Compassionate And Experienced Silicon Valley Divorce Attorneys

Divorce is hard, especially for families with children. At Silicon Valley Law Offices, we understand this and aim to help you through it. Our experienced divorce lawyers know family law well and try to avoid court whenever possible.

Contact us online or call 650-546-7595 to set up an appointment. We handle a wide variety of issues, such as:

• Divorce, legal separation and dissolution of marriage
• Annulment
• Division of marital assets and debts
• Spousal support (“alimony“)
• Initial child custody and visitation arrangements
• Child support determinations
• Domestic violence restraining orders
• Handling divorce through mediation

Many of the cases we handle involve people with substantial assets. We have experts like family law accountants available to properly valuate and categorize these assets so they can be divided fairly and appropriately.

We serve people throughout Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. Our main office is in Mountain View and we have an appointment-only office in Los Gatos.

Our Mission

We want to make the divorce process smooth and friendly. Emotions can run high, and sometimes the other side may not be fair. Our goal is to protect you, your assets and what matters most to you. We know how hard divorce can be at times, and we care about providing our services with compassion. We even have a trained therapy dog on staff.

California Divorce Law

California law outlines clear steps to end a marriage. Some people may choose legal separation for reasons like immigration, culture, or health insurance. If one person wants a legal separation, the other can request a divorce, which changes the case to a dissolution of marriage.

Ways To End A Marriage

There are several ways to end a marriage:

• Contested divorce: When couples can’t agree and need help with asset division, support or custody.
• No-fault divorce: When both agree on asset division, support and custody without blaming each other.
• Annulment: If the marriage lasted less than three months or involved fraud.

Our Approach

Our attorneys know all these scenarios well. We are here to meet with you, understand your case and discuss the best options. We aim to give you personalized advice and legal representation.

Annulment

Sometimes, you might want to consider an annulment instead of a divorce. An annulment, also known as “nullity of marriage,” means that legally, your marriage never existed. Unlike a divorce, where you have to wait six months after filing, an annulment is effective immediately once granted, making you legally single right away.

Grounds For Annulment

To get an annulment, your marriage must meet certain criteria, and you need to prove this to the judge. Here are the grounds for annulment in California:

1. Underage marriage: If either you or your spouse was under 18 at the time of marriage, you can file for annulment within four years after turning 18.
2. Bigamy: If one spouse was already married to someone else, you can file for annulment anytime, as long as the first spouse is still alive.
3. Unsound mind: If one spouse was mentally ill at the time of marriage, you can file as long as both spouses are alive and you can prove the illness.
4. Physical incapacity: If one spouse can’t physically consummate the marriage, you can file within four years of the marriage.
5. Fraud: If one spouse was deceived, you can file within four years of discovering the fraud.
6. Coercion: If one spouse was forced into the marriage, you can file within four years of the marriage.
7. Blood relation: If the spouses are closely related by blood, you can file for annulment.

Annulments can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to get legal advice. Our legal team can help you figure out if your marriage qualifies for an annulment and how to prove it to the court.

The Effect Of An Annulment

Keep in mind that an annulment cancels the marriage completely, which can have serious consequences. For example, community property laws won’t apply, so you and your ex will have to divide your assets on your own. You will also lose any marital benefits like insurance or spousal support. Because of this, it’s important to have a detailed legal consultation to understand the risks and benefits of an annulment versus other types of dissolution. We can help you decide the course of action best suited to your situation.

Contact Us Today For A Consultation

If you are considering a divorce or an annulment, we are here to help. Contact Silicon Valley Law Offices at 650-546-7595 or via email to schedule a consultation. Let us guide you through the legal process while protecting your rights, assets and family well-being.