California Divorce and Family Law Attorneys

Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP

4740 Folsom Boulevard
Sacramento, California 95819
USA

(916) 455-5200 or (866) 860-2447

(916) 455-6300

www.divorcepage.com

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Law Firm Overview

Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP is a Sacramento family law and divorce law firm. Our firm understands that your case is the only one that matters, and you need us to get things right the first time. Our attorneys, some of whom are Certified Family Law Specialists, offer over 65 combined years of experience in California family law.

We offer a combination of over 65 years of experience in the legal field with expertise in the areas of legal and tax aspects of divorce, mediation services, child custody and support issues. Our firm is a smaller family law firm by choice, and operates efficiently and effectively on behalf of California families in Sacramento County. We also offer collaborative practice and mediation services for families in Sacramento, Placer and Yolo Counties.

Our practice of law is exclusively limited to family law matters. We stay current with California family law matters through ongoing continuing education and by maintaining memberships in several professional legal organizations, including; American Bar Association; State Bar of California; American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; and Sacramento County Bar Association.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Divorce Taxation; Domestic Partnership Law; Annulments; Modification of Custody And Visitation Orders; Out of State Custody; Restraining Orders

Practice Areas Description

Our practice includes:

- Divorce and Dissolution

Divorce or “dissolution of marriage” as it is known in California, is a term used to describe the legal termination of two parties' lawful marriage. Besides dissolving a marriage, the court will divide property, make orders regarding child custody and visitation, and determine child and spousal support. California is a no fault state, which means that either party may obtain a divorce solely on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. We have helped thousands of people dissolve their marriages. Some of our attorneys are Certified Family Law Specialists with a special understanding of collaborative law and mediation law, if you choose to consider those methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

- Child Custody and Visitation

There are two parts to custody of children in California: legal and physical. Legal custody refers to the decision-making right and responsibility regarding substantive issues like education, religion, and non-emergency medical care. Physical custody refers to the actual care and control of the children-where the child is, and who that child is with and for what periods of time. Legal and physical custody can be sole or joint. The best interests of the child or children are the primary factors in determining the parties' custody arrangement. Our firm handles the following aspects of child custody law: Joint legal custody / sole legal custody; Joint or sole physical custody; Visitation rights; Child support; Paternity law; Modification of support orders; Modification of custody and visitation orders; Out-of-state custody; Move-away cases; and Child custody mediation.

- Spousal support

Spousal support, as it is known in California, and referred to as alimony by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and a number of other states, is ordered to be paid by one spouse to another under a number of circumstances. Temporary spousal support is generally determined by each county's support guidelines. Our attorneys have extensive experience handling alimony claims. The amount and duration of long-term or post-judgment spousal support is determined by a lot of factors, let our expertise fight on your behalf for the settlement you deserve,

- Child support

California law provides that both parents have a general obligation to support their minor children, both natural and adopted, whether or not the parents were married. Child support can be requested by one party from the other through an action for dissolution, legal separation, nullity, paternity or a domestic violence action. In general terms, child support is based upon the incomes of both parties, which parent has custody and how much time the non-custodial parent has with the child or children. We are a team of highly skilled child support lawyers who are eager to help you in this battle.

- Paternity

In the State of California, the law provides that a parent, whether married or unmarried, shall have frequent and continuing contact with his or her child or children. A court may make a determination of custody and visitation in divorce, legal separation or nullity, paternity cases, and those involving domestic violence. A parent, whether married or unmarried, also has the responsibility to support his or her children. The payment of child support however, is not a condition precedent to enjoying parenting time with your child or children. If you need to understand the in and out of your paternity case, our attorneys are happy to help.

- Domestic violence and restraining orders

As family law lawyers with over 65 years of combined experience, we understand that domestic violence frequently becomes an issue as relationships come to an end. We represent people who find it necessary to have a restraining order placed on an intimate partner or family member for reasons of personal safety. Our professional family law attorneys have helped hundreds of clients make sure they remain safe at any point in their troubled relationships, and often before, during, and after a divorce or partnership termination. Being threatened with physical or emotional violence is serious, and we help our clients by seeking necessary legal and physical protection from domestic violence. If you need to pursue a restraining order, or if you need to defend against one, our lawyers can help.

- Judgment modifications

A modification is a change of an existing order. A party who wants to modify a court order must follow the same rules as in the initial action. The first step would be to file a motion with the court asking for the change. It is the burden of the party bringing the motion to demonstrate a change in circumstances that would justify the requested modification.

- Premarital agreements

There is a common belief in our society that only the wealthy can benefit from a premarital agreement; that is not true. Homeowners, single parents, business owners, grandparents and professionals are just a few who could benefit from a premarital agreement. Even individuals who are just starting out in life may choose to enter into a premarital agreement. This is a very serious matter. You should not sign the agreement on a whim or out of fear that the wedding will be postponed. Our family attorneys can walk you through your premarital agreement.

- Legal separation

Another type of action, separate from dissolution, is a legal separation. A legal separation greatly resembles an action for divorce except that the parties are not free to remarry. One major advantage of filing a legal separation action is that, unlike dissolution, there are no residency requirements. A legal separation is not to be confused with the date of separation as explained earlier in "Facts About Divorce." In California, a person does not have to obtain a "legal separation" before filing a divorce.

- Annulment

A Nullity Judgment restores the parties to the status of unmarried persons and results in the parties being free to remarry immediately. While a divorce dissolves the existing marriage, a nullity judgment erases the marriage and its implications from the onset, as though the parties had never married. Most people believe that time is a factor in obtaining an annulment. That is not necessarily the case. It is true, for most of the conditions; an action must be filed within four years of the discovery of, for example, the facts constituting fraud. Also unknown to most people is that, even though a Judgment of Nullity voids the marriage, you may be able to obtain support, a division of property and restraining orders. Children do not necessarily bar a party from obtaining a Judgment of Nullity.

- Registered domestic partnerships

If you and your registered domestic partner are considering terminating your legal partnership, we offer cutting-edge family law services. We are committed to remaining on the legal forefront of California domestic partnership law. Some of our family law attorneys are Certified Family Law Specialists and some serve as Judge Pro Tem in family law court. Our domestic partnership law extends to: Partnership terminations; Dividing property; Mediation services; Collaborative practice; Domestic violence and restraining orders; Paternity; Modification of orders; Prepartnership agreements; Domestic partner registration law; and Domestic partner adoption.

- Collaborative family law

In family law matters, a new process, known as collaborative practice, exists where a divorcing couples, together with trained professionals – attorneys, child specialists, divorce coaches, and financial specialists – works as a team to resolve disputes respectfully and without going to court. The California family law attorneys of Bartholomew & Wasznicky LLP have decades of family law experience, and have found collaborative practice an extremely successful appropriate alternative divorce process for many clients. Resolving differences without court litigation can help you start over without so much of the bitterness that comes from a more adversary process. It can be easier to live with a divorce settlement that you negotiated respectfully, rather than having one imposed by court order.

- Divorce mediation

provide quality California family law and professional divorce mediation services as an appropriate alternative to a contentious court battle over marital property, spousal support, and child custody issues. In divorce mediation, the two parties agree to mediate a final settlement out of court with the assistance of a disinterested third-party mediator. Our California family law attorneys are recognized throughout the Sacramento region as experienced, effective mediation professionals who understand that a court-imposed divorce decree often leads to further litigation – and legal costs – further down the road. Let us help you negotiate a mediated settlement that makes sense for all parties in your divorce dispute. Divorce mediation is a cost-effective way of starting your new life without looking over your shoulder.