Who is a Family Law Facilitator?
The family law facilitator (FLF) is a lawyer with special training and experience in family law separate from the Court system. The FLF assists the judge in helping you understand and enforce family law issues that come before the court. The FLF in Santa Maria, CA, is the same as one working in the Santa Barbara County courts. The family law facilitator possesses a wealth of information about family law matters. They assist the Santa Barbara Superior Court in two ways: Facilitators establish and maintain professional and interdisciplinary links between the bench, the bar and the community . Without the family law facilitator, Family law cases involving spousal support and child support would continue much longer and cost far more. The FLF also hears requests for restraining orders for victims of domestic violence. The assistance of a FLF can make the legal process run more smoothly. The family law facilitator does not provide legal representation or provide legal documents. They do not help with complex financial information or with court hearings. While a FLF may help you understand the law, he or she does not represent you in court. The FLF may assist you in filling out forms and provide self-help materials.
What a Family Law Facilitator Can Do For You
Family law facilitators offer numerous services that are designed to help both self-represented parties and represented parties navigate complex family law processes. Among these services, staff members help with court preparation and document assistance. The Santa Maria facility also provides information regarding local family law rules, laws, and procedures.
Today, many individuals choose to represent themselves in family law court. This choice can be beneficial for those who cannot afford an attorney or who want to attempt to settle their case without the help of an attorney. However, self-represented individuals may not know how to prepare for a court hearing or what documents need to be filed. A family law facilitator can help individuals by providing information about the case preparation process. They will then answer questions about the process so that all parties can understand their family law matters more clearly.
In many cases, a facilitator will prepare the court documents for the parties to reduce the amount of time spent trying to complete complicated forms themselves. With their knowledge and experience, family law facilitators have great insight into the types of legal documents that are needed for a specific family law case.
A family law facilitator can help out parents dealing with child support issues. Visitation rights are provided under California law to ensure that both parents can visit their children according to the rules established by the law and the court. Whether you need more information about child visitation or assistance with preparing paperwork to begin the legal process after a separation, family law facilitators offer valuable information on many relevant topics.
Contested divorce and custody disputes can be very tough. The process will be made much easier once you familiarize yourself with the family law system in California. We will help you reduce the stress of court appearances with our services. We can provide information and guidance to make it easier to resolve a case efficiently with less time required for the complicated process.
How To Get Help From A Family Law Facilitator in Santa Maria
One of the best ways to get in touch with your family law facilitator in Santa Maria is in person. You can visit this resource at their location directly, which is in the Santa Barbara County Courthouse at 312 East Cook Street in Room 206. Office visits are by appointment only, so its prudent to make sure you have a scheduled time so that you don’t end up wasting a lot of time.
You can also try reaching them over the phone to (805) 614-6465, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Some circumstances might mandate the use of the courts to set an appointment, such as when the handling of a certain case requires more information than the clerks at the front desk might be able to answer. In these cases, be sure to check the court listings to see what times are available and when employees will be able to handle your situation.
The Family Law Facilitator holds a limited number of drop-in hours for any individual to seek information and assistance. You should first try to call the office to find out the current drop-in hours for the Santa Maria location, as they may be irregular.
Advantages of a Family Law Facilitator
Consulting a family law facilitator can provide tremendous benefits to individuals and families involved in legal matters. One of the most significant advantages is cost-effectiveness. Family law facilitators are typically available through the local Superior Court at little or no charge to you – although they may accept donations from time to time. A private family law attorney may charge you hundreds of dollars per hour for their services, while a family law facilitator can often provide more affordable guidance.
Additionally, family law facilitators empower individuals and families with knowledge. They help you understand the ins and outs of the family court process in order to properly prepare for your case . Family law facilitators can also educate you about the laws that pertain specifically to your matter so that you can be confident when entering the court system. Essentially, a family law facilitator aims to level the playing field by educating you on how to represent yourself (if that is necessary, especially when you cannot afford the cost of hiring an attorney).
Finally, family law facilitators help individuals and families navigate the court’s procedures head-on. Unlike the family law facilitator, the family law attorney cannot perform certain tasks for you. The attorney cannot speak on your behalf or enter into agreements for you. On the other hand, a family law facilitator can directly assist you with your case, such as filling out and filing paperwork with the court on your behalf.
Difficulties without a Family Law Facilitator
Without the use of a family law facilitator, individuals trying to navigate the family law process are likely to mess things up. While you might be able to represent yourself in a simple case that does not involve children or child support, you will have a much harder time in most other situations. Many people miss deadlines, fail to file the required paperwork and make other mistakes that can cost them time and money. You want to avoid making these pitfalls whenever possible. A family law facilitator in Santa Maria can help reduce the chances of making easily avoidable mistakes.
Filing divorce papers can be confusing. When you are thrust into a situation like this, it is easy to be overwhelmed. You might have hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line, your children are involved, and you don’t even know where to begin. This makes it easy to make mistakes. You may fail to file necessary forms on time, refuse to listen to your lawyer or the family law facilitator and make errors. A family law facilitator will help you understand the forms you need to fill out, what you need to do, when and how to obtain the required documents, and simply how to navigate the entire process.
Many individuals are also dealing with other major factors in their lives, including work, relocation plans, the emotional effects of a divorce, and the underlying issues that led to the dissolution. Therefore, couples who are working through a divorce without any necessary guidance may fail to properly complete the required pages of paperwork. This can force them to return to the courthouse in an attempt to correct mistakes, or take other corrective actions that waste time and money.
A family law facilitator in Santa Maria can help you avoid letting the paperwork pile up and correct your previous mistakes. By ensuring that you submit all the right forms on time, you can save yourself the time of returning to the courthouse later.
Santa Maria Success Stories
Maria, a Santa Maria native, was overwhelmed after her divorce. "Feeling like I just got hit by a truck," she described the period immediately after the split, "I had no idea what to do. From the kids to the assets to who even gets my mother’s china set!" While she had heard about the role of a family law facilitator, Maria was skeptical she was the right candidate for help.
After a friend told her to give it a shot, especially because family law facilitators do not charge for appointments, Maria made an appointment with Doris Durio, the family law facilitator in Santa Maria. "The first thing I noticed about Doris is that so much of my anxiety just melted away. She let me ask all my questions and did not ever make me feel dumb or naive," recounted Maria.
Durio sat with Maria, sometimes for hours at a time, clarifying every little detail of the divorce process. "When I left that first meeting with her, I had some ammunition to go back to my attorney and say, ‘Oh yeah, I do want that stock property.’" Maria admitted she was previously so overwhelmed that she had simply followed her attorney’s recommendations regarding her ex’s property, even when she wanted more.
"Doris helped me feel like part of the conversation," according to Maria. "Like I had something to bring to the table other than just crying." Not only did Maria understand the scope of her divorce, but she also felt like she was collaborating, not being dictated to. "My family law attorney was highly respected, but he didn’t really give me the space to ask many questions . "
Several months later, Maria is close to finalizing everything. "Thanks to Doris’s work, I actually understand what is going on with my case. Trust me, that says a lot."
Mario, another Santa Maria resident, said, "Doris gave me hope." Mario had been back to Santa Barbara County to see a judge several times. "They kept telling me that I should try and settle but we could not even get a mediator to take our case." Mario was stuck; he and his ex-wife could settle with a mediator, but they had no idea how to even begin that process. "We just needed some guidance," said Mario, who professed to be far from stupid, but similarly found it difficult to see through all the other voices.
Mario made an appointment with a family law facilitator in the hopes of getting someone in his camp. "Doris was excellent. She helped us both out," said Mario. He said Doris had prior experience mediating high asset divorces and was more than equipped to help. "I credit Doris for letting us both come to an agreement. She was totally patient and worked with both of us. She did not favor one over the other, which I think really helped diffuse a lot of tension in our case."
In the end, Mario and his ex-wife settled without needing a judge to decide all their marital issues, thereby keeping their legal costs down. Although the couple remains cautious of each other, they feel like they now have a fair amount of respect. "Doris helped restore some of our good."
For more information, please call Family Law Facilitator Doris Durrio at (805) 882-4530.