Sacramento & Folsom Full Service & Family Law Firm

Law Offices of Bowman & Associates, APC

1837 Iron Point Road
Suite 160
Folsom, California 95630
USA

(916) 985-2600 or (877) 923-2877

bowmanandassoc.com

Contact Robert Bowman Jr.

Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

At Bowman & Associates, our experienced lawyers help clients across Northern California with divorce & family law, wrongful termination & employment law, car accidents & personal injury, DUI & criminal defense, foreclosure & bankruptcy, immigration law, debt collection, estate planning, real estate law, construction law and more - from our offices in Sacramento and Folsom.

Our attorneys are as diverse as Sacramento itself they range in background & experience, all highly skilled in their concentration areas. Owner, and lead family law and employment law counsel Robert Bowman Jr. has a Master's Degree in Organizational Management and is also a professor of employment law at the University of Phoenix. Criminal defense lawyer David P. Foos is a former California Superior Court Commissioner, Sacramento traffic court judge, public defender, and Legal Aid lawyer who has returned to the practice of law after nearly two decades on the bench.

At the Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC, we pride ourselves in continually striving for the same basic goals:

• help you with your legal problems in a caring and respectful manner.
• keep you apprised of the progress of your case every step of the way.
• be aggressive advocates that will advance your case to receive a positive resolution.
• provide superior value for your legal investment.
• continue to grow our firm and help grow your business or lifestyle interests in kind.
• retain and expand our numerous contacts in the Court system.

Year this Office was Established: 2009

Languages: English, Spanish

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Wages, Hours & Overtime; Unemployment Compensation; Retaliation; Gang-Related Crimes; Internet Crimes; Debt Collection; Consumer Protection; Eviction; Nuisance Law; Mortgage Fraud.

Practice Areas Description

Our practice areas include:

- Family Law

Our Family Law team is led by Robert Bowman himself, an experienced and aggressive lawyer. Mr. Bowman will fight for your rights as a parent. Also on our team is Kara Keister, an aggressive advocate. We offer a free consultation and reasonable rates for you during this difficult time.

• Divorce

Divorce is one aspect of family law where almost everyone needs a family law attorney. Very few people ever “want” a divorce, although that’s often what is said by one spouse to the other. Circumstances may make a person feel they have little choice but to obtain a divorce if they want to change their life or the lives of their children for the better. Consultation with a Sacramento Divorce Lawyer can help you decide whether or not divorce is the best decision for your family.

• Child Custody

Your children are our first priority! At the Sacramento Law Office of Bowman and Associates, APC, we work with you to protect them and to ensure that their needs remain at the forefront of your Northern California child custody case.

• Child Support

At the Law Office of Bowman and Associates, APC., we help minimize the emotion and worry many parents have about child support agreements and orders. We help our clients understand the reasons behind the child support laws, and how courts try their best to be equitable.

• Dissolution

Family law challenges like property division and determination of spousal support provide their own special emotional moments for a couple mired in a difficult divorce action. At The Law Office of Bowman and Associates, APC, we help you approach the business side of divorce in a businesslike and non-confrontational manner wherever possible. Our marital dissolution lawyers’ goal is to focus on the key issues to be resolved, to keep the personalities out of the process, and to try to assist clients in not allowing the divorce to take on a life of its own.

• Prenuptial Agreements

A lawyer at The Law Offices of Bowman and Associates, APC can help you create an agreement that fully addresses all of your concerns and that will work for you in the future, should the need arise. While we wouldn’t draft a prenup with the intention that your marriage will end, it is often a good insurance policy, so to speak, in case anything does come up.

• Legal Separation

For some couples, filing for legal separation instead of divorce is the preferred option. Unlike a divorce, a legal separation does not end the marriage. It does, however, allow a husband and wife to legally separate and settle certain matters, such as child custody, child support, spousal support, child visitation, and division of property issues, as if they were getting a divorce. The Law Office of Bowman and Associates, APC., will work with you to make decisions that will allow you to feel satisfied with the terms of your separation agreement.

• Spousal Support

Alimony awards are based upon many different variables:

. The receiving spouse’s education, health, work history, and earning potential;
. The length of the marriage;
. The paying spouse’s income, earning potential, and health;
. The existence and enforceability of a prenuptial agreement;
. The marital standard of living.

The spousal support attorneys of Bowman & Associates have helped clients across Northern California.

• Child Support Modification

In child support cases, you need to show a substantial change in your circumstances in order to increase or reduce your payments. Our Sacramento Child Support Modification Attorneys have had success helping clients looking to modify their child support when new circumstances arise, including:

. New obligations to support a child from a different marriage or relationship;
. Change in the amount of visitation time a noncustodial parent spends with the supported child or children;
. Change in the medical or educational circumstances of the supported child;
. Significant change in the receiving spouse’s income;
. Involuntary loss of employment by the paying spouse;
. Your children have been moved out of the jurisdiction and your parenting time has been greatly affected;
. Your child has moved in with the non-custodial parent and the original percentage of parenting time has been greatly affected;
. A child has special educational or religious needs, agreed to by both parents;
. Special health care considerations of the child;
. An increase or decrease in income of either party, if the child’s welfare will be affected.

- Employment Law

As the employment relation between employers and employees develops, each of the parties has duties related to the relationship. Employees have rights based upon several theories under the law. An employer may not single out and treat an employee differently based upon a protected characteristic; such as race, religion, color, national origin, disability and several other legally protected characteristics.

• Discrimination

The Law Office of Bowman & Associates helps clients who have been discriminated against on the basis of their race, age, religion, national origin, gender, or pregnancy status. Generally, it is illegal to treat a worker different or not offer them work based on these protected categories:

. Age Discrimination
. Disability Discrimination
. National Origin Discrimination
. Pregnancy Discrimination
. Racial Discrimination
. Religious Discrimination

• Wrongful Termination

Employees may not be terminated because they exercised a right granted to them by a state or federal statute or certain administrative regulations. Many activities are protected, employees must not be terminated for participating in such activities, including but not limited to: jury duty, political activity, refusal to authorize disclosure of medical information, voluntary participation in alcohol or drug rehabilitation programs, having wages garnished, refusing to patronize employer and time off for domestic violence.

• Wages, Hours & Overtime

Federal wage, hour, and overtime laws are regulated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). In addition, most states have similar wage and hour laws governing overtime. Non-exempt employees should be paid at least 1 1/2 times their hour salary for overtime hours worked. Overtime hours can include working more than 40 hours in one week or more than 8 hours in one day. Unfortunately, in some instances, company greed or ignorance prevent you from receiving your entitled overtime pay. The following are guidelines to help you determine if you are not being fully compensated for your overtime work:

. You are requested or demanded to work “off the clock”
. Your time sheet is altered to reflect no overtime, even though you worked overtime
. You are automatically clocked out for breaks and lunch, whether you take them or not
. You are denied overtime because it was not approved in advance by your manager or supervisor
. You are paid your hourly wage for overtime
. You are told to put your hours down on the following week or granted comp time for your overtime hours
. You are not paid for getting ready for work or for cleaning up your work space after work, even though both may be a requirement
. You are paid less than a minimum wage
. You are denied breaks or meal time even though you are entitled to them

• Unemployment Compensation

California’s Unemployment Compensation law provides benefits for most employees who are terminated from their employment. Unemployment Compensation benefits can be denied only in limited circumstances such as when the employee is terminated for actual ‘misconduct’ as narrowly defined by the statute or where the employee voluntarily quits work without good cause attributable to the employer. Employees who file for Unemployment Compensation benefits and are denied their claims can appeal the decision.

• Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of gender based discrimination, actions taken against a person based upon their gender. California employers of one or more employees are required to take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent harassment from occurring in the workplace. Sexual harassment typically falls into two categories, “quid pro quo” which makes a condition of job continuance, benefits, promotions, etc. on receipt of sexual favors; and “hostile environment” where the unwelcome sexual comments, touching, and or visual displays of a supervisor or coworker create an environment poisoned by the harassment. Employers are required to have a policy and to post and distribute information relating to the illegality of sexual harassment.

• Employee Retaliation

Retaliation is an act by an employer, either economically tangible or more subtle, in an attempt to have an adverse affect on an employee who has objected to sexual harassment, discrimination, or other illegal activity. Retaliation may also occur where a woman has taken leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act. One type of retaliation is where the victim can show a tangible adverse employment action including wrongful termination, a pay-cut, or another demonstrable act that caused economic injury or significantly altered the terms and conditions of the employment relationship.

- Bankruptcy

The attorneys and staff at Bowman & Associates are here to help guide you through the complex and daunting task of filing for Bankruptcy. The typical bankruptcy filer is a person already in fragile economic circumstances, often with large amounts of credit card debt, who then suddenly faces a spate of hard luck (loss of job, injury, divorce, uninsured medical expenses), resulting in mounting penalties and an unpayable amount of debt.

- Criminal Defense

It is a serious matter when you or a loved one are charged with a crime or are facing a suspension of your driver’s license. Our criminal defense team stands ready to help you achieve the best possible result in your matter. Our team is led by Sacramento Criminal Law Lawyer David P. Foos, a retired Judicial Officer from the Sacramento Superior Court. Commissioner Foos has a wealth of experience in criminal and traffic matters having heard thousands of criminal and traffic cases over his career. In addition, Commissioner Foos served as a Deputy Public Defender for eight years before taking the bench, and defended the accused in every area of criminal and traffic charges. Our team will help you through your troubled time.

• DUI – DWI

If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a DUI it is a very serious matter. We strongly recommend getting a lawyer on your side as soon as possible. There are certain steps that you must take immediately to protect your rights. The sooner that we get on your case the sooner that we can begin fighting for you. Being arrested and charged with Driving Under the Influence is a serious offense.

• Traffic Offenses

At our office, we handle all misdemeanors and felonies related to or arising out of traffic violations, including:

. Speeding tickets
. Reckless driving citations
. Hit and run charges
. Driving with a suspended or revoked license
. Running a stop sign

• Record Expungement

A mistake in your past should not follow you for the rest of your life. If you were convicted of a misdemeanor or felony it may cause you to miss out on job opportunities, loans or licenses. Depending on the circumstances you can expunge your record, even reducing felonies to misdemeanors. Don’t let your past control your future, call the law firm of Bowman & Associates, APC in Sacramento for a Free Consultation to discuss cleaning up your record and moving on to a productive future.

• Domestic Violence

If you have been arrested for spousal abuse or another charge that is related to domestic violence, including making criminal threats to your spouse or partner, battery, assault, damaging the phone lines of your spouse or partner, making threatening phone calls, or intimidating a victim or witness, you must call a criminal defense lawyer who has the experience to defend you. Frequently, domestic violence charges can be lowered or dismissed so that you don’t have to serve any jail time.

• Burglary & Theft

In many cases of burglary, the key issue is intent. The Law Offices of Bowman & Associates, APC has significant experience in understanding the complexity of the criminal law code in California, its interpretations, and its application as it involves burglary.

If you are accused a petty theft you can serve up to six months in County jail. However, if it is a first offense an experience attorney may be able to get you a diversion program. If you are accused of grand theft you can serve up to three years in prison. A well-trained attorney may be able to get your charges reduced or if you are not guilty fight your case successfully in Court.

• White Collar Crimes

White collar crime cases can involve a few thousand dollars up to several million dollars. No matter what the dollar amount, fraud, embezzlement, or theft charges can change a life forever. Even the suspicion of guilt can limit career and education opportunities. If you are under suspicion or if you have been arrested, you need the help and guidance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

• Drug Crimes

We have experience defending clients against drug charges involving:

. Marijuana: growing operations, possession or intent to sell
. Cocaine
. Methamphetamines
. Ecstasy (MDMA)
. Drug conspiracy charges (cases involving wiretaps, confidential informants)
. Drug distribution
. Drug possession with intent to sell
. Prescription drugs
. Gang activity and weapons charges
. Drug transportation

• Gang-Related Crimes

If you have been charged with any type of crime and the prosecutor’s office has added a gang affiliation enhancement, it is critically important to get early assistance from a knowledgeable and aggressive criminal defense lawyer. Your attorney will conduct an independent investigation into the incident that led to your arrest. Your lawyer will also want to get detailed information about your background, your friends and associates and other information that will help argue against the gang crime enhancement.

• Internet Crimes

We defend people accused of all types of Internet crimes, including:

. Identity theft
. Internet fraud
. Illegal re-distribution of software and entertainment
. Copyright violations
. Internet solicitation of a minor
. Child pornography
. And other Internet crimes

- Debt

• Debt Collection

If you are being hounded by a collection agency or an unscrupulous law firm we can help you resolve your debt collection matter. Our defense team will stop the creditors from harassing you and will help favorably resolve your matter, often at a substantial discount from the original debt. Our Debt Collection team is led by Retired Commissioner David P. Foos who heard thousands of these cases while serving sixteen years as a judicial officer with the Sacramento Superior Court and includes our other experienced and aggressive attorneys. We offer a free consultation and reasonable rates to help you with your matter.

• Debt Relief

You may have heard about debt relief, also known as debt settlement and debt negotiation. The attorneys at Bowman and Associates can help negotiate with your creditors for you to reduce the total amount of debt that you must pay off. Let the Northern California Debt Relief Attorneys at Bowman and Associates stop creditors from harassing you and help resolve your matter, often at a substantial discount from the original debt.

- Personal Injury

The personal injury attorneys of Bowman & Associates are committed to providing their clients with prompt, professional, and courteous representation. We have a long track record of success in obtaining full and fair compensation for our clients, including payment of medical bills, lost wages, future lost wages, and pain and suffering. We will explain the legal process to you in terms of procedure, time, costs and the value of your case so you can become actively involved.

• Car Accidents

The Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC, represents clients who have suffered personal injuries or property damage in automobile, motorcycle, truck, or bus accidents. Such motor vehicle accidents include those involving drunk or hit and run drivers, uninsured or underinsured drivers, as well as accidents occurring from motor vehicle, SUV and semi-tractor trailer collisions and rollovers.

• Construction Accidents

After a construction accident, we understand that you are worried about your injuries and medical care, how to get medical bills paid, and how to replace your lost income. If your husband, wife, father or mother was killed, your grief can overshadow all else. At the same time, you want and deserve to know how and why your family member died on the job at the construction site and you may have a Wrongful Death claim. We will use our best efforts to get you those answers.

• Motorcycle Accidents

If you or a loved one has suffered serious physical injuries following a motorcycle accident in California, please contact The Law Office of Bowman & Associates immediately. Our Sacramento motorcycle accident injury lawyers have been successfully representing motorcycle and auto accident victims for years, recovering for them the monetary compensation that they deserve. You may be entitled to monetary damages for accident related injuries, as well as compensation for medical expenses, bike repair, and other accident related costs.

• Slip & Fall

Injuries that occur on another person’s property are far too common. These may include slips, trips or falls, inadequate security, lead poisoning, construction, farms, swimming pools, fires, explosions, exposure to hazardous materials, athletics, animal bites, and workplace injuries. Often, such injuries are caused by the negligence of another person. If you have been injured while on another person’s property, you may be able to file a claim against the property or manager if negligence resulted in your accident. Consult an experienced, aggressive Sacramento County premises liability lawyer or slip and fall attorney at The Law Office of Bowman & Associates immediately for a case evaluation.

• Wrongful Death

Our firm provides expert wrongful death legal services to families who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another. If you are the spouse or a family member who has lost a loved one as a result of another’s negligence, there are few words to comfort you at this most difficult time. There are always many issues and family needs after a death. Bowman & Associates in Sacramento has personal family experience with this area of law. These are very trying times for families mourning the loss of a loved one. Bowman & Associates and our staff take special care to ensure that families and loved ones receive fair and just compensation for their losses.

- Estate Planning

A proper estate plan is the best way to avoid probate, minimize estate taxes, plan for incapacity, and manage assets for minors and young adults. A complete estate plan includes a Trust, Pour-Over Will, Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Management, and Advanced Healthcare Directive. Contact the Law Office of Bowman & Associates today to create a tailored estate plan that meets your needs and provides peace of mind. We offer a free consultation to discuss your estate planning needs.

• Trusts

Under California law, even with a will, if a person dies holding title to over $100,000.00 in assets, the estate must be probated. A living trust avoids the time and expense of probate. Probate takes at least seven months to complete and probate fees are based on a percentage of the gross value of the decedent’s estate. A trust can also avoid the need for a conservator ship which can be restrictive, time-consuming and costly. In order for your trust to be effective, your assets are placed in the name of the trust. Contact the Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC so we can assist you with this important transfer process.

• Wills

Although a will must be probated, it is an effective means of ensuring that your property is distributed to the people you desire to benefit. If you do not have a will, your estate will be distributed as required by the California Probate Code. A simple will can dictate how your assets are distributed and can be used to designate legal guardians for dependents. These are decisions that you, not the courts, should make.

• Probate

The process of reviewing your will and estate by the court is called Probate. The court will review the will to see whether it is authentic and consistent with state law. The courts will also make sure that all debts are settled, and that all taxes are paid. Once the will is validated and the personal representative can satisfy the courts that all claims have been paid, then he or she is free to pay out the balance of the estate to the beneficiaries in the will. Typically, the probate process takes from six months to a year. Heirs will not get their inheritance until the process is complete. There are also rules the court follows on who gets your assets when there is no valid will. These rules are called the Laws of Intestacy. Generally, your spouse will get your probate estate outright, or share it with your children from a prior marriage. If there were no surviving spouse or children, your estate would be distributed to other family members, and if no family members then to the State where the property is located.

- Construction Law

Whether you are planning to build a new structure or improve an exiting one, there are important steps you must take. Call our office to find out how to navigate the process and how to accomplish your goals correctly the first time. As any contractor will tell you, measure twice, cut once. Contact the Law Office of Bowman and Associates, APC today so we can help you with your Construction Law matters.

- Consumer Protection

If you have been taken advantage of by an unscrupulous auto dealer, merchant, home improvement contractor or the like, our consumer protection attorneys can help resolve your problem. Our Consumer Protection legal team is led by Retired Commissioner David P. Foos who heard thousands of consumer disputes while serving as a Small Claims Judicial Officer with the Sacramento Superior Court for sixteen years. All of our aggressive attorneys are experienced in helping consumers resolve their problems. Our team has been very successful in achieving positive results for our clients and getting them high monetary awards or when desired, cancellation of their contracts. We offer a free consultation and reasonable rates and stand ready to serve you. Please contact us so that we can help you.

- Contracts & Disputes

When a dispute occurs over a contract, resolution of the dispute must involve an analysis of the contract and the impact the dispute may have. This analysis includes how the contract was formed, what are the terms and conditions of the contract, what specific law applies to this contract and lastly was there a breach of the contract. Based upon the nature of the breach, each of the parties to the contract has rights and responsibilities. The Sacramento Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC can assist you in determining what your rights and responsibilities are in relation to the contract dispute, and then take action to protect your rights. Management of responsibilities and mitigation of damages are also essential functions that our office can assist in helping you in your contract dispute. Please contact us so that we can help you.

- Business Litigation

Whether your business is a sole proprietorship, a partnership, an LLC or a corporation, sometimes disagreements occur which can involve any of the stakeholders of the company. A business dispute may involve contractual issues, but could also involve the rights and responsibilities of the owners related to each other. Further, as a shareholder of a corporation or a member of an LLC, you have rights to access financial information of the company and to address any gross mismanagement of the company. As a director of a company, you have rights and responsibilities, to the company, to the other directors and to the shareholders of the company. In today’s complex business environment, assessment of business risk is critical to the ongoing success of a company. The Sacramento Law Office of Bowman & Associates are poised and ready to assist you in business litigation related to your relationship with the business.

- Immigration Law

For years, people have immigrated to the United States with the purpose of improving the lives of their families. Today, U.S. immigration issues are complex and typically require a significant amount of time to address adequately. The Law Office of Bowman & Associates, APC is dedicated to helping its clients navigate the difficult rules of immigration law and developing the most efficient strategies for their needs. Whether a case is straightforward or exceedingly complex, our Northern California Law Offices provide extensive consultations in which an immigration lawyer will review your immigration goals, and analyze your eligibility for various programs.

- Real Estate Law

Our real estate law section stands ready to help you resolve problems with landlord-tenant issues, home foreclosures, unscrupulous home repair contractors, mechanic’s liens, and home purchases. Every attorney on our legal team has experience in real estate matters and is ready to assist you in your real-estate related needs. We offer a free consultation. Contact an experienced real estate law attorney in Sacramento today to help in any of your real estate law issues.

• Eviction

Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, our office can help you navigate the process of terminating a rental relationship. Before you make your first move, you simply must know your legal rights. Contact our firm to get advice and representation with respect to evictions, unlawful detainers, and the proper handling of security deposits.

• Nuisance Law

You have a right to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of your property. When others infringe on that right, you may need legal representation to help restore the sanctity of your home. Whether it’s loud music, barking dogs, irresponsible corporations and businesses or other intrusions on your peace and quiet and/or safety, our office is ready to address and eliminate these nuisances.

• Mortgage Fraud

As the housing market evolves, criminals are finding new ways to take advantage of homeowners and investors. If you have been the victim of a mortgage or housing scam, contact our office to discuss your legal rights.

• Real Estate Contracts

The formation of any real estate agreement is an intimidating process. Without legal representation, you could be vulnerable to the attempts by others to take advantage of you. Let our attorneys give you the advice and representation you need to make beneficial contracts and safeguard your rights.