San Diego Divorce Attorneys Blog
Voluntary Declaration of Parentage in San Diego
A voluntary declaration of parentage (VDOP) is a legal form that creates parentage for a child in California outside of the court system. When both parents sign a VDOP, they both attest that they are the child’s legal parents, which gives the father/second parent all of the rights and responsibilities as if a court had ordered parentage.
In San Diego, most voluntary declarations of parentage are signed at the hospital at the time of birth, but may also be signed later at an office. It is useful for California parents to understand the VDOP process, where to sign a VDOP, and the legal effects of signing to help protect parental rights and provide benefits to the child.
Divorce is often talked about as a legal process, referencing a set of documents, court dates, and custody schedules. However, for many adults, divorce can shake their sense of safety, identity, and trust, leaving emotional wounds that feel more like trauma than just heartache. Legally, people tend to focus on the logistical divorce process and assume it is over after these tasks are completed. However, there is a reality to divorce PTSD that affects many divorced individuals.
If you’re going to be going through a divorce, you probably have many questions and concerns. One of those is likely the realization that you will need a lawyer to help you through the process. However, in evaluating who you would like to represent you, it’s important to understand what a San Diego divorce lawyer does. You should know what to expect from them as you consider who to hire.
Stories of messy divorces are familiar to many people. Even situations where both spouses are comfortable with the decision to divorce and have a desire to do so amicably can still be contentious. San Diego divorce lawyers with experience handling these situations can often help, though, as they recognize the patterns of how conflict can emerge and what may be able to prevent it.
