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Why You Need a Family Lawyer for Child Custody

by | Jan 10, 2022 | Custody

bay area family law

One of the more challenging elements of a divorce is making decisions about your children. It can be especially tough if you and your ex-partner are not agreeing on what is best for your family. If you feel like you need help figuring out custody arrangements, child support, etc, it’s time to talk to a Bay Area family law for child custody. Here are a few reasons why it’s crucial to have professional legal help during this trying time.

Why You Need a Bay Area Family Law for Child Custody

A Family Lawyer Knows the Newest Rulings

The law regarding child custody is constantly changing. It can be challenging to keep up with the rapidly-evolving laws and regulations, especially if you’re not a lawyer. A Bay Area family law will make sure that you are keeping up with the newest rulings. A family lawyer will also provide you with advice about how to handle your current case, should your case go to court. They’ll also likely have experience in how judges tend to see these cases and their opinion of what the judge may do.

A Family Lawyer Will Negotiate Child Support on Your Behalf

A lawyer will also be able to help you deal with any issues related to child support, visitation rights, and more. It’s easy to get caught up in the custody battle and forget that there are more important things at stake. One of those things is child support payments. If you don’t have an understanding of how child support works, your ex-partner may try to take advantage of your ignorance by manipulating you into making a lower payment than what they’re entitled to. With professional legal help, you can avoid this unfortunate situation and ensure that your child doesn’t go without because of money fears on your end. Ensuring that you’re obtaining all of your required information and support from the other parent is easier when you have a legal professional helping you.

A Family Lawyer Will Help Set Up Custodial Accounts or Trusts for Your Children

Custodial accounts or trusts allow parents to decide what happens to their children’s assets when they pass away and allow parents to make decisions about how they will be managed. As a parent, you want the best for your children, so it is vital to get the help of a family lawyer to set up custodial accounts or trusts on their behalf. If you don’t have a family lawyer to guide you through this process, it can be difficult for you to figure out how the funds are being dispersed and which financial institutions are responsible for managing those funds. These options are not always available in every state or county, so you must hire a family law attorney who knows what steps need to be taken in your area if that is something you need.

Bay Area Family Law Can Help

Parenthood is never easy. But when you’re facing a custody case, it can be particularly challenging.  Whipple Mercado Bay Area family law is here for you. Talk to a San Ramon divorce lawyer by calling (925) 344-5050. You can also book a free consultation with Whipple, Mercado & Associates by clicking this link.

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Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization