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Client Success Stories
Jane has been my rock and helped me through my divorce. She is firm and knowledgeable. She is great at client management and helped me stay focused throughout ongoing disagreements with my ex. I refer all of my clients seeking family law help to Jane.
Linda M., San Diego, CAJane is the best when it comes to honesty and straight-to-the-point feedback. She doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I received the best service I could have asked for. I especially enjoy the occasional contact she makes to see how things are going. This personal touch from an attorney goes a long way....
Gilbert C., Chula Vista, CABefore Jane took my case I was not able to see my son very much. It got so bad I had to call the sheriff to try and enforce the agreement my ex and I had. The sheriff told me that I needed to have a court order and that’s...
Peter S., San Diego, CAJane is great. She is always straight to the point. She made sure I understood everything that was going on. She is absolutely confident in court, and her paralegals were always helpful. She cared for me and also for my family.
Andres A., Chula Vista, CAJane was FANTASTIC in court. She knows the law EXTREMELY WELL. She was able to fight things that were improper or not right, and things that went against the law. She was able to show patterns of behavior and lack of willingness to comply with orders. Not only did she...
Elisa D., Lakeside, CAJane was always patient and was willing to explain the legal issues in a way that a layman could understand. She responded to the legal process in a timely manner and was never a cause of delay. Her staff was courteous and efficient, and I enjoyed working with them. My...
Dale G., El Cajon, CAJane was so good it makes me want to get divorced again. I went through a horrific divorce, and Jane was there to ensure that I was protected. She had my best interests in mind—and I know for sure without her, I would have been in a very terrible situation.
Michael P., San Diego, CAJane is a fantastic attorney. Attentive, aggressive, informative, and compassionate! She assisted me with varied issues including divorce, restraining orders, and real property issues that spanned across two counties—San Diego and Riverside. She was consistently available to me to answer my questions, which is rare for attorneys. I highly recommend...
F.D., San Diego, CAWhen you feel your time-tested sense of reality shifting all around you and your reeling mind is busy trying to adjust to the altered attitudes of all the people you trusted….that is when you most need a rock like Jane Wesley Brooks. When you most want to shout out in...
Eric M., San Diego, CAWhat do you know, an honest lawyer! Jane took care of my divorce from long distance. Always gave me the straight scoop and weighed the pros and cons of each issue before any were taken on. I feel Jane saved me money navigating through the legal and emotional issues of...
Pete M., Franktown, COGoing through a divorce is not easy for anyone, but I feel that my divorce was exceptionally rough, and I am so glad that I had you by my side as attorney during this tough time. You always had my best interest in mind, understood all of my concerns, and...
Dr. M.P., San Diego, CACan’t imagine too many people enjoying having to engage a family law group but when needed you can’t afford to settle for anything but the best. Jessica, Jane’s associate attorney, continues to prove to be what every client should be looking for—responsive, respectful, understanding, and compassionate while never losing site...
Chris PJane is an AMAZING attorney! She got everything done for me ahead of schedule and was one of three very important people to me while going through a very difficult time….very upfront and honest to the core. She tells you exactly what you need to hear and never sugarcoats it....
Vinny C., San Diego, CAI want to thank you for taking such good care of me during my divorce. I had gone to another lawyer prior to getting your name from a friend, and that was a disaster. Once I was referred to you, you gave me outstanding service and handled my case with...
M.T., San Diego, CAI took a chance in trying a legal search service when I needed an attorney ASAP when dealing with a potential parental kidnapping case. As one would expect, there were many that responded, all of which claimed to be the best in their field with “years of experience in these...
Laurence R., Warrenton, VAI want to express my sincere appreciation for your outstanding job. It was a pleasure…particularly because of the exceptional confidence and resolution you irradiate. Thank you for your patience in dealing with me. My recognition also goes to your professional office team—they are absolutely helpful and courteous.
M.D.M., San Diego, CAThree years subsequent to the finalization of my divorce, I once again retained Ms. Brooks’ services to prepare documents to modify the original court decree in response to my changed employment status. Ms. Brooks expertly guided me…and achieved a revised final settlement that brought a permanent and irrevocable termination to...
D.E.G., San Diego, CAMy husband and I both used Jane for our first marriage issues. She is very informative, strong willed, personable, always had our best interest in mind, and is hands down the best family law attorney out there. I recommend her to everyone I meet who is going through a divorce.
Shauna H., Santee, CAPersonally, I cannot say enough about Jane Wesley Brooks. Honesty was our main focal point of every conversation. She shoots straight from the hip and explains exactly what could happen and what might happen, even sometimes hearing what you did not want to hear. My divorce process was more lengthy...
Hillary S., El Cajon, CAI had already gone through my divorce and was being taken back to court. I asked a good friend of mine if they knew of a really great attorney and they gave me Jane’s phone number. She is really great at her job and makes you feel very important. I...
Becky B., El Cajon, CAI cannot say enough great things about Jane Wesley Brooks!!! Unfortunately she wasn’t my first lawyer. I had to fire a lazy, incompetent lawyer first. Jane came to my rescue and took over my case. Fixing all the problems from the previous attorney. She is so knowledgeable about divorce, law,...
Cristin N., San Diego, CAJANE IS AWESOME! Smart and competent would be enough in any case, but she is also caring and fair and truly wants to help you. I spent my life savings and am still paying off my previous attorney. I can’t express how much I wish I would have known and...
Kim Z., San Diego, CAI interviewed four attorneys before I picked you to represent me. The others were only interested in my assets, not me personally. But you were different. Your compassion, competence, ethics, toughness, and communication skills were obvious. I made the right pick: During my divorce, you commanded the situation, explained exactly...
R. P., Carlsbad, CAJWB Family Law
San Diego Office
1620 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 234-6123
JWB Family Law
Temecula Divorce Attorneys
43537 Ridge Park Dr, Suite 100
Temecula, CA 92590
Phone: (951) 297-3871
JWB Family Law
El Centro
300 S Imperial Ave, #10
El Centro, CA 92243
Phone: (760) 460-4608
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Divorce Proceedings
Divorce is a complex and emotionally challenging process that requires careful consideration and strategic decision-making. From navigating legal intricacies to managing the emotional turmoil, divorcing couples often find themselves overwhelmed and prone to making critical mistakes that can impact their future. In the following article, diligent San Diego lawyers shed light on the common mistakes to avoid during divorce proceedings, empowering individuals to safeguard their interests and achieve a smoother transition to a new chapter in life.
What are the most common divorce mistakes?
When going through a divorce, it’s important to be aware of the most common mistakes that individuals often make during the process. They can have far-reaching consequences, impacting the division of assets, child custody arrangements, and overall emotional well-being.
Posting on social media
During a divorce, you should avoid posting anything about your divorce because it will likely be negatively construed against you and lodged with the Court. You can still use your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. However, it is important to be aware of what you post, when you post it, and how these online posts could affect your divorce. You should be aware of not only your posts but also any comments or replies to others because any negative comment or reply can be construed in a negative light when it comes to custody and visitation, division of your assets, or other contested issues. These comments or replies do not disappear even if you delete them. It is wise to check your privacy settings at the beginning of your divorce because this ensures any postings, comments, or replies will less likely be seen by the opposing party.
Removing funds out of a joint account
You should avoid removing any funds out of a joint account until there is an agreement or judgment to divide the account. When a petition is filed and starts the divorce proceeding, California law imposes automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROs) prohibiting you or your spouse from making financial changes, such as withdrawing funds from a joint account. If you withdraw funds from a joint account, you may be required to reimburse your spouse, and could be subject to sanctions by the court.
Hiding any marital asset
California is a community property state. Community property is property acquired by spouses during marriage. This means you and your spouse have a one-half interest in the assets and debts acquired during marriage. In a divorce proceeding, you and your spouse are required to provide accurate and complete disclosure of all assets and liabilities in which either spouse has or may have an interest or obligation including information about income and expenses of the spouse. If you do not make a proper disclosure, it can result in inequitable agreements. This may require the Court to set aside agreements or judgments to advance the public interest of proper and accurate disclosures. Hiding marital assets will also likely result in a breach of fiduciary duty and warrant an imposition of a punishment or sanction.
Discussing your divorce with your children
In California, the Court emphasizes the best interests of the children when deciding custody, visitation, and child support. It is in your child’s best interest to avoid speaking about your divorce or speaking ill of the other parent because it can hurt your child to hear ill of any parent and it can poorly affect a parent’s relationship with their child. However, many parents make the mistake of using their kids as pawns or middlemen in a contentious divorce because of anger and resentment towards the other parent.
Moving away with your child without a move away order
During a divorce, either the Court will issue a custody order, or the parties will stipulate to an agreement on physical and legal custody. Typically, the Family Court favors joint physical custody which grants the parents equal parenting time of their child. This means neither you nor your spouse can move or even take your child across state lines unless there is permission from the other party. Neither spouse is entitled to keep your child away from the other spouse. There needs to be a court order permitting a move away with your child before any party can move beyond state lines with your child.
Misusing a restraining order
You should not use a restraining order as a sword instead of a shield. This means a party should not file an order of protection to antagonize the other party, alienate a child from the other party, and/or obtain leverage in other related issues, such as custody, visitation, or finances. If you do so, you are using the domestic violence restraining order as a “sword” to gain the upper hand instead of a “shield” of protection from violence. The purpose of a domestic violence restraining order is to prevent the recurrence of acts of abuse and to protect the victim from further abuse. It is not meant to be used as leverage or a means of controlling your divorce.
Representing yourself
The legal system is already complex, but navigating a divorce proceeding is even more intricate, especially for an individual with no legal background or experience. The legal process encompasses proper filings, responses, servicing, discovery, and appearing in Court. It is best to hire an attorney who is proficient in family law and legal proceedings to assist in your case. This ensures everything is legal and you receive favorable terms. 
Who are the best San Diego divorce lawyers?
At JWB Family Law, we understand the significance of choosing the right legal representation during family law matters, including divorce. Our team of committed attorneys provides personalized and strategic guidance tailored to your specific needs. With our expertise in uncontested and contested divorces, we’re well-equipped to help you navigate the complexities of these proceedings. Our firm recognizes the common mistakes that can arise during divorce proceedings, particularly in areas such as property division, and we’re committed to helping you avoid these pitfalls. You can rest assured that you will have a trusted advocate by your side in San Diego guiding you through the legal complexities, protecting your rights, and working towards a favorable resolution, all with the utmost care and professionalism.