Family Law

A good family law attorney will have experience with these situations and can help you navigate through difficult issues.

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Family law deals with sensitive family issues and relationships. The impact on our families and ourselves can cause stress and wreak havoc, often taking a toll on our emotional, financial, and professional well-being.

When you are going through matters pertaining to family law, our divorce attorneys, child custody lawyers, and general family law specialists are here to help you deal with those challenges.

As advocates with your best interest at heart, our family law attorneys can help you navigate through the process and provide you with the next steps to move forward.

We will work with your spouse to handle the paperwork and provide a buffer for you so you can concentrate on what matters most to you.

The end of a relationship can be difficult so it is important to have a skilled family law and divorce attorney standing with you. We will be by your side during the court process, which we understand can be daunting, confusing, and intimidating.

From beginning to end, Mendes Weed, LLP will be there to defend your legal rights and make the transition to your future as smooth as possible. We have family law offices in Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Truckee, and Walnut Creek.

Divorce

Divorce can be a challenge. Don’t go into it blindly.

At Mendes Weed, LLP, our Walnut Creek office divorce attorneys want you to know what to expect and how to endure the hurdles, legal and emotional, that you will go through.

Child Custody / Child Support / Visitation

Children need the support of both parents to succeed in life. Child support goes toward housing, food, education, clothing, and other necessities. In California, child support is a calculation based on many factors.

Spousal Support / Alimony

Spousal Support can be a more complex issue in California, and we recommend that you retain an attorney if you think you are owed or must pay Spousal Support or alimony.

Divorce Mediation

Mediation is an orderly and non-confrontational process providing people involved in a family law dispute an opportunity to have a dialogue about the issues involved. This dialogue frequently allows them to form an agreement that works for both parties.

Marital Agreements / Pre-nup / Post-nup

A Prenuptial agreement provides for the disposition of assets, costs, and responsibilities should a divorce happen. It can be a flexible, free-ranging agreement, and we recommend that you have your own attorney if you are considering signing one.

Divorce Forensic Accounting and Property Tracing

Before a divorce can be finalized, the joint assets of a marriage must first be identified. At times, these assets can be:

Complex and hard to value, like complex investments, real estate, or a business
Hidden or hard to find, like liquid assets that are held overseas

A Forensic Accountant can help uncover assets and provide a valuation.

Family Law Resources

Mediation Services Resources

Local Bay Area Resources for Mediation

Bay Area Family Crisis Centers and Help Centers

Bay Area County and California State Website Links – Divorce

Bay Area Divorce Resources

Divorce Alternative – Legal Separation

A legal separation won't end a marriage or domestic partnership. Unlike divorce or...

Divorce Alternative – Annulment

With an annulment, the court determines that a marriage or domestic partnership is not legally valid.

Adoptions by Same-Sex Married Persons

If you need help adopting, at Mendes Weed, we feel adoption is a joyous occasion. We would love to share in your joy. Please allow us to help you adopt.

Cohabitants Beware

Regardless of whether they have a romantic or sexual relationship, is cohabitators beware. Before you hand your apartment keys over to your friend or lover, it is good practice to make sure you understand what you could be facing down the road. We suggest you consult with an attorney if any of these situations apply to you and a significant other.

Shorter Marriage? You May Be in For a Smoother (and Cheaper) Divorce!

Not all marriages are created equal, and neither are all divorces. California law allows for an expedited divorce process, called a “summary dissolution” under certain specific circumstances.

Family Law Judgement Debt Collection

Your divorce is final. You have a judgment. You are owed money…and your ex WILL NOT PAY! Where do you go from here? We can help! Remember, you cannot ask the Court to collect on a judgment for you. You have to do it yourself or ask an attorney to do it for you.