Skilled Guidance Through Family Law Concerns

When you need a family law attorney, experience and skill make a difference. Although there are many law firms serving the area, there are few that have a former judge pro tem as their lead attorney. At the Law Office of James A. Jackson, our attorney has served the community for almost 30 years, and his father was an attorney in the area before him. Having developed long-term relationships in the legal community, he has garnered a great depth of understanding of all matters in family law and how to best present a case to the court.

If you want an attorney who has an aggressive approach, a long history of success in court, and is an active member of the community, you are urged to contact our firm. You can expect to be treated with the utmost respect, and to be advised what can be expected in your case under state law. Attorney Jackson will never involve you in an unnecessary legal battle, and respects your finances. You will never spend more than you need to.

If you have a family law question or concern, call 760-340-4545 to schedule a consultation at our Palm Desert office today.

Navigating The Complexities Of Family Law

Below is a list of the firm's practice areas. You are encouraged to read through our website to familiarize yourself with the divorce process. Afterward, please contact Mr. Jackson directly to arrange a private consultation where you can discuss the details of your personal matter, and learn how you can benefit from his legal representation.

Alimony

Alimony, also known as spousal support and spousal maintenance, is similar to child support; however, it is not awarded in every divorce. It is at the sole discretion of the judge whether or not to award spousal support. The judge takes a number of factors into consideration when deciding whether or not to award alimony. These factors include the duration of your marriage, the paying spouse's ability to pay, the age and health of both spouses and much more.

Asset Division

The state of California is a community property state. This means that the assets acquired by both spouses during marriage are considered community property, and are subject to equal division upon divorce. Assets subject to the laws of community property include: real estate, business assets, retirement accounts, stock options, pensions, insurance policies, personal property and collectible items.

Contested Divorce

Unfortunately, a large percentage of divorce cases involve spouses who do not agree on a number of critical issues such as asset division, spousal support, or child custody. In cases where the two spouses cannot agree on these issues, the divorce is considered to be contested.

Debt Division

When couples divorce, the division of debts is a large center of focus, the same as dividing assets. In a divorce proceeding, any debt or liability incurred during marriage will have to be assigned, paid off or otherwise handled. These include auto loans, credit cards, home loans, small-business debts and other consumer debts.

Division Of Property

The division of property is an important aspect of a California divorce, especially since our state is a community property state. For obvious reasons property cannot be split in half; therefore, it is divided or liquidated in a 50-50 manner, which may involve selling, or getting a home equity line of credit to pay the other spouse their fair share under the law.

Divorce

The divorce process has earned a well-deserved reputation for being extremely stressful. Due to the fact that assets, debts, and children are often involved, it's absolutely critical to retain a seasoned and knowledgeable attorney. Mr. Jackson is caring, compassionate, yet aggressive when protecting his clients' interests and is not intimidated by other firms or unreasonable spouses. While he always encourages an amicable divorce, he has what it takes to stand for his clients' rights if things take a turn for the worse.

Domestic Partnerships

If you are in a domestic partnership that needs to be dissolved, it's important to speak with a qualified attorney who is familiar with the state and federal laws designed to protect you. Since the area of law is relatively new, it's still subject to interpretation and being challenged. For this reason, it's imperative that you speak with Mr. Jackson regarding property division, spousal support, child support, health insurance and other issues of concern.

Enforcement Of Court Orders

When couples divorce, the judge issues several court orders in relation to asset division, property division, child custody, alimony and other matters regarding the divorce. These court orders establish clear guidelines that should be followed by both spouses; however, if you are running into trouble with your spouse adhering to a court order, you can contact Mr. Jackson to aggressively represent you in court.

Enforcement Of Settlement Agreements

Settlement agreements are ordered by a judge during the divorce process and cover issues over asset and property division, debt division, alimony, child support and much more. At times, one spouse will have difficulty getting their ex to comply with the court order, and sometimes it takes legal action to enforce the settlement agreement.

Legal Separations

A legal separation is very similar to a divorce, yet the couple remains legally married. Married couples who wish to live apart have different reasons for a legal separation, some of which have to do with religion, moral beliefs, the children or even medical insurance. In essence, couples who get a legal separation enjoy both the benefits of being married, and being divorced at the same time.

Mediation

There are a number of divorces that would benefit from the help of a neutral third-party mediator. While some aspects of divorce may be easily agreed upon, other issues can be more complicated and are therefore well-served by having the assistance of a professional mediator. A mediator is impartial and does not benefit one side over the other.

Orders Of Protection

An order of protection is issued by the court to protect a victim of domestic violence. It orders the assailant to stop abusing, stalking, threatening or harming their victim. It can also order the abuser to stop contacting the victim in person, by phone, text or via internet. Orders of protection can not only protect victims, but they can also aid in the divorce process.

Postnuptial Agreements

A postnuptial agreement functions in the same manner as a prenuptial agreement, except for the fact that it is drawn up after the couple is already married. Discussing a postnuptial agreement can be uncomfortable, but when there are issues over children from a previous marriage, property, or a significant amount of assets, it is the responsible thing to do.

Prenuptial Agreements

There are a number of reasons why couples should sign a prenuptial agreement, especially considering the fact that California is a community property state. For those who have worked hard their entire life to build a business or an estate, they don't want to lose half of the fruits of their labor in a potential divorce. For this reason, protecting one's wealth in the event of the unexpected is the responsible way to go about marriage.

Relocation

A lot of things can change in one's life after divorce. Often, there will be a remarriage, a death in the family or a new job opportunity that gives rise to a move. When the custodial parent wishes to move away, they often need to first secure the judge's approval. Whether you are a parent wishing to relocate with your child, or if you are the noncustodial parent opposing the move, it's imperative that you seek out quality legal counsel regarding this matter.

Uncontested Divorce

An uncontested divorce is certainly the most favorable type of divorce to have. When you and your spouse can agree on issues over asset and debt division, child custody and visitation, and child support, the likelihood of both parties adhering to the arrangement is much greater.

Contact Us For Experienced Counsel

The area of divorce and family law is sensitive and complicated by nature. Considering the fact that your family and your assets are vulnerable during divorce proceedings, it's imperative that you choose a legal representative with years of experience and an excellent reputation in the legal community.

With the Law Office of James A. Jackson, you cannot go wrong. Mr. Jackson has nearly 30 years of experience serving the Coachella Valley in divorce and family law matters. He understands how to protect his clients and advocate on behalf of their best interests from start to finish. Call the Law Office of James A. Jackson at 760-340-4545 to schedule a one-on-one consultation with an attorney you can trust with your future. You may also contact us online.