Divorce and Division of Property in the State of California

Thu 11th May, 2017 Family Law

As a full-service law firm, McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP provides a comprehensive range of family law services. Our divorce lawyers are led by highly experienced attorney John H. McKinley, who provides compassionate counsel and exceptional representation throughout divorces at every level of complexity and conflict. Our intimate understanding of California divorce law is second to none, and our eagerness to assert and protect the best interests of our clients while working toward an equitable outcome for all involved parties distinguishes us among our peers.

One of the most contentious issues in many divorces is how property will be divided between spouses. In dealing with the issue of divorce and division of property, our Stockton and Sacramento, CA divorce lawyers strive to reach agreements that are favorable to our clients and fair to their spouses, preferably through negotiation or mediation. However, we are always willing and prepared to go to court if it is in the best interests of our clients. In such cases, we use all of the resources at our disposal to ensure that our clients’ rights are properly upheld.

If you are in need of a divorce lawyer who will protect your best interests, we urge you to contact the law firm of McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP today.

The Division of Property in the State of California

California is a “community property” state, which means that you and your spouse have to reach an agreement that fairly divides your marital assets and debts down the middle. It is not enough that you and your spouse find the agreement equitable, either; a judge must sign off on it and issue a final order, as well. If you and your spouse cannot arrive at a satisfactory agreement, then an arbitrator or judge will have to step in and do the job for you.

It is likely that not all of the property you own is community property. Any property you owned prior to your marriage, as well as any property you acquired by gift or inheritance during your marriage, is considered separate property and is therefore not subject to division. Likewise, if you have acquired any assets after the date of your separation while waiting for your divorce, then that property is also considered separate property, assuming that a date of separation can be established and agreed upon.

Our attorneys can help to ensure that:

Proper evidence is provided as to what constitutes your separate property if conflicts exist.
Proper evidence is provided as to what does not constitute your spouse’s separate property if conflicts exist.
Any divided debts that currently exist under your name are transferred to your spouse’s name, whenever possible and by whatever legal means possible.
Your rights are properly protected regarded as potentially “commingled” property such as businesses, retirement accounts, and other assets.
Your spouse fully discloses all marital and claimed separate property.

Contact Our Divorce Lawyers Today

To learn more about how we can serve you, please contact our divorce lawyers today.

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Testimonials

I had a very vicious divorce that took over 3 years. My ex-wife went through 3 attorneys trying to keep up and gain the upper hand…It was a hard road, but I’m very thankful I stayed the path with John, he knew what he was doing and his strategy worked flawlessly.

I have worked with John as co-counsel and against John as opposing counsel. There is no one more ethical and hard-working.

Brett is a consummate professional who is very well versed in the area of land use law. He brings a general affability and substantive acumen to his legal practice. Clients uniformly have a high regard for his passionate and credible representation.

We contacted Megan to update our family trust and found her very knowledgeable on the subject. She was able to give us a clear and detailed explanation of the complexities of the family trust. We highly recommend her.