Dale Hatherley, Michael Hatherley and Michelle Hatherley-Parr specialize in all family law practice areas, including dissolution of marriage, legal separation, and nullity of marriage litigation; custody of children; child support; spousal support; modification of support; restraining orders/domestic violence proceedings; division of community property; confirmation of separate property; taxation issues incident to dissolution of marriage; contempt and/or enforcement proceedings; mediation and/or negotiation of family law disputes; and psychological and counseling aspects of dissolution of marriage.
The attorneys of Hatherley Law practice primarily in Tulare and Kings Counties.
Divorce
We handle all issues that may arise in a divorce, including, but not limited to, child custody, child visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, restraining orders, and attorney’s fees.
Custody
The term “custody” can mean two things in California. Legal custody relates to the decisions that affect your child’s health, education, safety, and welfare, while physical custody relates to the amount of time your child spends with each parent. You can pursue sole or joint legal custody and sole or joint physical custody.
Child Support
In California, unless the parties agree to a different amount, child support must be calculated using a statewide guideline calculator. Many factors affect the statewide guideline calculator, such as the parties’ respective incomes, the amount of time the child spends with each parent, job-related deductions, and new relationships.
Move-Away / Relocations
One of the hottest areas of family law is the “move-away” or relocation cases. You must know the current state of the law as it pertains to a move-away case, regardless of whether you are asking for the move or trying to prevent one.
Military Divorces
Military spouses seeking to divorce in California are usually faced with extraordinary circumstances that non-military personnel rarely have to worry about, such as issues related to service and notice, preemption laws as they relate to the division of military retirements, and unique challenges facing the military parent called abroad for service of his or her country.
Paternity
Paternity cases involve legally establishing the parent-child relationship, whether initiated by the mother, the father, or another interested individual. Once paternity has been established, other issues such as child custody, child visitation, and child support can be addressed and resolved.
Spousal Support
Spousal support, also known as alimony, is court-ordered support from one spouse to the other. The court is required to consider a minimum of 14 factors in establishing or modifying permanent spousal support.
Asset Division
As a general rule, the court is required to equally divide assets and debts acquired by the parties during their marriage, even if the property to be divided is located outside of California.
Post-Judgment Modification
Many different rules apply to orders made by the court before Judgment is entered. If Judgment has already been entered in your case, such as a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage, a Paternity Judgment, or a Judgment for Legal Separation, the rules to be followed by the court have probably changed, as well.
Restraining Orders / Domestic Violence
At its most basic level, obtaining a restraining order requires knowledge of what constitutes restrainable conduct and of how to present evidence of such conduct before the court properly.
For parties with children, the significance of domestic violence cannot be overstated, or, worse, ignored.
Guardianships
Usually pursued by grandparents, a person who obtains guardianship is considered, under the law, the child’s parent and is free to make almost all decisions regarding the child’s education, safety, and welfare.
Registered Domestic Partnerships
Registered Domestic Partnerships follow the laws governing the dissolution of marriages, with some exceptions.
