Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP
At Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP, we are committed to helping families in Orange County avoid unnecessary conflict and settle disputes in ways that are constructive, healthy, and beneficial to every party involved.
Our Orange County family law attorneys understand that every legal issue – whether a divorce, child custody dispute, paternity suit, or anything in between – is highly complex and unique. We promise our unwavering support through the process.
Wilkinson & Finkbeiner attorneys are experienced in every type of family law. No matter how rare your situation, we have likely seen it before. Some of our areas of expertise include:
Divorce. Our Orange County divorce attorneys understand that marriages come to an end for a variety of different reasons. We will take the time to explain your rights and obligations, as well as what you can reasonably expect. Whether your case involves a contested divorce, uncontested divorce, annulment, dissolution of a domestic partnership, or legal separation, we are committed to helping you achieve your desired results.
Child support. Divorces are usually more complicated when young kids are involved, and a priority is making sure children receive adequate child support payments. Our Orange County child support attorneys work to ensure the financial figure is fair to you, your ex-spouse, and your children. We do this through access to the same Dissomaster® program the California courts use.
Child custody. Divorces become problematic if your ex-spouse is unwilling to relent on certain issues. One area that often causes stress and tribulation is child custody. At Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, our child custody lawyers in Orange County understand the responsibility that comes with caring for children. We work hard to make sure your kids are cared for and your wishes are fulfilled.
Division of marital property. When divorce begins, you may quickly realize it is more complicated than simply signing papers and entering the next phase of your life. It also involves the division of property and assets – which is often confusing and quarrelsome. The division of marital property typically requires legal expertise to interpret contracts and ownership. Our Orange County family law attorneys are skilled and experienced at accurately and efficiently settling these disputes.
Pre/post nuptial agreements. Whether you and your spouse foresee trouble down the road or merely want to be cautious, prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements are a wise idea. We can help write, facilitate, and oversee the process of signing these documents and are fully prepared to answer any questions.
Paternity suits. Uncertain of your child’s paternity? A paternity suit can be an effective way to settle this dispute when other parties are not willing to conduct tests on their own. By filing a paternity action, the court can force both sides to conduct non-invasive tests. The results of these tests can determine things such as child custody and support.
At Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, we take pride in our unrelenting yet compassionate approach to family law. We believe in representing and supporting our clients through difficult times by helping them achieve their desired results. Much of our success is rooted in our promise to deliver positive verdicts through high quality, aggressive work.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today. As a successful, cost-effective family law solution in Orange County, at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner our Orange County divorce attorneys have earned a reputation for achieving positive results. We relish the opportunity to prove it. From our family to yours, you can expect care throughout this difficult and straining process.
Just as no two marriages are the same, all divorces are unique. We have handled countless cases and have negotiated and litigated nearly every issue imaginable in family law matters. While each divorce is different, bringing unique personalities and separate issues, most if not all of the issues will have some resemblance to issues our office has handled in the past. Let our office experience help you meet your goals in your divorce case. Some of the different types of divorces we see on a regular basis include the following:
Contested divorces. Every divorce involves several major issues: division of property, division of debt, spousal support, custody of children, and child support. There are other issues to work through, but these are the major ones. When these issues cannot be settled on their own, they must be resolved in court. While it can be tempting to handle the details on your own, you will have a much better chance of obtaining a favorable outcome when you partner with an experienced divorce attorney. Most if not every time a “pro per” litigant attempts to handle a case on their own, disastrous results occur. This is because the court is obligated to hold self-represented litigants to the standard of an attorney. They must know all the rules and can find it difficult to prepare the correct paperwork, provide the right format for evidence, and understand the legal language used by the opposing counsel and the judge. Additionally, with the right help divorcing litigants can help assure their case is done correctly, which will ultimately save thousands of dollars.
We’ve been through every situation imaginable and we will guide you through the process. Uncontested divorces. Even when a divorce is uncontested, it is necessary to use a skilled attorney to navigate the legal process of paperwork and filings. Miscues and gaffes on the front end of a divorce can cause trouble down the road. An experienced Orange County divorce attorney will help you avoid these mistakes. Our office often provides a wide range of representation options, and we have an option for every budget.
Annulments. Annulments occur when the court determines a marriage or domestic partnership is not legally valid or binding. This may be the result of (1) force, fraud, or incapacity; (2) a situation where one of the spouses/partners wasn’t old enough to legally marry; (3) one of the spouses/partners was already married; or (4) the marriage or partnership is incestuous or bigamous. Annulments are actually quite rare, but not unheard of. When these situations arise, they are typically very complicated and require considerable legal experience.
Dissolution of domestic partnerships. Much like marriages, domestic partnerships can come to an end. These situations are called dissolution matters also and require the same legal experience as divorces. The process, procedure and law is nearly identical to divorce matters and is handled by our Orange County domestic partnership attorneys.
Legal separations. When divorce isn’t desirable, but there is a need to live apart and “legally” separate from each other, a legal separation is the best solution. A legal separation keeps your marriage intact but helps decide how money, property, and other assets will be distributed. After filing for a legal separation, the judge can order child support, spousal/partner support, custody orders, restraining orders, and other necessary elements in the case.
The rates of divorce in California are some of the highest in the country. But what about Orange County specifically? According to the last U.S. Census data, here are the percentages from 2009 to 2016:
We will give you a complimentary case outlook and let you know what can reasonably be expected and how we suggest proceeding. You can reach our Orange County family lawyers at (949) 955-9155.
