What happens to the kids? Where will I live? Can I afford this? Will things get better—or just harder?
You don’t have to decide today. But if you know something has to change, it’s time to understand where you stand.
$249 · Private 30-minute phone consultation · Serving California statewide
A short introduction from Derek.
Not the polite version. The real questions: What happens to the kids? Can I stay in the house? Can I afford to leave? This short video is a place to start.
You may not even know exactly how you got here. At one time, this was the most important person in your life. Then life kept moving: work, bills, a home, children, family losses, new responsibilities, and years of moments neither of you handled perfectly. Before you know it, you can feel as though you are standing at opposite ends of the field.
Maybe life together has become painful. Maybe you are angry, disappointed, exhausted, or simply unsure whether there is anything left to repair. Whatever you are feeling, it is okay not to have the answer today.
Take a breath. Look at the whole of your life—not only its worst moment—and learn what your options are before you make a permanent decision.
If a healthy relationship can be repaired, I hope you find a way to repair it. If it cannot, a private consultation can help you understand what separation, divorce, or child custody might mean for you and your family. Asking questions does not commit you to filing.
If you or your children are unsafe, safety comes first. Seek immediate help rather than waiting for an ordinary consultation.
You may not be ready to file. You may just need someone to tell you, plainly, what leaving could change and what you should know before you act.
The house. The paycheck. Retirement. The business. When money is one of the reasons you feel trapped, you need more than reassurance. You need an honest look at what may be divided, what support could look like, and what information to gather now.
Betrayal makes you want to act now. Before you do, understand what matters legally and what does not—so one terrible night does not drive decisions about your money, your home, or your children.
The fear is not a court form. It is missing bedtime, school mornings, weekends, and the ordinary moments that make you a parent. Before you move out or file, understand how custody and parenting time may work in your actual situation.
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.
Rooted in Northern California. Focused on helping you find a clear, practical next step when family life changes.
Chico, CaliforniaI 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.
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.
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.
You do not need a perfect plan before you call. That is what the conversation is for.
No judgment and no pressure to have the story perfectly organized.
Children, safety, housing, money, property, and immediate deadlines.
Plain-language guidance about the options that may apply to your situation.
The next sensible steps—and the mistakes worth avoiding.
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.These are starting points, not legal advice or one-size-fits-all conclusions. County rules and individual facts matter.
Yes. A consultation can help you identify the questions that matter before you take a formal step—such as property, debt, income, support, custody, and the information you may want to gather. You should expect general guidance based on the facts available, not a guaranteed prediction of a court outcome.
For most married people, one spouse must have lived in California for at least 6 months and in the county where the case is filed for at least 3 months. If you are not there yet, legal separation may be an option while you wait. The right filing path depends on your circumstances.
Do not ignore the papers. They may contain deadlines and automatic restrictions affecting property, insurance, money, and children. Read them carefully, preserve a copy, and get advice promptly about the next step.
Not automatically. Safety comes first. Otherwise, leaving can raise practical questions about housing, finances, parenting time, and property. Before making a major move, understand the facts and the options that apply to your situation.
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.
Sometimes people need short-term orders about custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, or use of the home while the case is pending. Whether that is appropriate depends on the facts, safety concerns, and what is already happening in the case.
California has community-property rules, but the answer is rarely as simple as splitting everything down the middle. The date of separation, source of funds, debts, agreements, and the specific property all matter. Start by gathering accurate financial information.
Support can depend on income, parenting time, available information, and other legally relevant facts. A quick online number is not the whole answer. A careful review can identify the information needed before anyone makes important financial decisions.
Both can address property, debt, support, and parenting issues. A legal separation does not end the marriage, and it has different residency and timing rules. It can be a practical option for some people, but it is not automatically the right choice for everyone.
A California divorce cannot be final until at least 6 months after service or a response, but a case can take longer when there are disputes over children, support, property, or needed information. Some matters resolve by agreement without a trial.
Not always. Many issues are resolved by agreement, negotiation, or mediation. If an agreement cannot be reached, a judge may decide the disputed issues. The first task is usually to understand what needs to be decided and what information will help you make sound choices.
If there is immediate danger, call 911. For urgent safety concerns, do not wait for ordinary scheduling. A restraining order or other emergency process may be appropriate, depending on the situation. Get help from local emergency or domestic-violence resources as needed.
Meet with Derek B. David Soriano, Esq., California Bar #302573. This is a confidential place to ask what a divorce or separation could mean in your actual life. Consultations are generally available Monday through Friday, 9 AM–5 PM. Availability outside those hours may be arranged for an additional fee.
A Sierra Nevada Law Corporation service · Chico, California
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This is a personal note from Derek about why this work matters to him. It is here for anyone who wants to hear it.