You tell me what happened
No judgment and no pressure to have the story perfectly organized.
Divorce Consultations & Child Custody
When everything feels uncertain, start with one clear conversation.
A focused, confidential consultation about divorce, separation, or child custody with a California family-law attorney who understands the shock of a family crisis—and the cost of making permanent decisions in the middle of a storm.
A Note From Me, Personally
I won’t pretend money isn’t part of why I do this—it is. But it isn’t the whole reason.
I try to be the attorney I wish I had in that moment—someone who understands the pain and confusion without losing sight of the legal work that still has to be done. Compassion matters, but so do your rights, your obligations, and the decisions that will shape your future.
Our job is not to decide for you. It is to give you the clarity to decide for yourself—and for the people you love.
Why I do this work
I’ve been on the other side of the table.
I found out through a charge on our credit-card bill. I was in the Bay Area visiting my father while he was sick when I noticed a hotel charge I did not recognize. I called the hotel, thinking there had been a mistake.
The manager looked it up and told me my wife had been there. She described the man who was with her. The description matched someone from work whom my wife talked about all the time.
I still did not want to believe it. Without telling my wife I was coming home, I drove back from visiting my sick father. She told me she was at a bar celebrating a coworker’s birthday with several other coworkers, so I drove there. As I approached, I saw her outside with the man the hotel manager had described.
Then I saw them kiss. That was the moment everything I thought I knew was gone.
I felt betrayed, alone, and desperate for the conflict to end. I made decisions I would not make today. It took more than a year—along with therapy, exercise, friends, and time—to find my footing again.
That experience is why I listen first. My job is to help you slow the moment down, understand your choices, and protect the life you will still be living years from now.
Because life can also be absurd
Then my car got towed.
After being up most of the night thinking about what had happened, I slept late. When I finally went outside, my car was gone. I had forgotten that an evening parade was coming down our street and every parked car had to be moved. Mine had been towed.
It got better: I had just bought the car from a friend who was away on vacation, and the paperwork still showed his name. The tow company would not release it to me. So, in the middle of discovering that my marriage was ending, I also had no car until my friend came home.
At the time, it felt like life had developed a very strange sense of humor. Divorce can be devastating—and sometimes completely absurd. I remember both.
My Child Custody Story
The morning I drove my son to school.
I understand the fear of losing the ordinary moments with your child, because I have lived it.
My son was in sixth grade. I woke up early and made him a really good pancake breakfast with a smoothie. I was trying to pretend nothing was wrong—like everything was normal.
I put on a suit. I even remember taking the shirt out of the plastic from the dry cleaner. But I did not polish my shoes that morning. I remember thinking: What’s the point?
Because I wasn’t going to see him for days. I wasn’t going to put him to bed that night. That numbness is what I remember most.
I drove my son to school. Everything looked normal to him. When I let him out of the car, I gave him an extra hug—a really deep one—and said “I love you” a few more times than normal.
Right before he walked into his classroom, he looked back and waved. I waved back. And I knew life would never be the same.
I drove away with tears running down my face. I do not even know how I got to court that morning. I just looked up, and I was there.
That is why I understand when you tell me you are afraid of missing bedtime, school mornings, weekends, or simply being part of your child’s everyday life. Custody may look like a schedule on paper. To a parent, it is the shape of your life.
A useful first step
What happens in 30 minutes
You do not need a perfect plan before you call. That is what the conversation is for.
We identify the urgent issues
Children, safety, housing, money, property, and immediate deadlines.
I explain the legal landscape
Plain-language guidance about the options that may apply to your situation.
You leave with direction
The next sensible steps—and the mistakes worth avoiding.
The legal reality
Divorce is not a verdict on who was the better spouse.
California is a no-fault divorce state. In most cases, infidelity does not determine how property is divided or whether support is ordered. Custody decisions focus on the children’s best interests, including health, safety, welfare, and the facts of each family.
That can feel unfair. But understanding what the law can—and cannot—do lets us focus your energy on the choices that can materially improve your future.
General information only. Legal outcomes depend on the specific facts of your matter.What you may be asking
Your fears deserve real answers.
These are starting points, not one-size-fits-all conclusions.
Will the children still spend time with him?
Often, yes. California courts begin with the child’s best interests and generally value frequent, continuing contact with both parents when it is safe. Safety concerns, abuse, neglect, substance use, and the facts of your family can change the analysis.
What if I cannot afford to leave?
We can look at income, property, debts, housing, child support, and possible spousal support. Understanding the numbers early can help you make a deliberate decision instead of a desperate one.
Do I have to leave the house?
Not automatically. The right next step can depend on safety, custody, finances, property rights, and any existing court orders. Get advice about your situation before making a major move whenever possible.
How do I protect the children?
Start by separating urgent safety issues from ordinary parenting disagreements. We can discuss what to document, what the court can address, and which choices may protect stability without creating avoidable legal problems.
Private family-law consultation
One conversation can help you see the next step.
Meet with Derek B. David Soriano, Esq., California Bar #302573. Consultations are available Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM.
Sierra Nevada Law Corporation2485 Notre Dame Blvd, Suite 370-263, Chico, CA 95928
530-402-8281
30-minute consultation$249
Telephone consultation · Confidential
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