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Any issues dealing with familial relationships can be stressful and quickly become controversial. Finding a mutually acceptable resolution can be difficult or impossible in some situations. The proper legal counsel can make the difference when tackling stressful or time-consuming family matters. If you need help or legal advice with your family law issues, the seasoned Santa Rosa family law attorney at the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. can help. Whether you plan to handle your matter inside or outside of the courtroom, you can rest assured knowing that our skilled attorneys are by your side.
At the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we are proud to:
Speak with one of our committed and effective attorneys in Santa Rosa today. We can answer your most pressing family law questions and relieve you of your legal burden.
Family law is the area of civil law relating to marriage, divorce, legal separation, child custody and support, alimony (spousal support), relocation, adoption, and related issues. Nearly everyone is involved in a family law matter at some point in their lives.
As family law attorneys, the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. focuses on helping people manage the financial and emotional legal issues associated with all varieties of family law cases. We do so in a manner that provides the best possible outcome available personally and legally.
Our family law attorneys can help you at many crucial points in your life. While most people think of family law attorneys in the event of a divorce, the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. can be a faithful ally in the event you need or are experiencing any of the following:
Family law attorneys work extensively outside of the courtroom. We negotiate settlements with parties prior to court actions. A competent family law attorney, like ours at Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., can save you time, money, and frustration.
Learn more about our client-based family law services by contacting us in Santa Rosa. We look forward to speaking with you and putting our more than thirty-five years of experience to work for you.
A prenuptial agreement is a contract signed before marriage establishing property rights and duties during a marriage and in the event of a divorce. A postnuptial agreement is similar but is signed after marriage.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements must conform to strict guidelines in California and be signed voluntarily by both parties.
California permits no-fault divorces. No-fault divorces do not place blame for a marriage’s failure with either spouse. Instead, the court grants a divorce due to an irrevocable breakdown of the marriage.
To divorce in California, at least one of the spouses has to be a resident of the state for at least six months before filing for divorce and of the county where they file for at least three months. Regardless of whether the divorce is agreed or contested, spouses must wait at least six months for the court to grant their divorce.
Helpful and supportive
Debra and team were so helpful and supportive through the most difficult time in my life. Grateful to the team for their advice – would highly recommend their services to anyone needing a divorce attorney.
California is a community property state. This means that any assets or debts acquired during a marriage belong equally to both spouses. Assets and debts are to be shared equally upon a divorce.
Contact a Santa Rosa divorce attorney!
California offers temporary, rehabilitative, permanent, and reimbursement spousal support. Each of these types of support plays a different role in the lives of the recipient based on their current and potential needs.
For a spouse to receive support, that spouse must need financial support, and the other spouse must have the ability to pay financial support. Unless both of these conditions are met, the court will not consider granting spousal support.
There are two types of child custody in California: legal and physical child custody. When able, parents are encouraged to share both types of custody, but parents can share only legal or physical custody.
When parents cannot make their own child custody decisions, the court will make these decisions on their behalf in accordance with the best interests of the child.
Parents are legally required to support their children. Generally, the child support obligation continues until a child turns eighteen or nineteen if the child is still in high school and living with a parent.
California has a set of guidelines that include a mathematical formula for computing monthly child support obligations.
Factors included in the calculation include, but are not limited to: parents’ monthly incomes, time spent with the children, and health insurance costs for the children.
Parents who are unmarried and want to establish legal parentage of their children need to file a parentage action. A parentage action not only names a child’s legal parents but also provides an opportunity to request child support, custody, and visitation orders about a child.
A parentage order gives a child the right to inheritance and Social Security payments and other essential benefits.
To find out more about the above family law actions in Santa Rosa, or any others, contact the experienced attorneys at the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. Regardless of the complexity of your family law matters, the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. stands ready to assist you through offering unique solutions to your problems.
Let our firm’s seasoned, compassionate attorneys work diligently handling your family law case. The Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. will strive to meet your family law goals while maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards.
"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
Family law cases involving Santa Rosa residents are heard in the Sonoma County Superior Court. Depending on the issues involved, your case may include mediation, temporary hearings, settlement conferences, or trial if an agreement cannot be reached.
Not always. Many family law matters in Santa Rosa are resolved through negotiation or mediation before reaching trial, allowing families to avoid unnecessary litigation while still reaching legally enforceable agreements.
Yes. When parents disagree about custody or parenting time, Sonoma County requires them to participate in Family Court Services mediation before a judge will decide contested custody issues. The goal is to help parents reach a tailored agreement that serves the child's best interests.
Yes. If there has been a significant change in circumstances, you may be able to request a modification of child custody, visitation, child support, or spousal support orders through the Sonoma County Superior Court. The court will evaluate whether the requested change is legally justified and appropriate.
A Santa Rosa family law attorney can assist with divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, parentage actions, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and enforcement or modification of existing court orders. The appropriate legal strategy depends on your family's unique circumstances and goals.
The timeline depends on the type of case and whether the parties are able to reach an agreement. Uncontested matters may be resolved relatively quickly, while contested cases involving custody, property division, or support can take several months or longer. California law requires a six-month waiting period to finalize any divorce.
Yes. Many families resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative discussions before a trial becomes necessary. Reaching an agreement outside of court can often reduce costs, shorten the process, and give both parties greater control over the outcome.
A local attorney understands California family law as well as the procedures and practices of the Sonoma County Superior Court. That familiarity can help you prepare for each stage of your case while ensuring deadlines, local rules, and court requirements are properly addressed.
