San Francisco Family Attorney

Divorce Attorney in San Francisco

Protecting Yourself

Divorces can be a messy and ugly business, which is why so many people make so many mistakes while trying to get the upper hand in the situation. If you are going through a divorce, it is critical you take the right actions to preserve your rights and protect your interests. By following these tips from San Francisco divorce attorney Randall A. Richmond, you are taking the first steps towards a divorce settlement you can be happy with.

Do not move out if you have children. While persons without children may find themselves better off out of the home, moving out when you have children could hurt your chances at getting custody.
Do not take the children away from their home. If the court thinks you are concealing your children or abducting them, it will make your custody case very difficult. If you feel you or the children are in danger, talk to your San Francisco divorce lawyer about filing for a restraining order against your spouse.
Call an attorney immediately. Once you are sure you are getting a divorce, seek out representation. You should never approach a divorce without the help of a San Francisco divorce attorney.
Make copies of your important records. Give one copy to your spouse and put the other in a safe place where your spouse cannot access them.
Cancel your joint accounts. Cancel your joint credit card and remove half of the balance from your joint bank account and place it in an individual account. Be sure you inform your spouse in writing of your actions so they do not think you are taking money that should belong to both of you.
Catalog your marital property. One of the most important parts of a divorce is the asset division, so catalog all of your property with a camera set with a date stamp, preferably together with your spouse. Be sure both of you have a copy of the images. Don’t forget to catalog items in the home and in safe deposit boxes and other locations.
Store your personal property in a safe place. You cannot move communal property to a safe place, but anything that belongs to just you and that has a high value to you should be stored somewhere your spouse cannot access.
Refuse to sign documents without your lawyer. It does not matter how simple the document seems to be, always let your San Francisco divorce lawyer look over the paperwork first to ensure your rights are protected.
If violence occurs, call the police. Do not let yourself or your children be victimized by domestic violence. If your spouse gets physical, call the cops and tell your lawyer.

459 Fulton St, #303
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-701-8300