The Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch remains open and dedicated to assisting with your family law needs. Call our office at 818-237-4574 or fill out the form here to schedule a meeting with us.
Contact
Get a Free Consultation 818-237-4574
Knowledgeable, Personal And
Professional Legal Services
For Over 35 Years
The Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch

HOW A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY CAN HELP YOU

When a legal matter affects your family, it can be a difficult and emotional experience. Whether you are going through a divorce or need assistance with another family matter, an experienced lawyer and mediator can help you find a solution to your legal problem so you can move forward.

You need someone you can rely on for sound advice, compassionate support and the skilled representation necessary during this difficult time. My firm Partner Stephanie Rose O’Connor and I, Ronald K. Stitch, represent clients in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties in a wide range of family law matters. We can help you through a legal separation or divorce and can assist with other family law matters like spousal support, child support, child custody disputes, paternity, prenuptial agreements, stepparent adoptions, division of retirement accounts and post-judgment modifications.

Why Hire Ronald K. Stitch, Certified California Family Law Specialist And Knowledgeable Mediator?

As the founder of this firm, I, Ronald K. Stitch, have more than 35 years of legal experience. I have represented thousands of clients in divorce and family law matters. I am certified as a Family Law Specialist by The State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization. Because I want to provide you with experienced and knowledgeable representation, I practice exclusively in divorce and family law matters.

For the first 10 years of my practice, I was a civil litigation attorney. As a result, I have strong negotiation skills and considerable trial experience. I also know from experience the risks and costs of litigation, so I encourage anyone who is facing divorce to consider mediation.

While I’m a family law attorney, I am also an experienced mediator. I believe strongly that family law mediation is a superior option for most individuals who face divorce or other family law disputes.

If mediation is not right for you, I can provide the experienced legal representation you require. Regardless of how you want to handle your family law matter, you will have a strong advocate on your side.

Mediation vs. Divorce: Westlake Village Mediation Attorney Explains Critical Points

What is mediation used for?

Mediation can be helpful when resolving such family law issues as:

  • Divorce
  • Child custody
  • Parenting time
  • Post-divorce disputes

Those are merely a few examples. Consult with an expert at our mediation law firm serving Westlake Village, Los Angeles, and Ventura County to learn if a mediator can assist you with your family law needs.

Mediation can be particularly valuable when you and your spouse are getting a divorce. Consider the following points:

Mediation san save money

There is no official answer to the question “How much does it cost to get a divorce in California?” However, research indicates the average cost of a divorce in the State of California is about $17,500.

Many factors can influence the cost of your divorce. The duration of the process is a particularly noteworthy example.

In general, the more time it takes to finalize a divorce, the more money you will need to spend. This is one of many reasons it is wise to enlist the help of a Westlake Village and Ventura County mediation attorney when ending a marriage.

One of the goals of mediation is to help divorcing spouses come to amicable agreements on contentious matters more quickly and easily than they otherwise might. You could potentially save a lot of money and avoid major frustrations if you allow a mediator to help you and your soon-to-be ex address various disputes that can naturally arise in these circumstances.

Preserving an amicable relationship

Is remaining on generally friendly terms with your spouse despite your marriage ending in divorce among your priorities? There are many potential reasons you may feel this way.

Perhaps you and your spouse have realized that, while you cannot sustain a healthy marriage, you still wish to be friends. Achieving this goal can prove difficult if you end up fighting back and forth over numerous issues when getting a divorce.

Additionally, if you have children, you might want to stay on good terms with your spouse to minimize the stress and pain your kids will experience while your marriage ends.

Again, a mediation attorney can help you and your spouse come together in agreement on key issues instead of allowing emotionally-fraught disputes to be drawn out. Working with one might thus prevent you and your spouse from becoming enemies throughout the divorce process. This will also guard against long-term resentment.

Staying in control

In California, when two spouses getting a divorce are unable to come to an agreement on various issues, often, it falls upon the court to address these issues for them.

Your ability to exercise control in many critical areas of your life, such as how often you may get to see your children, will be extremely limited if a judge takes on the responsibility of making these types of decisions for you and your spouse. Luckily, through the mediation process, you can have more input, improving your chances of arriving at a fair outcome for all parties when your divorce is finalized.

What Types of Family Law Issues Do We Handle in Westlake Village and Ventura County, California?

Divorce and mediation are not the only types of family law cases our firm handles. We can also assist you with such matters as:

  • Modifications to child custody, child support, and spousal support orders
  • Premarital agreement
  • Paternity disputes
  • Stepparent adoption
  • Legal separation
  • Guardianship

How Do I Prepare for a Free Consultation With a Family Law Attorney in California?

Preparing for your initial consultation with a lawyer can help you take full advantage of this first meeting with an attorney. Steps you may take in preparation for your consultation with a Westlake Village family lawyer include the following:

  • Gathering copies of relevant documents, such as court orders, divorce decrees, financial documents, and any other documents that relate to your case
  • Making a list of questions you wish to ask the attorney
  • Writing a description of the nature of your family law issue so that you can fully and accurately describe it without worrying about forgetting to include any important details
  • Arriving at a general idea of what your goals are, while also being willing to consider other options that you may discover through mediation
  • Preparing yourself to be fully honest with your attorney when discussing your case’s details

What Questions Should I Ask a Westlake Village Family Law Attorney During a Consultation?

Along with questions you may have that are specific to your case, questions to consider asking a family law attorney during your initial consultation include the following:
What is your experience handling cases like mine?
Although an attorney may not be able to share specific details about past case’s due to confidentiality issues, you do want the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have experience working with clients who’ve been in your situation.
How do you typically handle cases similar to mine?
A qualified attorney will tailor their strategy to your specific case and goals. That said, they may be able to give you a general idea of potential strategies during a consultation.
What are the potential outcomes of my case?
The best way to learn about realistic potential case outcomes is to discuss this issue with a lawyer during a case review.
How do you keep clients informed about the progress of their case?
You don’t have to stress and worry about the outcome of your case when it is yet to be resolved. Make sure your lawyer will be reasonably available to update you on your case’s progress.

If you need assistance with a family law issue in Westlake Village, Los Angeles, or Ventura County, we at the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch are here to help. Remember, whenever applicable, we offer mediation services, giving you the chance to resolve these matters with minimal conflict.

Schedule A Free Consultation

To schedule a free consultation to discuss how I or my associate Stephanie Rose O’Connor can help you with your family law dispute, please call our team at 818-237-4574 or send us an email. We are located in Westlake Village and we serve clients throughout Ventura County.

Contact us today! Review Us

We Accept Credit Cards

VISA | Master Card | American Express | Discover New York