Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) Introduction: The Hidden Cost Most People Underestimate When people think about the cost of divorce, they usually focus on filing fees or assume attorney’s fees are optional. In practice, legal fees are often the single largest expense in a California divorce. I see…
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Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) Introduction: Can You Really Divorce Without a Lawyer? I see this question constantly. A couple knows their marriage is over, they want to move on respectfully, and the first fear that hits is cost. Attorney fees feel overwhelming, especially when there is no…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) When people ask me about the “California divorce rate,” they usually want a simple answer: is divorce going up or down, and what does it say about marriage in this state? The problem is that “divorce rate” gets used to mean three different…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) Introduction When people hear the word “divorce,” they often imagine drawn-out court battles, high legal fees, and emotional exhaustion. In reality, that is not how every divorce has to look. In California, an uncontested divorce offers a far more controlled, predictable, and dignified path…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) Emergency custody orders are not routine family court tools. They exist for one narrow purpose: to protect a child from immediate danger. In California, judges treat these requests with urgency, but also with caution. If you are considering asking for emergency custody, or if…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) Finding the right lawyer in California depends on more than scrolling through names. With over 200,000 licensed attorneys in the state, the challenge is not locating a lawyer, it is locating the right one for your case. California’s State Bar offers an accessible…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) California divorce law stands apart from most traditional systems because it removed the concept of fault more than fifty years ago. The shift from a blame-based process to a no-fault framework has simplified divorce, reduced hostility, and allowed couples to focus on resolution…
Continue reading ›As someone who helps clients navigate California civil courts daily, I often explain how tentative rulings work, especially in Orange County Superior Court, where this system saves time, money, and stress for everyone involved. Understanding how to read and respond to a tentative ruling can completely change the outcome of your hearing. What Tentative Rulings…
Continue reading ›Quick clarity before we start In California family law there are two different proof forms that people mix up all the time. In my practice, I see this error weekly, and it can stall a case for months. If you remember nothing else, remember this pairing: Summons = FL-115. Mail service for later filings =…
Continue reading ›Authored by Izzat H. Riaz – Californian Paralegal, U.K. Certified Lawyer (LL.M.) When I first meet someone trying to handle their case without a lawyer, I often hear the same thing: “I’m overwhelmed and I don’t know where to start.” The good news is, you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Shasta County…
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