Costa Mesa Family Law Attorney

Family Law Lawyer in Costa Mesa, CA

Family law cases are among the most emotionally challenging experiences a person can face. At The Law Office of Robert G. Goldsmith, we offer the compassionate representation you deserve, whether you’re going through a divorce, fighting for custody of your children, dividing property, or facing any other family law issue. Our Costa Mesa family law attorney is here to guide you and fight for your family.

Robert G.
Goldsmith

Attorney

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About the Team at The Law Office of Robert G. Goldsmith

Robert G. Goldsmith has been successfully handling family law cases for 29 years. In addition to the firm’s caring staff, Mr. Goldsmith oversees each case himself, providing the personalized attention you deserve.

We serve the counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino, which means we’re familiar with the local courts and their procedures. For the 112,780 residents of Costa Mesa, family court matters are heard at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange.

Divorce

From 2022 through 2023, Orange County Superior Court received 20,641 family law filings, with 8,998 being marital filings, including divorce. Our firm can represent you in divorce proceedings, fighting to ensure you get what you deserve. We can help you file all the necessary paperwork, draft agreements, and ensure you meet all deadlines.

Our family lawyer can help you understand your options and which type of divorce to pursue. Depending on your circumstances, you might consider a mediated, contested, or uncontested divorce. We can protect your interests, whether we’re sitting down to work out an agreement in mediation or arguing before a judge.

Spousal Support Requests

Also known as alimony, spousal support is a payment made by one spouse to the other to ensure financial stability following a divorce or legal separation. Alimony isn’t always a part of divorce cases, but it’s important to understand, nonetheless. A spouse can request support for any of the following reasons:

• Income disparity
• Temporary financial need during transition
• Financial dependence on the other spouse
• Sacrifices made during the marriage
• Standard of living

We can also represent you in pursuing changes to a spousal support agreement. When an ex-partner remarries or has a significant change in circumstances, we can argue for an amendment to the agreement or its termination.

Child Custody and Support

While all family law cases can be emotionally draining, child custody and support cases may be the hardest to deal with, especially on your own. There were 3,996 child support filings in the Orange County Superior Court from 2022 to 2023, making it one of the most filed family law cases. Whether you’re fighting for full custody, fair visitation, or financial support from the other parent, we can help you secure a judgment that’s in your child’s best interests.

Our Costa Mesa family lawyer can help you collect evidence to prove why you deserve full custody or why increased visitation is right for your child. We can also use financial records, receipts for clothing and activities, and proof of healthcare costs to fight for the financial support your child needs.

Property Division

Property division is often the most disputed aspect of a divorce. Whether you’re dividing real estate, business assets, or debts, our lawyer can help ensure you get what’s fair. California generally follows a 50/50 rule for asset division for any property gained during marriage, but it isn’t always easy to prove when a spouse obtained property.

Using sales records, bank disclosures, and other receipts, we can help prove the value and purchase dates of properties, vehicles, and other assets to argue for fair division. If you have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, we can review it and enforce it in court.

FAQs

How Much Is a Family Law Attorney in Costa Mesa?

The cost of a family law attorney in Costa Mesa varies from case to case and lawyer to lawyer. An experienced attorney working on a complicated family law dispute will likely charge a higher rate than a newer lawyer working on a simpler case. The Law Office of Robert G. Goldsmith can help you understand the potential cost of your case when you speak with our lawyer during a consultation.

How Long Does a Divorce Take to Finalize in Costa Mesa?

There is no exact timeline for how long a divorce takes to finalize in Costa Mesa, although there is a required waiting period of six months before a divorce can be finalized. When both spouses agree and cooperate, the divorce can be final after the waiting period.

In a contested divorce, where spouses disagree on certain terms, the case can go on for over a year. Court backlogs can also impact the timeline, so it’s wise to find an attorney who is familiar with the local court.

What Is the Biggest Mistake in a Custody Battle?

One of the biggest mistakes you can make during a custody battle is losing control of your emotions. While this is certainly a stressful time, it’s important that you try to remain objective. Don’t speak poorly of the other parent beyond the facts of the case or act against court orders. The court will decide what is in the best interests of the child. Failing to remain composed may make a judge question the stability you can provide.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Costa Mesa?

In Costa Mesa, the Lamoreaux Justice Center uses the statewide formula for calculating child support that considers each parent’s income, the amount of time they spend with the child, and ongoing care expenses, among other factors. The court always aims to ensure the custodial parent gets the appropriate support to provide for the child.

Hire a Family Law Attorney From The Law Office of Robert G. Goldsmith

Family law cases are often stressful, but you don’t have to go through the process alone. The Law Office of Robert G. Goldsmith has the knowledge and experience to represent you and fight for your interests. We handle every type of family law dispute, from divorces and spousal support adjustments to child custody and property division.

We can be your trusted partners through your family court battle. Located on MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach, our office serves clients conveniently from all over Orange County. Contact Robert G. Goldsmith today to hire a family law attorney.