When facing the breakdown of your family unit, you don’t need to go it alone. Attorney Laurie Coker and our team of legal professionals are here for you. Facing divorce can be intimidating and overwhelming. We have decades of experience in the areas of divorce and legal separation. Whether you have made the decision to move forward with a dissolution of your marriage, or your spouse has made the decision to leave the marriage, we can be your legal advocate and guide you through the process.

Every family law matter is unique. We recognize your need to be heard and understood. The legal issues you face during your divorce or legal separation may include:

• Spousal Support (also known as alimony)

When there is a disparity in the respective incomes of the spouses, spousal support can be ordered by the Court. If you are the spouse in need of financial support, it is important that you receive adequate support based upon your needs and the standard of living during the marriage. Likewise, if you are the higher earning spouse, it is important that the amount of support ordered is not higher than what is appropriate under the applicable laws and circumstances of your case. Our legal professionals can protect your rights whether you are the spouse who is in need of support, or the spouse who may be required to pay spousal support.

• Property Division

In California, marital property is divided based upon Community Property principles. Issues of separate property, credits and reimbursements and quasi-community property must be identified and understood in order for the marital estate to be divided in accordance with the law. Property and debt issues vary broadly from one case to another. It is common that divorcing spouses have questions about who will get the house, what happens to retirement accounts and how debt will be allocated. Sometimes there are multiple residences, a family-owned business and complicated tracing issues. We are well-versed in these issues including high-asset divorce cases. When property issues are complex, it can be necessary to take extra measures to protect your rights. These can include forensic accounting, expert valuations and alternate valuation dates. Our team is experienced with these issues and able to evaluate the tools needed to protect your rights in regard to the allocation of the community property estate.

• Child Custody & Visitation

When married parents of minor children divorce or separate, the Court may be asked to make decisions regarding custody and care of the children. The Court is required to base child custody and visitation orders on what is deemed to be in the best interest of the children. When the future of your child is at stake, a strong legal advocate who has extensive experience with child custody matters is essential to your ability to express your concerns and requests to the Court. Your ability to present your case to the court in a concise and persuasive manner can be the factor that determines your child’s future. As an advocate for your child, you cannot leave it to chance that the Court will recognize the needs of your child and make the right decisions. We have decades of experience presenting complicated child custody and visitation issues to the court. Let us take on the responsibility of presenting your case to the Court so that you can focus on being a parent during a time of adjustment for your child.

• Attorney’s Fees & Costs of Litigation

When the financial playing field is unbalanced, the law dictates that the Court make orders to level the playing field in regard to access to legal representation upon a request by the financially disadvantaged spouse. If you are in need of legal representation during your divorce or legal separation, but your spouse controls the financial resources, we may be able to help you obtain a Court order that your spouse pay your legal fees. Also, in the case of a spouse who is intentionally increasing litigation unnecessarily, the Court can order that spouse to pay sanctions in the form of attorney’s fees and costs of litigation to the other spouse. While the legal system is adversarial in nature, a failure to abide by the rules and to act in a manner that promotes settlement when possible, can result in an order that monetary sanctions be paid from the offending spouse to the other spouse.

• Legal Separation

In certain cases, when there is a breakdown in a marriage, a legal separation may be elected rather than a dissolution (divorce). The reasons can be unique to the couple, but often include religious reasons, insurance coverage or other legal rights that are directly related to marital status. If you believe that legal separation may be the option for you, we can explain the differences between legal separation and dissolution of marriage and help you make an informed decision regarding your future.

Mediation is the process of negotiating an agreement to resolve a family law matter out of court with the assistance of a mediator. It is important that a mediator is qualified to provide competent legal advice in a setting that maintains civility and an atmosphere of mutual respect between the parties. Attorney Coker’s extensive legal experience allows her to give parties guidance to make informed decisions and creative solutions to meet their unique needs and circumstances. Equally important, Laurie’s life experience has prepared her to work with all types of personalities and relationship issues. When both parties desire to resolve their family law issue without the need for Court intervention, mediation can provide an option for resolution with the assistance of a qualified mediator while minimizing costs, stress and the time required to finalize the legal process. Schedule a consultation with Attorney Coker today to learn whether you and your spouse are good candidates for a successful split through mediation.

Paternity cases are between two parents who are not married to each other. Issues to be addressed in a paternity matter are child custody, visitation and child support. Costs of pregnancy and birth can also be addressed by the court. Genetic testing can be ordered in a case where the identity of a biological parent is unconfirmed or in dispute. A parent who was not included on the child’s birth certificate at the time of birth can be added upon order of the Court. Likewise, a child’s name can be changed to add a last name that was not originally included on the child’s Birth Certificate.

Child custody and visitation orders are based upon what the Court determines to be in the best interest of the child. Our team is experienced in presenting evidence to the Court in a way that is designed to assist the Court in seeing the best interest of the child from our client’s perspective.

Child support is ordered pursuant to the California Guideline Child Support calculation. Factors considered in that formula include the respective earnings or earning capacities of the parents, the timeshare with the child and certain guideline deductions such as payment of health insurance, required retirement payments and union dues. When a parent’s income includes overtime pay or other fluctuating pay such as seasonal employment or commissions, the issue of child support can be legally complex. Our team is experienced with a broad range of issues related to child support including military pay, social security benefits related to a parent’s disability and even child support for adult disabled children. Attorney Coker has litigated the issue of child support and prevailed on that issue, obtaining orders for child support to provide for the needs of a disabled child after a prior order discontinuing such support was obtained by the non-custodial parent. We can help you navigate these issues and ensure that the Court understands when fluctuating income should be considered when the amount of child support is determined.

Under certain circumstances, a man who is not the biological father of a child may be recognized as the legal father of that child pursuant to the California Family Code. In one of Attorney Coker’s first multi-day trials, she prevailed in obtaining custody of a child to a father who had raised the child he considered to be his son for many years until the child’s mother abruptly cut off the relationship between the man and the child who he had raised as his own, despite that child having a different biological father. Attorney Coker has maintained contact with that family for over a decade. As a new attorney, having the opportunity to play a part in reuniting a child with the only father he had known was an experience that encouraged Laurie to focus her legal career on helping families through difficult life circumstances.

Victims of domestic abuse deserve compassion, care and a strong legal advocate to help secure a safer future for the victim and their children. Attorney Coker has decades of experience working with victims of domestic abuse. Over this period of time, she has learned to recognize when a victim has difficulty articulating what has occurred and she can help a victim find their voice. The type of abuse that may result in a Domestic Violence Restraining Order is not limited to physical violence. Sexual abuse, verbal abuse, emotional abuse, harassment and coercive control are other examples of circumstances that can result in a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. Don’t assume that you cannot obtain the protection of a restraining order just because the mistreatment you are living with is not in the form of physical violence. Attorney Coker can advise you of your legal rights so that you can determine whether a Domestic Violence Restraining Order may be the first step to a brighter future for you and your children.

A person who is accused of domestic abuse and served with a Temporary Restraining Order or Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order faces serious, life changing circumstances. Your contact with your children, access to your home and other rights can be curtailed based solely upon the Court’s review and consideration of untested allegations of your accuser. The time to prepare and to defend yourself can be short. It is important to obtain competent legal advice and representation as soon as possible in order to avoid long-term effects of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. Attorney Coker recently represented a client who was accused of several acts of Domestic Violence in a multi-day trial. After several days of testimony, cross-examination of the accuser and the presentation of evidence, the Court denied the accuser’s request for a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. If you have been accused of domestic violence, contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options. Moving forward without experienced legal counsel can result in long lasting consequences for you and for your children.

A pre-marital agreement, also known as a pre-nuptial agreement is a contract between two people who are engaged to be married. The applicable California law pertaining to pre-marital agreements is very specific. Attempting to enter a premarital agreement without the guidance of an experienced attorney can result in an agreement that is completely unenforceable. In contrast, a well-drafted pre-martial agreement that is in compliance with the California Family Code can help you avoid unexpected consequences and protracted litigation if your marriage does not result in the happily ever after you had anticipated on your wedding day. Attorney Coker has over a decade of experience negotiating and drafting pre-marital agreements. A little pre-planning before you tie the knot may help you avoid a tangled web in the event the knot unravels later.

A post-marital agreement, also known as a post-nuptial agreement is a contract between parties who are already married. The scope of issues to be included in a post-martial agreement is limited by the California Family Code. Attorney Coker is well-versed regarding post-marital agreements and can help you determine of this type of document may be right for you and your spouse.

We welcome individuals who have both traditional and non-traditional relationships and family structures to schedule a complimentary consultation with our firm. Our philosophy is that every individual with a need for family law advice or representation deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion. Attorney Laurie Coker and our team of professionals have experience representing clients in same-sex relationships, Domestic Partnerships, parents of children with more than two legal parents and other clients with family law needs beyond the traditional. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and see for yourself if we might be the best fit for you.

Step-Parent adoptions can bring families closer and strengthen the bond between a child and a step-parent who is firmly committed to providing stability for the child. There are legal requirements that must be met in order for a step-parent adoption to be possible. Most importantly, a termination of parental rights may be necessary. Our team of legal professionals is experienced with step-parent adoptions and ready to answer your questions.

Independent adoptions are adoptions that are done by direct placement. There is no agency involved in placing the child. Examples are direct placement of a child by the birth parents, adoption of a child who is related to the adopting parent(s), placement of a child selected by a deceased parent in their will, and adoption of a child by the child’s legal guardian.

Adult adoption is the process by which an adult is adopted by another adult. There are strict rules that regulate adult adoption. Attorney Coker is experienced with adult adoption cases. Contact us if you would like to schedule a consultation to learn more about adult adoption.