Services

The most commonly asked questions involve what I do and what I charge. I primarily handle uncontested divorces and most family law cases. I also handle child custody, visitation, support, legal guardianship, name changes and Small Claims cases.

Divorce related fees

A divorce will run somewhere between $400 to $500 plus court costs. The court filing fee is $355 unless you are low income and qualify for a waiver. There are other fees involved such as a $40 fee to attend a mandatory co-parenting workshop if your case involves children. You might need to hire someone to serve the papers for you. These fees are all approximate, and it is best to contact me for more details. For me to handle a typical uncontested divorce will usually cost less than $1,000 including my fee, the court fee and other fees. Some cases cost more because the other party has to pay a filing fee. This often happens in cases where there is a retirement pension to be divided, most likely a government pension such as PERS. These cases can cost significantly more because in addition to another $355 filing fee, there are additional fees. Each case is different, so contact me to discuss the specifics.

Guardianships are $450 plus a reduced court filing fee of $205 in most cases. There are occasional additional fees such as having the parents of the child(ren) served if necessary. Guardianships are often filed by grandparents to obtain custody of their grandchildren when the parents are unable to care for the children.

Child custody cases that are not related to a divorce are slightly different. These cases vary. The fee is the same as a divorce except that some cases cost less such as a modification of child custody that is agreed to by the parties. Other cases involve simple motions for one issue or another.

Child support cases vary depending on what is required. Some involve filing fees, and some do not. Call me for more details. Child support cases are usually less than divorces. Some do not require filing fees.

In all of the above cases, it is best to call me and discuss the specifics, so I can give you an accurate quote on the price. According to California law, when you hire me I must have you sign a standard contract that spells out the limitations of my services and the fees that I charge. This protects you, the client, because you will know what the fees are. I rarely charge by the hour, and when I do, I put a cap on the fee, so you know what the maximum fee will be. If a case becomes more time-consuming and complex than originally thought, you must approve, in writing, any additional fees.

Bankruptcy

I no longer prepare Bankruptcy petitions. I can refer you to someone who does as well as attorneys who do. Call me, and I can go over it with you.

Process Serving and Court Filing

If you need a process server to serve a summons, order to show cause, small claims or other papers, contact Laurie with As Quick As A Wink Process Server. She can also be reached by phone at (831) 383-2344. I have been using her for over two years for all of my process serving needs. She also handles court filings at the Monterey Courthouse. She is available for court file research in case you need a document copied from a file. Contact her about rates and turnaround time.