Divorce Litigation & Mediation
Divorce
No one goes into a marriage wanting it to fail. However, sometimes relationships can fade and become irreconcilable. A divorce is often a difficult time for all the parties involved and one that should not be dealt with alone.
Salice Law helps you resolve family matters, including divorce, child custody, support and visitation, legal separation, parentage (paternity), spousal/domestic partner support and restraining orders.
At Salice Law, attorney Salice listens to your individual needs and discusses with you how you want to pursue your case. You are heard every step of the way.
Finances
Divorce often brings difficult financial questions such as how property will be divided, what will happen with debts, whether spousal maintenance is appropriate, and how to ensure children are financially supported.
When a divorce involves significant assets , careful strategy and skilled representation is required.
Complex financial matters such as the division of businesses, investments, real estate, retirement accounts, and other high value assets demand an attorney who understands both the law and the nuances of wealth protection. These issues can feel overwhelming, but attorney Salice guides you with through each step with clarity, strategy and discretion. Attorney Salice works closely with you to safeguard your financial interests and craft solutions that align with your long term goals.
Child Custody
In California, orders can be made for child custody, visitation and child support. These orders include a parenting plan, visitation, and determining what is in the child’s best interest.
Visitation
Visitation includes creating a set schedule between the parties that can include holidays, birthdays, summertime, and vacation time. Depending on your case, plans can be open ended or very strictly construed, It could even mean no visitation depending on your individual case. Sometimes the need for supervised visitation occurs, and Salice Law can help you through all steps.
If you’re just starting a case or need to modify, contact Salice Law.
Legal Custody
Parties can share in joint legal custody or one party can maintain sole legal custody. The difference with joint legal custody, is that both parents share rights and responsibilities regarding the health and welfare of their child. With sole legal custody, only one parent has the right and responsibility.
Legal decision making includes topics such as school, child care, religion, therapy needs, medical needs, and after-school activities.
If you’re just starting your case or need to modify your current court order, contact Salice Law.
Parentage
Parentage cases occur when the parties are not married, but share a common child. Whether it be to obtain a paternity test, or to sign a voluntary parentage form, Salice Law is here to help you in your individual case.
Preparation Checklist
Personal & Identification Documents
- Driver’s license, passport, social security card
- Marriage certificate
- Prenuptial or postnuptial agreement (if any)
- Birth certificates for children
Financial Records
- Recent pay stubs (last 3 months)
- Tax returns (last 3–5 years)
- Bank account statements (checking, savings, money market)
- Retirement account statements (401k, IRA, pensions)
- Investment account statements (stocks, bonds, brokerage)
- Credit card statements and loan documents
- Mortgage statements and home equity loans
- Business financial records (if applicable)
Property & Assets
- Real estate deeds and appraisals
- Vehicle titles and loan documents
- Personal property of significant value (jewelry, art, collectibles)
- Insurance policies (life, health, auto, homeowners)
- Trusts, inheritances, or other estate planning documents
Debts & Expenses
- Monthly bills (utilities, phone, internet, subscriptions)
- Credit reports
- Student loans, medical bills, personal loans
- Family household budget and list of regular expenses
Children & Parenting
- School and childcare records
- Medical and insurance information
- Proposed parenting schedule or custody preferences
- Records of extracurricular costs and activities
Other Considerations
- A list of questions or concerns to have ready for an initial consult with Salice Law
- A journal or calendar noting parenting time, important events, or incidents
- Copies of any protective orders or prior court orders
What happens during Mediation?
Divorce mediation works for parties who can communicate enough, with the help of a neutral person (attorney Salice) for a more efficient resolve. Hiring counsel may be expensive and more adversarial than you are willing to partake in. A divorce or any legal dispute takes an emotional toll and a third party neutral, such as attorney Salice, can guide you through the process smoothly. Overall, a mediation is where a neutral third party sits down with you and the other party, and listens to what each party has to say. Attorney Salice truly hears each person, and helps the parties resolve their case together. The goal is to draft a stipulated agreement that can be submitted directly to the court, to avoid costly court intervention. Most important is that the parties have full control over the terms of their settlement agreement.
Optimize Your Time
Mediation gives you control of the timeline of your divorce without needing to go to court.
Be Less Emotionally Charged
Divorce does not have to be a stressful, intense fight. Mediation is a more amicable, less emotional option than litigation. You and your significant other do not have to be opponents as you otherwise would in a lawsuit.
You're in Charge of Your Results
Since you know your history better than anyone, you should be the one to decide how it turns out. You and the other party, with the help of attorney Salice, come up with your own drafted agreement that you can submit directly to court.
Results Oriented
Mediation allows you to draft your own settlement agreement, without interference by the courts. Salice Law will handle the complexities of the legal system.
Savings $
Mediation can be cost effective since you will spend less time negotiating outside of court, less time arguing in court and less time having your attorneys arguing your case. You will spend at a minimum one day, which can be split in half-days for your convenience, negotiating and drafting your settlement agreement.
Confidentiality
Mediation is completely confidential. You will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement to begin mediating. Anything you say to your mediator during caucus is also confidential and not repeated to the other side, just like attorney-client privilege.