A divorce can throw your life into a state of imbalance. Your assets, your relationship with your children, your very future – everything is put on the line. By all means, you want to avoid a contentious and costly dispute with the other spouse – and this may be made possible through alternative methods of dispute resolution. However, if negotiations fail, you may have to take your divorce to court. In either case, you should seek a dependable family law lawyer who has the legal prowess to facilitate the divorce process while effectively protecting your interests.

When you are in a moment of crisis, such as a divorce, the decisions you make can change everything moving forward. It is absolutely vital that you take the proper first step and contact the Law Office of Rick D. Banks. We can help you weigh each and every option and choose the right one for you and your family, as well as make the divorce process much simpler and less stressful. To learn more about what our firm can do for you, call (559)222-4891 .

Family Law Issues in Fresno


Types of Family Law Issues

If you are currently dealing with a legal matter in your family, your first step should be to get in touch with a Fresno family law lawyer from my team at the Law Offices of Rick D. Banks. I have over 20 years of experience in family law and understand how to handle these delicate cases. My main goal is to ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way and that your specific goals are met. I understand that it can be difficult for family members to see eye-to-eye in legal matters and having a mediator involved could make all the difference in how your case turns out. I offer a free case evaluation so that you can let me know the details of your case quickly and easily.

Two Main Categories

Issues Involving Marriage

The two main categories of family law in California deals with marriage and children. In regards to marriage, my firm can help you create a prenuptial agreement, file for a divorce, and everything in between. Many people think that prenuptial agreements are only for the very wealthy, however, nothing could be further from the truth. No one knows what the future will hold and it is best to be prepared for any eventuality. If you decide to file for a divorce, it is important to know that there are three ways to end a marriage. Divorce is one, but legal separation or annulment could also be an option. Since California is a no-fault state, you only have to state that there are irreconcilable differences in order to be granted the divorce. If you are in a domestic partnership, the same three options are available to you in order to end the marriage.

Issues Involving Children

Family law issues regarding children include child support, child custody, emancipation, and more. Parents are responsible for taking care of their children and this includes helping provide for them financially. Child support payments are given to parents who have custody of children under the age of 18. Once they reach 18, the payments stop. Child support may be ordered by the court after a divorce, if a married couple is living apart, or if a legal parental relationship has been established. When one parent has physical custody of a child, the other parent will most likely be given visitation rights. The parents could also share physical custody of the children with a parenting plan. Lastly, emancipation allows children who are not yet 18 to legally become adults. They are no longer financially dependent on their parents and can live wherever they want.

Preserving Your Assets in Fresno

Divorce involves plenty of financial considerations, including:

  • Alimony,
  • Child Support,
  • Division of Assets,
  • And more.

If you do not receive a fair ruling in this step of the divorce process, you may face difficulty in the future. To ensure that you retain a secure financial future, consult with an attorney who has a nuanced understanding of divorce law.

Helping You Maintain Your Most Important Relationships

There is no one more important to you than your children, and one of your highest priorities is to remain a large part of your children’s lives no matter what happens in the divorce. However, the opposing spouse may have different ideas due to the belief that s/he knows what’s best for them or just plain personal resentment. An experienced Fresno divorce lawyer can fight to ensure that you get enough time with your children and also make significant contributions towards their upbringing.

Skilled Fresno Negotiators Who Are Not Afraid to Fight

Litigation is not necessary for every divorce case; in fact, mediation, or outside negotiation, is overall the preferred option. Our legal team is comprised of skillful negotiators who can help you resolve your divorce in conjunction with the opposing attorneys. However, if mediation is not an option, we are willing to confront the challenges of a trial divorce head on. We are ready and willing to fight aggressively for your rights and your goals.

Contact Our Fresno Family Law Lawyer Today

With more than 20 years of legal experience handling divorce cases, the Fresno family law attorneys at the Law Office of Rick D. Banks can guide you through your divorce while helping you avoid the pitfalls and overcome any obstacles. Please feel free to contact our office at (559)222-4891 at your earliest convenience to begin navigating your divorce.

Additional Information

Alimony

In California family law, alimony is referred to as “spousal support.” Alimony is designed to help the lower-income spouse with living expenses after a divorce or separation. Keep in mind, alimony is completely separate from child support. Spousa… Read More

Annulment

What is an Annulment? If you’re currently going through a divorce, you know the hardships that decision brings. No matter how contentious or smooth the relationship may have been, bringing it to a close is no easy task. Divorces are costly, both fi… Read More

Contested Divorce

Ending a marriage is never easy — and it can be even harder when a divorce is contested. A contested divorce can be lengthy, expensive, and highly emotional depending upon the issues that must be resolved. Contested cases can be even more complex w… Read More

High Net Worth Divorce

Divorce and the many changes that come with it isn’t easy for anyone. But in cases where one or both spouses have a substantial amount of assets, the legal process associated with ending a marriage can be even more complicated. In high net worth ca… Read More

Legal Separation

Rick Banks – A Qualified Fresno Legal Separation Attorney You Can Rely On After a divorce is finalized, a marriage is officially dissolved. Couples who may be unsure whether to proceed with a divorce may be considering filing for a legal separation… Read More

Long Term Marriage Divorce

Helping You Navigate Divorce After a Long-Term Marriage With greater longevity, increased financial independence, and changed attitudes toward divorce, the rate of older couples choosing to part ways continues to rise. Divorces among middle-aged coup… Read More

Modification of Spousal Support

You Need To Act Quickly! Contact The Law Offices of Rick D. Banks at If some time has passed since your original spousal support order was solidified by a judge and you would like to modify this, you will need to prove there has been a change in circ… Read More

Prenuptial Agreements

Are you searching for a prenuptial agreement lawyer? As the founder of the Law Offices of Rick D. Banks, I have over 20 years of experience representing clients in their family law and divorce matters. I understand how important family law matters ar… Read More

Property Division

Division of Property After Divorce When a marriage begins to dissolve, there are certain issues that must be discussed and efficiently handled by a Fresno divorce attorney. Property division is a difficult topic to navigate for many couples because n… Read More

Uncontested Divorce

Uncontested Divorce If both spouses have decided to end their marriage, they begin to pursue divorce. When these individuals are able to amicably discuss different aspects of the divorce and mutually agree upon important decisions, they can pursue th… Read More