Divorce Information Center

Divorce requires a lawyer with experience and knowledge who thoroughly prepares and builds a case that will accomplish the clients’ goals.  Harvey A. Ruben has spent 32 years handling complex divorces throughout the San Diego area.  More information about his abilities and skills is available on his Web site’s main divorce page.  This page, on the other hand, is devoted to more general information vital to anyone seeking a divorce in California. 

Most likely, you have more questions pertaining to your situation.  Contact Harvey A. Ruben and take advantage of his 32 years of experience representing clients throughout the San Diego area with complex divorces.  From his law office in San Diego, California, he represents clients throughout the San Diego, California area, including La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, Escondido, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Carmel Valley, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe, and the rest of San Diego county. 

Divorce – An Overview

Contemplating divorce is always difficult.  Whether you’re sure you want to end your marriage or are still considering your options, it helps to learn the basics of divorce law and the process.  Should you conclude that divorce is necessary, it is very important that you seek the assistance of an experienced family law attorney.  Involving a knowledgeable family law attorney as soon as possible in the divorce process is one of the best ways to preserve your own long-term financial and emotional health. 

Grounds for divorce

A divorce is a method of terminating a marriage contract between two individuals.  From a legal standpoint, a divorce will give each person the legal right to marry someone else, divide the couple’s assets and debts and determine the future care and custody of their children.  While each state has individual statutes that address these issues differently, the basic principles that states follow when considering request for divorce are relatively uniform. 

Division of property

When there is little or no marital property, no children, no issues of alimony or spousal maintenance, amicable spouses can usually obtain a quick divorce.  Most divorces, however, are quite different and far more complex.  The typical divorce involves a union of many years with considerable marital property, both personal property and real estate, children, family businesses, large or concealed debts, trust funds, real estate  in other states, joint and  separate accounts, investments, insurance, pensions, and other assets.  In these complex situations, the parties often cannot divide their property on their own and therefore may require court involvement for its ultimate division. 

Questions to ask during divorce

Considering whether you should endure marriage is one of the most important and difficult decisions you will ever encounter.   It is important to approach the question from a rational perspective rather than solely an emotional one.  In many ways, it is a business decision that requires you to evaluate many issues.  Once you review this list of questions you may rethink the direction you’re headed, or you we better prepared to move forward while working with an attorney.

How to move on

Recovering from a divorce is similar to the grieving process one experiences when a loved one dies.  There are five stages in the process; shock and denial, anger, ambivalence, depression and recovery.  Many people expect to work through these stages one after the other, but that isn’t usually how it happens.  You can expect to move in and out of each phase over time and sometimes experience more than  one phase at the same time.  It is a difficult process and time consuming.  Family counselors advise it may take as long as two years to fully recover. 

An amicable divorce

Divorce is one of the most emotional experiences a person will ever face.  The decision to end the marriage is not an easy one to come to and it is often accompanied by feelings of resentment and desire to harm.  The negative emotions associated with divorce are responsible for more than hard feelings; they affect the final outcome of serious negotiations.  Most important, if children are involved, they will suffer.  It is in their interest to approach divorce from an ethical perspective.  This will allow you to put on your business hat, which is crucial for reaching a successful settlement that will also allow you to put on your affective parent that, which is critical for helping your children through this difficult process. 

Divorce resource links

American Bar Association  - Family Law Section
Tables and summaries of the laws in the 50 states

The Legal Information Institute
A trusted resource for learning more about divorce law

FindLaw: Divorce and Family Law
An excellent resource with comprehensive legal information about divorce.