Family Law Services in Murrieta & Menifee

Over 25 years of trusted family law representation in Murrieta, Menifee, and surrounding areas.

Divorce & Legal Separation

Divorce and legal separation can involve decisions about property, support, and children. Having a professional lawyer especially local to Murrieta or Menifee can help you identify the issues that need attention and prepare for negotiation or court.

Laurie Coker Law is your go-to high-asset divorce attorney in Murrieta or Menifee area, specializing in handling real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, investments, or separate-property claims.

As a knowledgeable legal separation attorney, Laurie can explain how legal separation differs from divorce and help you make an informed decision based on your situation.

Mediation

Mediation is a process that may help spouses to resolve divorce or family-law issues outside of court. In mediation, a neutral mediator helps the parties discuss possible terms for property, support, and parenting issues.

Mediation may focus on:

Each party may choose to obtain independent legal advice before signing an agreement.

Paternity

Parentage, sometimes called paternity, is the legal process for establishing a child’s legal parents. These matters may include custody, parenting time, child support, and pregnancy- or birth-related expenses.

If you’re needing a child custody lawyer in Murrieta or Menifee area, Laurie Coker Law office can help a parent handle topics such as:

Support issues can become more detailed when income includes overtime, commissions, seasonal work, military pay, or disability benefits.

Presumed Father

Under certain circumstances, a court may recognize someone as a child’s legal parent even when that person is not the child’s biological parent. These matters can involve long-standing parent-child relationships, custody concerns, and detailed questions about legal parentage.

Laurie Coker Law helps clients understand the facts and complicated legal issues that may be relevant in presumed-parent cases.

Domestic Abuse & Restraining Orders

Domestic-violence restraining-order matters often require quick, careful action. A person seeking protection may need help understanding the process, organizing relevant information, and preparing for a hearing.

Conduct that may be relevant to a restraining-order request can include:

Physical violence or threats
Sexual Abuse
Harassment
Coercive Control
Conduct that may disturb another person’s peace

A person served with a temporary restraining order must follow the orders listed in the court papers. Depending on the orders issued, the matter may affect contact with children, access to a residence, and possession of firearms or ammunition. Laurie Coker Law represents clients in Murrieta, Menifee, and the surrounding area who are seeking or responding to domestic violence restraining orders.

Pre-Marital (Pre-Nuptial) & Post-Marital (Post-Nuptial) Agreements

A premarital agreement, often called a prenuptial agreement, is made before marriage. A postmarital agreement, often called a postnuptial agreement, is made after a couple is married.

These agreements may address:

Separate and community property
Business interests
Real estate and retirement assets
Debt
Financial expectations during marriage
Spousal-support provisions, where permitted by law

California has specific requirements for these agreements. Laurie Coker Law assists clients with reviewing, negotiating, and preparing pre-marital and post-marital agreements

LGBTQ

Laurie Coker Law serves LGBTQ+ clients and families of all structures throughout Murrieta, Menifee, and the surrounding area. We handle family-law matters involving same-sex marriage and divorce, domestic partnerships, adoption, parentage, custody, support, and parentage matters that may involve more than two legal parents in appropriate cases.

Every client deserves respectful, individualized legal guidance.

Adoption

Adoption creates a legal parent-child relationship and involves specific legal requirements. Laurie Coker Law assists with several types of adoption matters.

Stepparent adoption: May be an option when a stepparent has taken on a committed parental role. Termination of the other legal parent’s rights is usually required before the adoption can be finalized.
Independent adoption: A direct placement between birth parent(s) and prospective adoptive parent(s), without an adoption agency participating in the case.
Adult adoption: A legal process through which one adult adopts another adult, subject to California requirements.

Contact Laurie Coker Law to discuss the adoption process that applies to your family in Murrieta, Menifee, or the surrounding area.