2015: How Can I Educate Myself About My Pending Divorce, Paternity or Legal Separation Case in San Diego?

In any divorce, paternity or legal separation case in San Diego Superior Court, you need to educate yourself as much as possible. While you may not be a family law attorney, it is your case and you will get the best result if you understand the procedural process as well as the substantive process in the family law case. The reality is that you will always know your case and facts better than anyone else so your participation [or lack of participation] can mean the difference between obtaining your goals and not. While you do not have to read the entire California Family Law Code to educate yourself, it is essential for you to know the law which applies to the issues in your case. While you are a unique individual, as is your spouse and child or children, the law which applies to every case is the same. As such, educating yourself on the issues in your case is very important as to the following issues as they apply to your case since not all will have all issues.

• Child Custody
• Child Visitation
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Division of Assets
• Division of Debts
• Attorney Fee Contributions

There are may resources to help you educate yourself. Some are listed below but many others.

San Diego Superior Court Website: this is an excellent resource and has information and instructions about divorce, paternity and legal separation as well as forms and other very useful information. Click the family button on the link below.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/

The San Diego Law Library is also an excellent resource. There are branches in the court houses in South Bay in Chula Vista, in East County in El Cajon, in North County in Vista and downtown on Front Street but not in the court house.

http://sandiegolawlibrary.org/

The San Diego Family Justice Center can help with limited family law services including temporary restraining orders for victims of domestic violence.

http://www.sandiego.gov/sandiegofamilyjusticecenter/services/

The San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program also can assist with some family law services.

http://www.sdvlp.org/

The Legal Aid Society of San Diego may also be of assistance.

http://www.lassd.org/

You can also educate yourself as family law attorneys do. Below are some resources which San Diego Family Law Attorneys use.

Attorneys Briefcase is a founded by Garret Daily who is one of the most acknowledged family law attorneys in California. One program has the law which can be search by key terms or categories. He also has other programs for family law education.

http://www.atybriefcase.com/

The Rutter Group publishes on many family law topics and has a specific Family Law section of books and CD Rom programs.

http://www.theruttergroup.com/

Thompson Reuters also has many publications on family law. They also have seminars which you can attend with updates on family law as well as family law basics and more advanced.

http://legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.com/law-products/

The law firm of Doppelt and Forney, APLC is a local San Diego law firm. The attorneys have experience in representing clients in family law cases in San Diego Superior Court. Their firm offers a thirty minute confidential consultation in which you can discuss your specific case. Please feel free to call to set an appointment.