- DivorceSince its formation in 1997, Hargreaves & Taylor has maintained a reputation of excellence in the community in the practice of family law. The firm has over 80 years of combined experience, and offers a variety of family law resolution services, including litigation, collaborative divorce, and mediation. The H&T staff understands the needs of every client, treats each client with respect, and offers outside support services as needed.
- Child SupportDivorced and unmarried biological parents are expected under California law to provide financial support for the raising of their children. The state of California provides child support guidelines which are used to calculate the amount that one parent will pay the other for this support. Generally, the parent who has primary custody of the child will receive these payments from the other parent. However, individualized circumstances can impact the final amount to be determined when the application of the guidelines results in an amount that is deemed unreasonable or unfair.
- Child Custody and VisitationChild custody is commonly one of the most difficult and distressing issues in a California divorce or between unmarried parents. For many parents, the stakes are high as well as the emotions evoked by this issue. You naturally want what is best for your child and may feel your parental rights could be threatened by the outcome. The outcome could dramatically impact the future and getting it right at the outset can spare further stress and disagreement down the line.
- AdoptionIn addition to handling divorce actions, the attorneys at H&T have years of experience drafting marital settlement agreements, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and property agreements between unmarried cohabitating parties. The firm also handles parentage (paternity) actions, step-parent adoption proceedings, and post-judgment proceedings, including modification of child and/or spousal support, and enforcement.
- PaternityWe also provide other family law services from paternity cases to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, enforcement and modification of custody and support orders, and cohabitation agreements. If you have a family matter for which you need answers and guidance, contact our team to discuss your needs.
- Premarital AgreementHargreaves & Taylor LLP offers a full complement of family law services from uncontested to contested divorce with its associated issues involving children, financial support, and marital property division to the drafting of marital settlement agreements, property agreements for unmarried couples, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity actions, and post-judgment matters, such as the enforcement or modification of current court orders.
- Spousal SupportSpousal support, also known as alimony, may or may not be awarded by the courts in a California divorce. This type of support is not required by law. It is generally granted in cases where one spouse will become financially disadvantaged through divorce. Lower-earning or non-working spouses may need the additional monetary resources to maintain the established marital standard of living and/or to additional funds to help them become fully self-supporting through job or career training or advanced education.
- Restraining OrderIn law school, Ms. Savusa interned at the Family Law Facilitator’s Office where she assisted self-represented individuals navigate through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. It was after this experience that she decided to concentrate on family law. As a law clerk at two local family law firms, she gained invaluable experience in legal drafting, legal research, discovery, and overall case management and progression. She spent her last semester at law school in a clinical internship program in Hawai’i where she served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Bode A. Uale of the First Circuit Family Court. While working for the Hawai’i State Judiciary, she also worked in the Legal Research Unit and the Temporary Restraining Order Unit.