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A divorce or legal separation can be one of the most stressful experiences a person may endure. The parties involved may be anxious, angry, and fearful of an uncertain future. During dissolution, questions may arise concerning the ability to support two households, or whether there will be a strain on the parent-child relationship should visitation of a minor child be reduced. Concerns may also be raised about support for the spouse as well as the child.
At the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC we recommend that the parties involved in a divorce (dissolution of marriage) or legal separation consider all of the available alternatives.
Family Courts place great emphasis on settlement and alternate dispute resolution or mediation. Reaching a fair and efficient resolution to your family law matter will greatly lessen the stress of family law litigation.
Should settlement through means of mediation be impossible or not appropriate in your situation, the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC will represent you and advocate for you through vigorous litigation to reach resolution.
At the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC you will be provided with exemplary legal advice, along with stability and guidance necessary to assist you through difficult times. Each case is evaluated and assessed in an objective manner. Each client is informed of the advantages and disadvantages of litigation to make informed decisions.
Sonya A. Bouma is an experienced attorney in Family Law. She represents both men and women throughout the California Central Valley, including Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Merced County.
Contested Divorce – Involves outstanding issues to be resolved concerning support, child custody and visitation, or the distribution of various marital assets and marital debts. Most contested divorces require court intervention.
Uncontested Divorce – There are no outstanding issues that must be resolved concerning support, child custody and visitation, or the distribution of various marital assets and marital debts.
Mediation – Mediation is a process allowing both parties the ability to make their own decisions without court intervention. This, in turn, avoids lengthy litigation proceedings. Participating in mediation may significantly reduce the costs associated with divorce proceedings. However, mediation can only be effective if both parties are willing to participate in the mediation process and reach an agreement outside of litigation.
Litigation – Should settlement through means of mediation be impossible or not appropriate in your situation, the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC will represent you and advocate for you through vigorous litigation in order to reach resolution.
During divorce proceedings, each parent is concerned with what is in the best interest of the children. At the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC we believe that the children come first and we assist the parties with focusing on the children to reach a resolution that will be in the best interest of the child, be that establishing sole custody, joint custody or establishing a child visitation schedule.
Some of the factors that the parties may consider when considering custody and visitation of the children are the locations of the schools, the work schedule of each parent, the living environment, and the fitness of the parent.
Child Support
California law requires courts to adhere to statewide uniform guidelines in setting child support orders. However, the Court Commissioner or Family Law Judge has the final authority to determine the amount of a child support order. If the parents cannot agree on child support, the judge will decide the child support amount based upon the guideline calculation.
The guideline calculation depends on the following factors:
Child Support can also include the cost of special needs:
Sonya A. Bouma is an experienced attorney in the area of Family Law. She represents both men and women throughout the California Central Valley, including Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Merced County. Contact the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC for a consultation: (209) 527-8700. You may also contact us via our website. At the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC we will walk you through the guidelines to ensure that the correct information is provided to the court when determining the applicable child support.
Family Courts consider many factors when establishing spousal support. Some of the considering factors include whether the support is temporary, the earning capacity of the supported spouse, whether there are assets and/or obligations, the age and health of the parties, the length of the parties’ marriage and whether there is a history of domestic violence. The goal of support orders is to have each party become self-sufficient.
Sonya A. Bouma is an experienced attorney in Family Law. She represents both men and women throughout the California Central Valley, including Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Merced County. Contact the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC for your consultation: (209) 527-8700.
During dissolution (divorce) proceedings, it is necessary to obtain an accurate accounting of the marital assets and debts. Accomplishing this task may appear overwhelming as well as time-consuming. However, we have incorporated a checklist that lists a majority of the items that will be necessary to further your divorce. A copy of that document entitled, Family Law Assets and Debts, may be downloaded for informational purposes.
Sonya A. Bouma is an experienced attorney in Family Law. She represents both men and women throughout the California Central Valley, including Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Merced County. Contact the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC for your consultation: (209) 527-8700.
At the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC we understand that circumstances can change. Either party may experience a substantial change including a change to their income. Either party may also experience a job loss or fall victim to several factors that affect their ability to pay support. If you have experienced a substantial change to your life circumstances that may affect a current order, we may be able to assist you.
Sonya A. Bouma is an experienced attorney in Family Law. She represents both men and women throughout the California Central Valley, including Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Merced County. Contact the Law Offices of Sonya A. Bouma, PLC for your consultation: (209) 527-8700.
Don’t hesitate to reach out! Call us at (209) 527-8700.