to complex finances
Divorces in Los Angeles often involve complex, high-value marital estates. We have extensive experience handling the intricate financial issues that arise in these cases, including business valuations, the division of stock options, and the tracing of separate property assets. We work with a network of financial professionals to protect your interests.
Direct communication and a client-centered focus
You should always be an active and informed participant in your own case. At Wade Litigation, you work directly with a senior attorney dedicated to your case. We provide clear, honest advice, explain your options in plain language, and ensure you have the information you need to make confident, intelligent decisions about your future.
Trial-ready representation
We are trial lawyers. We prepare every case from the outset as if it will go to trial. This meticulous preparation and our reputation in the courtroom give you a significant advantage in settlement negotiations and ensure that we will vigorously defend your rights if a trial becomes necessary.
2023 Top 10 Attorney Award, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
The Key Pillars of a California Divorce
The legal process of ending a marriage, known as “dissolution,” involves several key components. Our firm provides comprehensive legal services to address every aspect of your case with the diligence and strategic thinking it requires.
The division of marital property
California is a community property state. This means the law presumes that any asset acquired or debt incurred by either spouse from the date of marriage to the date of separation belongs equally to both parties.
Separate property such as gifts, inheritances, or assets owned before the marriage is not subject to division, but the analysis can be complex. We have a deep knowledge of the sophisticated financial issues that arise in Los Angeles divorces.
Our attorneys are highly skilled in managing the division of a wide range of assets.
- Real estate holdings. This includes the family home, vacation properties, and commercial or rental properties. We handle complex issues like property valuation, credits and reimbursements, and the division of equity.
- Business interests. We work with forensic accountants and business valuators to determine the community property interest in a spouse’s business, professional practice, or partnership.
- Retirement accounts. We ensure the proper division of 401(k)s, pensions, and IRAs, which often requires the preparation of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO).
- Executive compensation. We have extensive experience with the division of complex compensation structures, including stock options, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), and deferred compensation plans.
- Entertainment industry assets. We handle the unique challenges of dividing assets such as royalties, residuals, and intellectual property rights.
Our meticulous approach ensures we identify all assets, accurately value them, and pursue an equitable division.
Spousal support (Alimony)
A court may order spousal support to help a lower-earning spouse maintain the standard of living established during the marriage for a period of time. A judge must weigh the 14 factors listed in California Family Code § 4320. These include the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, age and health, and contributions to the other spouse’s education or career. We build powerful, evidence-based arguments to achieve fair spousal support outcomes.
Child Custody and Visitation
For parents, issues of child custody are the most important part of a divorce. Our firm approaches these sensitive matters with a focus on protecting your children and your parental rights.
The court’s sole consideration is the “best interest of the child.” We help you create a detailed and stable parenting plan that addresses both:
- Legal custody: The right and responsibility to make decisions about your children’s health, education, and welfare. Courts strongly favor joint legal custody.
- Physical custody: The schedule of when the children will be with each parent. This can range from a 50/50 split to a primary custody arrangement with a visitation schedule for the other parent.
We work to negotiate parenting plans tailored to your family’s needs, but we are always prepared to litigate to protect your relationship with your children.
Child support
The state’s guideline formula calculates child support. The primary factors are each parent’s income and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. We ensure the court has accurate income information and considers all relevant financial factors to arrive at a fair support amount.
The Divorce Process in Los Angeles County
We guide our clients through every stage of the divorce process with clarity and purpose.
Filing the petition and initial disclosures
The divorce process begins when one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The other spouse then files a Response. Shortly thereafter, both parties must exchange preliminary declarations of disclosure, which are comprehensive financial statements that list all assets, debts, income, and expenses.
Temporary orders (“Pendente Lite” Relief)
Finalizing a divorce can take many months. In the meantime, you need rules for custody, support, and financial matters. We can ask the court to make temporary orders at the beginning of the case to establish a stable status quo while the divorce is pending.
The discovery process
Discovery is the formal process of gathering information and evidence. We use legal tools like depositions, subpoenas, and written questions to obtain a complete picture of the marital estate and any other relevant facts.
We use a thorough discovery process in high-asset cases to uncover hidden assets and ensure a fair property division.
Reaching a resolution
Most divorces in Los Angeles are resolved through a negotiated settlement agreement. We are skilled negotiators who advocate for your interests in settlement conferences and mediation.
However, if the other party is unreasonable, we are experienced trial attorneys who will not hesitate to take your case to trial to fight for a just outcome.
The Critical Flaw in Using AI for Your Divorce
An AI can define “community property,” but it cannot analyze your complex financial records to trace a separate property inheritance that has been commingled with marital funds.
An AI can list the factors for spousal support, but it cannot stand before a Los Angeles judge and make a persuasive argument about your contributions to your spouse’s career.
Divorce is a deeply human process involving credibility, negotiation, and strategic judgment. Trusting your financial future and your family’s well-being to an automated program is a risk you cannot afford to take.
For the personalized advocacy you need, you require the human intelligence of the attorneys at Wade Litigation.
FAQ for Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers
What is the “date of separation” and why does it matter?
The date of separation is the date that one spouse communicates their intent to end the marriage and their conduct is consistent with that intent. This date is legally significant because it marks the end of the “marital community.” Any income earned or assets acquired by either spouse after the date of separation are generally their separate property.
How long does a divorce take in Los Angeles?
California has a mandatory six-month waiting period, so a court cannot finalize a divorce until at least six months have passed from the date the respondent was served with the petition. However, for cases with complex financial issues or contested custody matters, the entire process can often take a year or longer to resolve.
Do I have to go to court to get divorced?
Not necessarily. If you and your spouse can reach a full agreement on all issues through negotiation or mediation, you can finalize your divorce by submitting a written settlement agreement to the court for a judge’s signature. Court appearances are typically only required if you need temporary orders or if you cannot reach a settlement and must go to trial.
My spouse owned a business before we got married. Do I have any right to it?
Potentially, yes. Even if the business was separate property, the community may have acquired an interest in any increase in the business’s value that occurred during the marriage due to the time and effort of either spouse. This requires a complex forensic accounting analysis to determine the value of the community’s interest.
What is a “fiduciary duty” between spouses?
In California, spouses owe each other a “fiduciary duty,” which is the highest duty of care and good faith. This means they must be completely honest and transparent with each other about all financial matters. If one spouse hides assets or mismanages community funds, a court can hold them financially liable for that breach of fiduciary duty.
Begin Your Next Chapter with a Strong Advocate
The decisions you make during your divorce will shape the rest of your life. You deserve a legal team that has the strength, sophistication, and commitment to protect your interests and help you build a secure and stable future.
The Los Angeles divorce lawyers at Wade Litigation are ready to be that team.
We serve clients throughout Los Angeles County from our Redondo Beach office. We invite you to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can provide the powerful advocacy you need.
Call Wade Litigation at (866) 784-2624 or complete our online contact form to connect with our legal team.