About Blevans & Blevans
Blevans & Blevans, LLP is a family law firm based in Napa Valley, California, representing clients throughout Napa, Sonoma and Marin Counties. We assist clients with all types of family law matters, including consultations concerning possible divorce, premarital and postmarital agreements, and complex issues involved in the division of marital property. What follows is a brief overview of the issues our firm typically handles for our clients:
- Consultation Regarding Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
We know that the decision whether to terminate a marriage is one of the most difficult and complicated decisions a spouse may face. We are available to consult with you to discuss the dissolution process, as well as how a divorce may impact your family and finances so that you can make an informed decision for you and your family. - Division of the Community Property Estate
During the dissolution proceeding, the parties will need to divide the community estate. California is a community property state, which means that, generally, property acquired by a married person during the marriage is the property of both spouses. However, there are some very important exceptions. We have extensive experience in navigating clients through the process of property division. This includes:- Determining which assets are community property, which assets are separate property, and/or which assets have both community and separate property components;
- Determining whether and to what extent one spouse or the community has a right to reimbursement for contributions made to an asset that otherwise might be separate or community property;
- Valuing the community assets. This includes the valuation of real property, business interests, retirement plans as well as sophisticated investment vehicles. We have significant experience working with business owners and appraisal experts to value businesses of all types.
- Spousal and Child Support
Our firm handles all facets of both spousal and child support. While the factors upon which spousal support and child support are in many ways the same, they are also in many ways different. We assist clients in determining the need for support and the income available for support. - Child Custody
We realize that for many clients custody of their children is their major concern. We assist clients in crafting a parenting plan designed to be workable for the parents and, at the same time, serve the best interests of the children. In most cases, we have been successful in assisting our client in reaching agreements concerning parenting plans. However, we also handle a spectrum of contested custody issues when agreement is not possible. When legitimate questions exist about what is best for the children, we enlist the assistance of psychological experts to help develop a custody program that will meet the needs of our clients and their children. - Domestic Partnerships
Under California law, domestic partners who have filed a declaration of domestic partnership with the State of California are provided with the same rights and are subject to the same responsibilities and obligations as married couples. Should these parties wish to dissolve that domestic partnership, our firm can assist in both the dissolution of the partnership and representation in connection with the legal issues that arise, including the division of property, custody of adopted children and support issues. - Premarital and Postmarital Agreements
Many clients seek to deal with issues of property division or spousal support in the event of divorce either before or during marriage, but before the acrimony that sometimes accompanies divorce. These agreements, referred to as premarital and postmarital agreements, are very specialized, subject to precise and exacting requirements of the California Family Code. Premarital agreements allow parties contemplating marriage to specify how they wish to treat their assets during the marriage, upon the death of a spouse or upon the dissolution of that marriage. Without a premarital agreement, the property of the parties is divided pursuant to California law. Many people prefer to alter some of the principals of California community property law to better suit their needs. Postmarital agreements are agreements which define the spouses’ property rights during the marriage. They are subject to rules that require careful attention in order for these agreements to be valid and enforceable. Our firm has extensive experience assisting clients with these agreements and start managing their assets so as to avoid any unintended community property interests that might otherwise be created in their separate property. - Support and Custody Modifications After the Divorce Has Been Completed
Many times, after a divorce has become final, one party’s circumstances may significantly change. This could be due to a loss of income, a remarriage, having other children or the need to relocate. Under these circumstances, the law in California provides the Family Court with authority to modify support orders and custody arrangements. In view of this authority, we assist clients in negotiating modifications of their divorce judgments to take into account these new and different circumstances. When negotiation cannot achieve the necessary modifications, we represent clients in seeking a modification by court order