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The legal arena of family law covers a range of personal, delicate matters. The professional Family Law advocates in Marin County at The Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., offer comprehensive and compassionate legal services to address all of your family law needs. Our expert Marin County family law attorneys can guide you through these often stressful and frustrating times.
When diligent counsel and representation with integrity matter, The Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., is a trusted choice in Marin County. We take cases from any city in Marin from San Rafael to Fairfax and more, we are experts at trying cases in the Marin County Courthouse. Schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss any of the following:
Our Marin County law firm specializes in family law and only family law. We have nearly 40 years of experience representing clients in all types of family law cases throughout California. We will work with you to protect and defend your legal rights and personal interests.
Family law is a civil branch of the legal field that deals with family relationships. The most familiar areas of family law include divorce, child custody, and child support. However, family law consists of a vast array of legal issues.
Attorneys who practice family law represent their clients in all types of family court proceedings. However, divorce is frequently the reason for hiring a family law attorney.
You and your family do not have to handle a complicated legal process alone. Rather than taking on a case by yourself, benefit from the expertise of an experienced family law attorney. An attorney can properly address all of your needs and concerns. The right lawyer can:
The right family law attorney can make a confusing legal process as simple and straightforward as possible for you and your family. Your lawyer will prioritize the health and safety of your family while ensuring your case receives the attention it deserves. From divorce cases and parenting plans to orders for protection in a domestic violence case, our lawyers can take care of many family law matters on your behalf.
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.
Matters relating to marriage and divorce are the center point of family law. Marin County family law attorneys are valuable in any situation that surrounds marriage, including the following:
If you have questions or require legal advice on any of these facets of marriage law, contact us to request an in-depth legal consultation.
Divorce is one of the most common types of cases we see at the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. If you are considering divorce, you most likely have many questions that will need to be answered before you go any further with the legal process. One could be how much it will cost to get a divorce in Marin County, California.
Although every case and circumstance is unique, some costs and fees remain about the same for each divorce case in California. For example, the divorce filing fee – what it costs to file your divorce paperwork with the family courts in California – is $435. However, you may not have to pay this fee if you qualify as a low-income individual and request a fee waiver.
Other common costs associated with a divorce case are the price of hiring an attorney, expert fees, paying for copies of documents, and going to trial. A trial is much costlier than a divorce settlement in California. The longer your case takes and the more effort that is required, the more expensive your divorce will be.
Working with the right divorce lawyer in Marin County can help you minimize the cost of your divorce. A lawyer will handle your case as quickly and efficiently as possible, cutting out mistakes and wasted time that could cost you money. Your lawyer will also search for all available ways to protect you financially, such as settling your case during mediation instead of going to trial.
All family law proceedings, divorce trials, and child custody hearings for local residents are adjudicated at the Marin County Superior Court, located within the historic Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael. Unlike larger counties with separate facilities, Marin County processes all family law matters, domestic violence restraining orders, and mandatory Family Court Services (FCS) mediations within this centralized location. Resolving a case efficiently requires an attorney who understands the distinct local filing procedures, calendar calls, and courtroom dynamics unique to San Rafael. Our firm has deep knowledge of the local court system and decades of experience navigating family law matters here.
Getting divorced in Marin County requires much more than just submitting a divorce petition and paying the filing fee. Your divorce will not be finalized until you obtain an order from a judge. This will take a minimum of six months in California, as the state enforces a six-month waiting period for all couples. During the waiting period, you and your spouse can live separately or file for legal separation to make the divorce process simpler (as well as to start living your new life sooner).
If you and your spouse have an uncontested divorce case, where you reach a settlement agreement together, your divorce case may only take the six months that you have to wait to get it finalized. In this case, your divorce will become final when you and your spouse submit your completed paperwork and a judge reviews it and signs off, effectively dissolving your marriage.
If you and your spouse cannot agree to the terms of your divorce, you may have to attend multiple meetings to try to negotiate a settlement or attend a divorce hearing in court. Depending on how busy the courthouse in Marin County is, you may have to wait one year or longer for your trial date. The trial itself could take one or more weeks based on the complexity of your divorce case. Your divorce will be finalized after receiving a decree from the judge.
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have a high-conflict divorce, you may need to take special steps to minimize tension and avoid altercations. Start by establishing boundaries with your ex. For example, make a rule where you only discuss the divorce when your children are not around. Do your best to put your personal feelings aside and to be respectful while communicating with your ex. If you are feeling bullied or harassed by your spouse, do not respond.
If you feel that you need a restraining order for a high-conflict divorce, an attorney can help you obtain emergency protective orders. The most important thing to do in a high-conflict divorce case is to hire a qualified and experienced divorce lawyer in Marin County to represent you. You can trust the complicated and stressful legal process to your lawyer while you focus on building your new future.
Any case involving children deserves attention from an attorney. There is too much at stake to risk self-representation. There are many cases involving children alone where family law attorneys are vital, such as:
On any family law case in Marin County involving children, our lawyers put the children first. We provide compassionate client services to parents and families during difficult times. We can help you find peace of mind during an emotionally charged legal case involving kids.
Another common family law issue is a name change. While a name change is a simple process upon marriage or divorce, some circumstances require petitioning the court for an order. A court order is needed to officially change a name on government-issued identification documents, such as a passport or social security card.
Inheritance during marriage and divorce is also a family law matter. Family law attorneys provide valuable guidance on keeping inheritance separate in the case of divorce or separation.
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, our priority is protecting each client’s rights. We use our knowledge of the law to protect the legal rights given to family members in California. Whether you need us to represent you during mediation or a trial in Marin County, we will provide tailored legal services suited for your unique needs. We will do everything we can to safeguard you and your loved ones during a challenging legal matter. Our family law attorneys protect client rights in every way:
Regardless of the type of family law case you have and your role in it, an attorney from our law firm can protect your rights with a comprehensive legal strategy. Our lawyers know when to get aggressive and when to compromise. We will guide you through California’s family laws with advice and representation you can trust.
At The Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we know the quality of family law representation you receive and the results you obtain can impact your life for many years to come. That is why we are a client-driven law firm. Our focus and goal is to help protect your rights and achieve your legal goals while providing you with the clear legal guidance and experienced representation you deserve.
Our attorneys offer a proven record of results and are ready to begin working for you. We understand that not every case resolves amicably. When courtroom litigation is necessary, we will vigorously represent your case.
"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
All family law, child custody, and divorce cases in Marin County are filed and heard at the Marin County Superior Court, located at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Mandatory child custody mediation and emergency protective hearings are also held within this centralized courthouse infrastructure.
Under California’s community property laws, any real estate purchased during the marriage is generally considered community property and subject to an equal 50/50 split. Given the exceptionally high property values in Marin County, resolving real estate division frequently involves complex options, such as one spouse buying out the other's equity, refinancing the property, or executing a deferred sale to allow children to remain in the family home.
Before a Marin County judge will rule on a contested child custody or visitation dispute, both parents must participate in mandatory mediation through Family Court Services (FCS) in San Rafael. Marin County functions as a "recommending county," meaning that if parents fail to reach a mutual agreement during mediation, the court-appointed FCS mediator will submit a formal, written custody recommendation directly to the judge.
In California, inheritances and assets acquired prior to a marriage are legally classified as separate property. However, without a prenuptial agreement, these assets are highly vulnerable to accidental "commingling" – such as when separate funds are deposited into joint bank accounts or used to pay a community mortgage – making them incredibly difficult to trace and protect during a divorce.
An uncontested divorce in Marin County takes a minimum of six months to finalize due to California's mandatory statutory waiting period. This timeline begins the day the divorce petition is officially served on the responding spouse, and your single status cannot be legally restored by a judge until those six months have fully elapsed.
A child support order can be legally modified in California if either parent experiences a "substantial change in circumstances." Common legal grounds that satisfy this threshold include an involuntary job loss, a significant salary increase or decrease, changes in the cost of health insurance, or a dramatic shift in the percentage of physical parenting time each parent spends with the child.
