Santa Rosa CA Family Law Attorney | California Divorce & Child Custody Dispute Lawyer

An Overview of My Alternative Approach to Family Law

At the offices of attorney Betty Ann Spencer, I provide a full range of divorce services to men and women throughout Sonoma County, including alternatives to litigation, such as mediation and the collaborative approach to divorce. Experienced and approachable, I focus my efforts on providing a place where you and your children come first, where you are free to experience the emotions involved in a family law matter while benefiting from the advice of a lawyer who is also a licensed mental health professional.

For a free 30 minute initial consultation, contact me or call my office at (707) 570-2424.

Collaboration or Mediation to Heal Your Marriage

I work with individuals who face difficult challenges in their marriages, but who are willing to use an unbiased third party to help them find ways to settle their differences and retool their relationship. I will work with you to help you identify the key issues causing problems in your marriage, find ways to constructively talk about issues, and come to agreement on a new way of being. The same work can be done in a collaborative setting using a professional team approach. See my page on Mediation to Heal Your Marriage for more information.

Collaborative Divorce

I represent men and women in collaborative divorce proceedings, working with you to settle disputes regarding child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support/alimony and property division without the intervention of the courts. I will work in collaboration with you, your spouse and opposing counsel to find mutually beneficial solutions that minimize the financial and emotional costs of divorce. For more information, please see my page titled Collaborative Divorce.

Divorce Mediation

I offer services as an unbiased third party, helping men and women come to agreement on family law matters. A licensed marriage family therapist as well as a lawyer, I have extensive training and experience in family law mediation. To learn more, visit my page on Divorce mediation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Because I understand the confusion that clients can feel when trying to sort through the different strategies for resolving marital disputes, I have included a page of Frequently Asked Questions on my site, so that you know what to expect from me and can be prepared to make the most of my services.

Conflict Resolution Support for Families in Transition

I work with clients at all stages of a divorce or family law matter, from the decision to file through post-judgment requests for modification or enforcement. I handle all matters related to or arising out of divorce, including, but not limited to the following:

Child Custody & Visitation
Effective Parenting Plans & Co-Parenting Agreements
Child Support
Spousal Support
Family Support
Division of Community Property
Identification and Confirmation of Separate Property
Reimbursement
Cohabitation Agreements for people entering new relationships
Legal Separation for married persons or domestic partners
Legal Solutions for people who are married or domestic partners who don't believe in divorce or who think they can't afford to live separately at this time
Dissolution of a Marriage or Domestic Partnership

Learning how to address difficult issues and long-standing differences can help prevent fighting, reduce stress and create a healthier environment for you and for your children. I will assist you in building better communication and collaborative negotiation skills which will aid in the following:

Resolving conflict Promoting clear thinking
Supporting better decision-making
Making you a better role model for your children

To schedule a free 30 minute initial consultation, contact my office or call me at (707) 570-2424. I am available to meet with clients between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. I accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express.