Family issues can be some of the most challenging experiences of life. At Fischer & Van Thiel, we know you’re not just looking for a lawyer—you need a guide through one of life’s most challenging transitions.
We have several offices located off State Road 78 in San Diego County. Our Carlsbad family law attorneys have decades of combined experience. We pride ourselves on providing top-notch legal advice with the empathy and personal attention you deserve in this difficult, if not painful, time.
Call us today at (760) 722-7669 to schedule your appointment. We will be objective and supportive. Whether you’re in a family dispute or filing for divorce, we will be your advocate for your specific family law case.
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Carlsbad Family Law Guide
What Sets Us Apart
At Fischer & Van Thiel, we believe that effective family law representation requires more than just legal knowledge—it demands understanding the emotional intricacies of family disputes. We’re not just your lawyers but your partners, confidantes, and advocates during a tough time in your life.
Compassionate Counsel: We listen first because every family situation is unique and deserves individualized attention. We take the time to understand your specific needs, concerns, and goals.
Strategic Advocacy: While we approach each case with compassion, we never compromise on aggressive representation when needed to protect your interests. We will fight for you, in and out of court.
Accessibility: Our attorneys maintain open lines of communication so you’re never left in the dark about your case. We’re available to answer your questions and address your concerns promptly.
Broader Knowledge: From simple divorces to detailed custody matters, our extensive experience in California family law means you get informed guidance at every step. We stay current with the latest regulations to give you the best advice.
Our approach has helped countless families in San Diego County transition with dignity, achieve positive results, and move forward confidently.
Divorce Representation
A divorce is a significant life change that affects every aspect of your future. Our divorce lawyers guide you through the entire process, from filing the initial petition to negotiating the final settlement. We handle uncontested and contested divorces with the same level of commitment, so your rights are protected, and you get a fair and equitable result. Divorce rates are one of the facts of life, so we’re here to ensure the experience is less upsetting.
What We Handle in Divorce Cases:
Property Division: California’s community property laws can be confusing. While protecting your financial interests, we ensure the fair division of assets and debts, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement accounts, businesses, and more.
Spousal Support: We advocate for arrangements that reflect financial realities and future needs, whether seeking alimony or contesting a support request.
High-Asset Divorces: Complicated financial portfolios require special attention. Our legal team has extensive experience handling divorces involving significant assets, business interests, and investments. We work with financial experts to ensure all assets are correctly valued and divided.
Military Divorces: Our proximity to Camp Pendleton gives us local knowledge of the unique aspects of military divorces, including retirement benefits and deployment considerations. We understand military families' challenges and can help you better understand the legal system.
Child Custody and Visitation
Nothing is more important than your children’s wellbeing. Our attorneys sensitively approach custody matters, always prioritizing what’s best for the children while advocating for your parental rights. We know the emotional toll custody battles can take on families and work to minimize conflicts whenever possible.
Our Child Custody Services:
Physical and Legal Custody Arrangements: We help establish custody frameworks that provide stability for your children while respecting your role as a parent. We consider the children’s ages, needs, and relationships with both parents.
Visitation Schedules: We create practical, fair visitation plans that accommodate everyone’s needs, including holidays, school breaks, and special occasions.
Custody Modifications: As circumstances change, we help adjust existing arrangements to reflect new realities, such as job changes, relocations, or changes in the children’s needs.
Relocation Cases: When a parent needs to move, we review the legal requirements to find solutions that work for the entire family. We consider the children’s best interests and how the move will affect them.
Our goal is to minimize conflict and find collaborative solutions whenever possible, but we’re prepared to litigate aggressively when necessary to protect your children’s interests. We know custody cases can be emotionally charged, and we’re here to support and guide you in making the best decisions for your children.
Child Support
Proper financial support for children is a key part of family law. Our attorneys have extensive experience with California’s child support guidelines and can help you deal with contentious areas.
Our Child Support Services:
Support Calculations: We ensure accurate application of California guidelines to your specific situation, considering both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and the time each parent spends with the children.
Support Modifications: When circumstances change, such as a job loss or change in income, we help adjust support orders accordingly.
Enforcement Actions: When support isn’t being paid, we effectively enforce court orders, including garnishment, property liens, and contempt of court proceedings.
Defense Against Unfair Claims: If you’re facing excessive support demands, we protect your financial stability by ensuring the support order is fair and reasonable.
Mediation Services
Not every family law matter needs to be adversarial. Our skilled mediators help families find common ground and mutually acceptable solutions without the emotional and financial costs of litigation. Mediation can be a more peaceful and efficient way to resolve family disputes so you can maintain control over the outcome.
Benefits of Our Mediation Services:
Reduced Conflict: Mediation creates a space for productive, solutions-focused conversations in a neutral setting.
Cost Effective: Typically less expensive than traditional litigation, mediation avoids court fees and lengthy legal battles.
Private: We keep sensitive family matters out of the public court record.
Faster Resolution: Mediation often resolves matters more quickly than the court process, as you can schedule mediation sessions at your convenience.
More Control: Mediation allows you—not a judge—to make important decisions about your family’s future. We protect your rights during mediation, and any agreement reached serves your long-term interests. Our mediators are trained in conflict resolution and family law and can help you reach a fair and reasonable agreement that meets the needs of all parties involved.
Domestic Violence Protection
Safety first. For those facing domestic violence, we offer immediate assistance with restraining orders and safety planning, followed by comprehensive legal support for related family law matters. We know the urgency of these situations and can help you get the protection you need.
Our Protective Services:
Emergency Protective Orders: We provide legal protection when you need it most, prohibiting the abuser from contacting you, coming near you, or harming you. Whether you need a civil harassment order against a non-family member or other enforcement action, we are here to support you and your family.
Permanent Restraining Orders: Long-term legal safeguards against potential harm, including restrictions on contact, possession of firearms, and other measures to ensure your safety.
Custody Provisions: We devote special attention to custody arrangements that prioritize safety. By taking this approach, the children are protected from harm and the abuser doesn’t have unsupervised access.
Support During Criminal Proceedings: Coordination with criminal cases when applicable, working with prosecutors to ensure the abuser is held accountable for their actions.
We handle these sensitive matters with discretion and urgency. Our attorneys are experienced in domestic violence cases and can help you face a problematic situation more easily.
The Fischer & Van Thiel Difference: Empathy in Action - Give Us a Call and Schedule a Consultation
We take the time to understand your circumstances, concerns, and goals. This foundation of understanding allows us to give you advice, addressing your case's legal aspects and personal needs more proficiently.