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At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we’re here to help you navigate the difficulties of a failed marriage and your concerns about the future. Whether you need to protect your children, secure a fair financial settlement, or smoothly go through the divorce process, our San Ramon divorce attorney are here to help.
We have extensive experience in all aspects of divorce and can represent you confidently in:
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we’ll assist you in making practical, informed decisions to achieve your most essential divorce goals. Let us advocate for your best interests and protect your valuable assets. In addition to divorce representation, we provide counsel on prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, helping couples establish financial security and clarity either before or during marriage.
Our lead attorney, Debra R. Schoenberg, is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She has undergone additional education and training and successfully passed a written examination focusing on family law, earning certification from the State Board of Legal Specialists as a specialist in this field.
We focus solely on family law. With extensive experience in this field, our divorce attorneys are skilled at handling complex and sensitive issues during a San Ramon divorce, which can profoundly impact you and your family.
As trial lawyers, we’re prepared for any challenge. Our team has substantial experience litigating high-conflict, high-asset, and high-stakes divorce cases across California. We’ll work hard to achieve your goals while aiming to reduce the stress involved.
In California, you don’t need to prove that your spouse is at fault to get a divorce. California is a no-fault divorce state, meaning you can file for divorce based on irreconcilable differences or an irreparable marriage breakdown. Neither party is considered responsible, and either spouse can end the marriage, even if the other wants to reconcile.
There are residency requirements for divorce in California. One spouse must have lived in the state for at least six months and in the county for three months before filing for divorce. Additionally, after filing and serving the divorce petition to the other spouse, there’s a mandatory six-month waiting period before the court can finalize the divorce.
Legal separation and divorce are similar in many ways, but each has its pros and cons. Both involve dividing property, debts, and assets and setting up child custody and visitation arrangements. However, a key difference is that legal separation prevents you from remarrying, as you are still legally married but living separate lives.
One benefit of legal separation is that it doesn’t have residency requirements. No matter how long you’ve lived in California, you can file for legal separation. Another advantage is keeping certain benefits, like employee or insurance benefits. Personal reasons, such as religious beliefs against divorce or the hope of reconciliation, might also make legal separation a better option for you.
When starting divorce proceedings in California, the first step is to serve the divorce papers directly to your spouse. If you’ve tried everything and still can’t find them, you can ask the court for permission to publish the summons in a widely circulated newspaper. A notable case from another state raised an interesting issue a few years ago. A woman’s husband had been elusive since their marriage in 2009, only keeping in touch by phone and Facebook. She needed to serve him divorce papers in person, but she needed help locating him despite hiring a private investigator and making other efforts. The court came up with a solution. Since she had tried everything to find her husband, the judge allowed her to send the divorce summons through a private message on Facebook.
How courts in our state interpret “publication” could affect whether posting a message and photo of the court summons on Facebook is considered valid notification, especially if the spouse is likely to see it. It’s uncertain if judges here would agree, but this case raises an interesting legal question and shows an innovative way to use technology in handling family law matters like divorce.
Although it’s rare, some couples qualify for and choose an annulment, which effectively cancels the marriage as if it never happened. A spouse might seek an annulment for reasons such as:
If you’re considering an annulment and want to learn more, one of our attorneys can discuss your situation in detail.
When facing divorce or any family law issue, it’s crucial to have a trustworthy attorney who can cover all aspects of your case and consider all available options. At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., our team will support and guide you through every step of your divorce process. We’ll work hard to build a strong case that aligns with your goals and priorities.
Schedule a confidential consultation by contacting one of our attorneys at 866.846.5586 today. We’ll address your most pressing legal concerns and develop a plan for your future.
"I was seeking a reputable family law firm for my prenuptial agreement and received high praise for the Schoenberg Law Group. My attorney listened to my questions and responded to them very patiently. She also paid close attention all my concerns and made sure I was aware of the legal value of the agreement I was about to sign. It was…”
D.R.“It has been a real blessing to find this family law group in my life. I was in the middle of a custody battle with my ex wife and had a lawyer who had sided with my ex wife’s lawyer. I was faced with the option of paying to a regular lawyer to do half jobs with no results or to invest a bit more for a top family counselor who understood my situation and at the same time not giving me false hopes."
A.L."I hesitated filing papers for a long time because I was not sure if I could survive a long legal battle. When we were married, my husband worked while I raised the children, two under four years old, and I was afraid I would lose the stability they needed. I had a wonderful group of friends that helped me search for a reputable law firm that could represent me when my focus was on my children. They found the"
L.A.We are trial lawyers who litigate high-conflict, high-stakes cases. While we try to build on mediation efforts and exhaust opportunities for a negotiated agreement, emotions, egos and various other realities often force these disputes into court. It is critical to work with a firm that knows how to apply the law and the facts in your favor, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.
Debra Schoenberg was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization
Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
One of California’s Top Family Lawyers for five consecutive years: 2022–2026
SFLG Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years: 2021 - 2026
One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by San Francisco Business Times
“My goal is to preserve your dignity and your humanity throughout what can be a very difficult and painful process, while at the same time achieving a favorable outcome on your behalf.”
Over 400 Years of Collective Family Law Experience
Debra R. Schoenberg
Owner & Founder
Lily Huang
Senior Associate
Kimia Kojouri
Associate
Miho Takarada
Senior Counsel
