Divorce Lawyer
With more than twenty years of experience as a divorce lawyer specializing in matters of Family Law, Yvonne Rizzo Esq provides in-depth guidance throughout the divorce and separation process. As a certified Family Law specialist, Ms. Rizzo offers expert support with matters of documentation, negotiation, child custody, and other complex issues surrounding divorce. Her legal services are customized to each case and include:
- Divorce & Legal Separation
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Spousal Support & Alimony
- Division of Property
- Domestic Violence
- General Family Law
Ms. Rizzo and her team deliver reliable, clear, and effective legal guidance on all areas of family law.
The first step is to schedule complementary consultation to discuss your unique needs.
Choose an Experienced Divorce Lawyer
After several years working as a Deputy City Attorney and as a civil litigator, Ms. Rizzo opened her private practice as a divorce lawyer specializing in the complex field of family law. With her extensive background in divorce law and regulation, Ms. Rizzo gives unparalleled expertise and guidance throughout the legal process. An experienced divorce lawyer will allow you access to:
- Demonstrated success in complex divorce scenarios
- Expertise in challenging custody and child support cases
- In-depth knowledge of divorce law, including spousal support and child custody
- Experience working with a wide range of families and situations
- Detailed information on state and federal legal practices
Understanding the Divorce Process
A divorce lawyer will guide you through the divorce process. Following your consultation, the divorce lawyer will assist you with filing an initial petition for the divorce. The petition may include claims to property, specifications for the payment of attorney fees, custody details, requests for spousal support, and other matters. After the petition is served to the receiving spouse, they have 30 days to respond. In many cases, the couple will then attend mediation and disclose property. While no two cases are identical, your divorce lawyer will generally guide you through these steps:
- Filing a divorce petition with the state
- Disclosing assets
- Conduction negotiations
- Division of property
- Establishing spousal and/or child support
- Litigation or representation in court hearings
- On-going support following appeals or additional hearings
Divorce vs. Legal Separation
Some parties may opt for legal separation in lieu of divorce. This decision may be guided by personal, religious, cultural, or health reasons. Following separation, the couple will no longer jointly acquire assets and debts, but they will remain legally married. In addition, this decision can impact child custody, spousal support or division of property. A divorce lawyer can outline all of the personal, legal, and financial differences between divorce and separation.
Divorce and Child Custody Law
The support of an experienced divorce lawyer is essential while navigating child custody cases. Ms. Rizzo and her team provide help with negotiation, mediation, documentation, and court hearings. The child custody process often begins with a court-mandated mediation to establish temporary physical and legal custody. From there, both parties may engage in negotiations or court hearings to institute on-going or permanent custody rulings. Keep in mind that custody may be defined in physical terms (referring to the residence of the child) as well as legal terms (who has authority to make decisions about the health, religion, and personal matters of the child). Additional considerations may apply in cases of geographical relocation, health issues, financial changes, or military orders.
Child Support & Spousal Support Guidance
In many cases a divorce negotiation may include the establishment of child or spousal support. A divorce lawyer can provide assistance during the negotiation and ruling of support. Each state has different guidelines regarding this matter. The decision may be based on which spouse has the majority share of the child, ability to generate income, and other assets or debts. An experienced divorce lawyer will help ensure that all parties are fairly and accurately supported.
Divorce Lawyer Fees
In some cases, one spouse may be required to pay the divorce lawyer fees of the other party. Communal funds, like joint bank accounts, may also be used to pay attorney fees. Choose a divorce lawyer that’s committed to providing transparent and efficient solutions to ensure that your funds are responsibly dedicated.
Divorce Lawyer Attorney Fees
In the state of California, both parties within a divorce shall have equal access to legal representation. This means that one spouse may be required to pay the attorney fees of the other. Communal funds, like joint bank accounts, may also be used to pay attorney fees. Choose a divorce lawyer in San Diego that’s committed to providing efficient solutions and transparent fees structures to prevent high legal fees. Read a full article on attorney fees on our blog.
About Yvonne Rizzo Esq - Divorce Lawyer in San Diego
Yvonne Rizzo is a divorce lawyer specializing in the field of Family Law. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has worked as a Deputy City Attorney and a civil litigator. Ms. Rizzo and her team offer in-depth experience in divorce, legal separation, domestic violence, child support, spousal support and other matters related to family law. Her licenses include:
- State Bar of California
- United States District Court for the Central District of California
- United States District Court for the Southern District of California
- United States District Court for the Northern District of California
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
- State Bar of New York
For more information about fees, scheduling, and services, contact the office of Yvonne Rizzo.
