Family Lawyers in Costa Mesa, CA

Hourly fees for family lawyers in Costa Mesa are based on a variety of factors, many of which also impact the quality of representation you’ll receive from that attorney. Rates are typically based on:

• The family law attorney’s experience
• The complexity of the case
• Specializations and expertise in an area of law
• The firm’s fee structure

Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation and find out more about our fee structure.

The costs associated with divorce in California vary too widely to place an accurate average on the total expense. Some simple and amicable divorces can cost only a few hundred dollars, while the costs can easily climb into the tens of thousands of dollars when divorces are highly contentious or involve complex assets.

In addition to the attorney’s fees, divorce cases also include other costs that add to the total. Depending on the complexity of the divorce, these fees and costs can include:

• Filing fees
• Process server costs
• Expert witness fees
• Document production fees associated with subpoenas
• Copying costs for trial exhibits
• Mediator fees

Despite the potential for costs to add up in divorce cases, the risks associated with not having trusted and skilled legal representation are much higher. When you want your interests protected, contact the Sarieh Family Law. We handle divorce cases with the care, compassion, and commitment they deserve. We also represent mothers and fathers fighting for their parental rights in Costa Mesa.

If you are the legal parent of your child, you have certain rights and obligations under California law. These include:

• The right to seek custody and visitation
• The responsibility to support your child financially
• The right to make important decisions regarding education, healthcare, activities, and religion
• The obligation to pay or the right to receive child support

These rights and requirements are dictated by your situation and the best interest of your child. Judges in California base their custody, visitation, and support decisions on what is in the child’s best interest, and they evaluate a number of factors to determine this, including:

• The age and health of the child
• The ability of each parent to take care of the child
• The child’s emotional connection to both parents
• History of family violence
• Substance abuse by either parent

Contact Wail Sarieh, our Certified Family Law Specialist, to discuss the factors that may impact your custody and visitation.

Children are not typically capable of making informed, responsible decisions about issues involving custody and visitation, which is why a child’s opinion on which parent they should live with is not usually taken into consideration. However, depending on the child’s age and maturity level, their preference may be factored into the judge’s decision. There is no set age at which a child’s opinion on this will be considered; the focus is on their maturity and intelligence. With that said, many judges will factor a child’s decision into their ruling once they reach age 14.

If you believe your younger child is mature and intelligent enough that their preference should be considered, or if you feel your teenager is not yet capable of making responsible decisions regarding custody and visitation, consult with a family law attorney at Sarieh Family Law. We can help you navigate the complex issues involved in custody and visitation cases in Costa Mesa, CA.