Choosing to leave a loveless marriage is often a heart-wrenching decision. Even if there’s no love left between the two of you, you still have history together, which likely included many good times. Ending a relationship is often the healthiest choice, but it can still be incredibly difficult – particularly if you rely on your spouse for financial support.

But you don’t have to resign yourself to being destitute after separating from your spouse. Your ex still has an obligation to make sure your basic needs are being met, even if you’re about to be divorced.

According to California law, alimony may be required either temporarily or permanently to help the lower-earning spouse maintain their accustomed standard of living on their own.

If you’re worried about making ends meet after separating from your spouse contact Attorney Torrence L. Howell about securing a fair alimony agreement. The best way to ensure your basic needs will be met following a separation is to secure an alimony order ASAP following a separation from a spouse.

How is alimony determined?

You’re probably wondering how much alimony you can expect to receive. This amount varies dramatically depending on the financial circumstances of each divorcing couple. When one spouse can’t feasibly maintain the standard of living experienced during the marriage, and the other spouse is financially able to help, alimony may be awarded. The key factors that determine the amount of alimony are:

• Length of the marriage
• Individual contribution of each spouse to the marriage – not just financially, but also in terms of childcare and homemaking contributions
• Individual financial resources including non-marital assets and marital assets
• Spouses’ age and health status

Check out our helpful alimony calculator

Here at Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell, we’re all about making your life easier. That’s why we have this handy alimony calculator. Use it to determine a rough estimate of the amount of alimony you can reasonable expect to receive following a divorce.

For a more personalized estimate and legal advice for all your concerns during a divorce, contact Attorney Howell for assistance. Schedule a free initial consultation with him at your earliest convenience by calling (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com.

Do I have to hire an attorney to get alimony?

It’s certainly possible to reach an alimony agreement without input from attorneys or the courts, but it would be easy to accidentally agree to unfair terms. Even if you only come to consult with Attorney Howell about your alimony terms once, it’s a good idea to have his input to ensure you receive the amount you deserve. Attorney Howell will gladly provide you all the essential information so you can make a wise decision about your alimony agreement and any other legal matters that arise during your divorce.

Schedule your first meeting with Attorney Howell now by calling (909) 920-0908, emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com, or clicking “free case evaluation” at the top of this page.

If your husband, wife, or partner falsely accused you of harassment, you’re probably dealing with intense emotional turmoil. You probably don’t know what to do – especially if friends and family members believe the false accusations. You may feel like there’s nothing you could do to improve your situation, but you’d be wrong.

Defend yourself against false accusations of harassment with the expert assistance of Upland’s best criminal defense attorney, Torrence L. Howell. Even if you’ve only been accused of harassment, your situation is serious, because you could end up being arrested on domestic violence charges.

Why would someone falsely accuse their partner of harassment?

In many instances, a partner accuses his or her spouse of harassment to influence the outcome of a pending or future family law case. Perhaps you’re in the midst of a child custody battle or a bitterly contested divorce, and your partner believes they can falsely accuse you of harassment as a way to ensure the outcome comes out in their favor. But if the accusations are false, don’t give up hope! This charge can be fought successfully with the expert assistance of Attorney Torrence L. Howell.

Why is Attorney Howell?

Attorney Torrence L. Howell is uniquely qualified to assist you with all aspects of your case because he specializes in family law and criminal defense. He can effectively evaluate all the details of your case and off you specialized legal advice that you can really count on. Attorney Howell has worked with clients who are dealing with complicated family law situations for over 29 years, so when you speak with him, you can rest assured that his input is solidly based on many years of real experience.

How Attorney Howell could help you

He may be able to acquire the dismissal of all harassment charges against you and prevent an ex from manipulating your other family law case(s), if applicable. For example, Attorney Howell will strive to disprove the harassment accusations and prevent your partner from denying you custody or visitation of your kids based on the unfounded accusations that you harassed them.

Don’t leave the outcome of your case up to chance

Many people decide to contact “just any” lawyer to help them with challenging family law matters. Instead of leaving your case up to luck or chance, call Attorney Howell about your situation, and you’ll receive expert service throughout your case. You’ll be able to confidently say that Attorney Howell served you well throughout your case, and did everything he could to affect the ideal outcome.

All prospective clients should contact Attorney Howell today by calling his office at (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com to schedule an initial appointment. It’s completely free, and there’s no obligation to continue working with Attorney Howell afterward. But when you come for an appointment, you’ll likely see that he has the expertise and dedication to achieve a positive outcome in your case. Contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell today.

When you’re ready to sell your business, it might not seem necessary to hire a lawyer to help during this transition. Perhaps you think selling your business is a relatively straight-forward task. After all, businesses are bought and sold all the time – what’s the big deal?

Actually, consulting with an attorney while preparing to sell your business is tremendously beneficial. There are many essential legal factors that need to be considered and effectively addresses when selling a business. When you work with an attorney who specializes in business law, such as Attorney Torrence L. Howell, you can rest assured that your business sale will go through without a hitch.

How Attorney Howell will help you

Attorney Howell will assist you during every step of the business sale process. He’ll provide you with solid legal advice, backed by over his 29+ years as a business law specialist. You’ll be able to confidently sell your business with Attorney Howell on your side.

Legal documents review

Attorney Howell can facilitate every detail of your business sale, including making sure all the essential documents are structured and filled out properly to prevent any future litigation. Essential aspects of your business sale that Attorney Howell will make sure proceed smoothly include the establishment of a fair purchase price, itemization of all physical assets included in the sale (such as furniture, files, patents, customer lists, etc.), and the inclusion of a non-compete clause for previous owners who plan to remain in the same field as the business they’re selling.

Starting a new business?

Attorney Howell will look out for your best interests every step of the way during the sale of your business. If you plan on starting a new business in the future, be sure to keep his contact information handy, because he can help you with any and all legal aspects of business law.

Got questions?

Anytime you have questions about any business law matter, feel free to schedule a consultation with Attorney Howell. Your first consultation is absolutely free. There, Attorney Howell will evaluate your situation and give you personalized legal advice based on your exact circumstances. You can trust Attorney Howell’s professional opinion because it’s backed by many years of experience in the business law field. He has a solid moral character that you can trust to help you navigate any business law matter with absolute ease and confidence.

Contact information

Contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell today to make an appointment with Attorney Howell. Perhaps it’ll be the start of a professional relationship that you can really depend on for many years to come. You can make an appointment by simply calling (909) 920-0908, emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com, or by sending an online message in the field below this blog.

Anytime a business partnership needs to dissolve, there are important legal considerations that need to be taken into account. If your business partner has decided to end your partnership and leave the business, here’s what you need to know.

Does your business consist of just 2 owners?

If your business only has 2 owners – your partner and yourself – then you may have to dissolve the partnership entirely. This is because under California law, a business can’t be a partnership if it only has one owner. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to pursue the establishment of a sole proprietorship under various corporate structures.

Attorney Torrence L. Howell specializes in business law, and he’d be happy to walk you through all the options that may be open to you at any given time in your business’ history. He’ll provide you with specialized advice that’s tailored to your exact situation, and guide you through all the necessary legal options. Schedule a free intial consultation now by calling (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com. His office is conveniently located in Upland, CA, and night and evening appointments are often available upon request.

Got a new business partner?

If you’ve already found a replacement business partner, there are certain legal options available to you according to this situation. Attorney Howell will definitely need to be retained to provide you with expert legal advice and guidance during this transitional time. He will facilitate the sale of the old partner’s shares to the new partner, and ensure the responsibilities of all partners (current and former) are clearly explained in a legally binding document. Having Attorney Howell on your side during any legal situation that arises during the lifetime of your business is extremely helpful.

Your Upland, CA business lawyer

Anytime you need a business lawyer in the Upland, CA, area, call Attorney Torrence L. Howell. Every new client is entitled to a free initial case evaluation. At that appointment, you’re welcome to ask any questions you have and receive sound legal advice according to your situation. When it comes to business matters, you need to find someone you can really trust. Attorney Howell has been practicing business law for over 29 years, and has a proven track record of excellence.

Before scheduling your first appointment, it may be helpful to check out most frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers from the law offices of Torrence L. Howell. Check them out here! Attorney Howell are always looking for ways to serve his clients and potential clients better, and this page is a key part of that ongoing effort.

Call (909) 920-0908 or email info@torrencelhowelllaw.com to meet with Attorney Howell about your business law matter ASAP!

So you and your spouse are considering getting divorced… what a tough situation. You’re likely feeling a tsunami of emotions right now – some relief (maybe even a touch of elation) – sadness, anger, grief, emptiness – the list goes on… Maybe you wish you could go back in time and not get married in the first place, or perhaps you comfort yourself with the thought that everything happens as it should, even though life can be incredibly difficult at times.

Whatever you’re going through right now, you should know that Upland, CA, veteran divorce Attorney Torrance L. Howell is here for you. If you live in the Upland area and you’re pondering a divorce, come speak to him anytime during business hours about your situation (8am to 5pm). Alternatively, you can request an appointment by calling (909) 920-0908, emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com, or using the online contact form at the top of this page.

Why come speak with Attorney Howell?

Attorney Howell will walk you through all your options, without pressuring you, to make sure you make an information-based decision to move forward with your divorce plans or give your marriage another go. There are many factors involved in a divorce, and it’s helpful to make sure you go into this intense decision with your eyes wide open.

Attorney Howell has been helping people navigate divorces for over 29 years. He’ll evaluate all the details of your situation and offer you personalized advice when you come in for a free initial consultation.

Divorce issues

Each divorce is different, because each one involves a different set of people, but there are common factors that affect just about every divorce. If you’ve only been married for a short time, and don’t have children or large assets, your divorce will be relatively straight-forward. But if you’ve been married for more than 10 years, you may have to work out alimony terms. If you have children, you’ll need to set up terms in the divorce agreements about who gets custody and visitation rights, as well as child support. If one or both of you owns a business, Attorney Howell is an especially good choice as your divorce attorney because he practices both family and business law. If you would like to keep your business intact during the divorce, he’ll guide you through the options that will likely allow for that to happen. He’ll make sure agreements are fair to both parties according to the last minute legal detail.

Do I really need an attorney?

If you and your soon-to-be ex spouse have reached agreements on all of the key issues in your divorce settlement, you may be wondering if you need a lawyer at all. You should definitely consult with Attorney Howell about your divorce. Here’s why:

Attorney Howell can help you navigate all kinds of legal tasks 99% of Californians aren’t familiar with – including filing for divorce, serving divorce papers your spouse, and providing you with all the legal options in your specific divorce case so you can make wise, informed decisions.

Free initial consultation

You have nothing to lose and so much to gain when you schedule a free consultation with Attorney Howell today. All information shared with Attorney Howell is kept strictly confidential, so it’s okay if you don’t end up proceeding with your divorce after all. Contact Attorney Howell’s office for a free consultation today by calling (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com.

Getting a divorce is no one’s idea of a good time. It can be downright stressful for everyone involved – particularly because there are so many legal decisions that need to be made. It’s not like you enjoy working with your ex, or you wouldn’t be getting divorced. You need someone to help walk you through all the legal considerations during your divorce to make sure fair agreements are reached. This time period will impact your future for many years to come, so make sure you handle it correctly by enlisting the expert assistance of Attorney Torrence L. Howell. He’ll be glad to help make sure your divorce proceeds smoothly and that equitable solutions are attained.

 Do I really need an attorney?

Many people wonder whether hiring an attorney is totally necessary at all. Divorcing couples who don’t have kids, have few assets, and have been married a short period of time can often take advantage of the new One Day Divorce programs that are now being offered in select California counties.

Advantages of enlisting the services of an attorney during your divorce

But if you have kids, assets to divide between partners, or have been married for more than a few years, working with Attorney Howell is definitely the wisest course of action. He will help you through all kinds of important tasks including filing for divorce, serving papers to your spouse, ensure equitable division of assets, mediate between parties to strive to keep you out of court, and provide essential information about your rights and options for reaching a divorce settlement.

Without an attorney, you may inadvertently agree to unreasonable divorce terms – including division of property, alimony, child support, or child custody agreements. But when you consult with Attorney Howell, you’ll enter divorce negotiations, mediation, or litigation with a full understanding of your and your ex’s rights. Attorney Howell will also advise you about what you can reasonably expect the outcome of your divorce settlement to be so you won’t have to deal with any unexpected surprised.

Ready to speak with Attorney Howell?

As a prospective client, you’re welcome to schedule a free consultation with Attorney Howell now. During your first appointment with Attorney Howell, feel free to ask any questions you may have about your situation, and he’ll provide you with answers based on his many years of experience advising clients about their divorces in Southern California.

Divorce worries

If you’re worried about dividing your assets or any other aspect of your divorce terms, come speak with Attorney Howell about it today. He’ll go over all the details of your situation and offer you specialized advice that you can count on and begin to apply right away.

Call Attorney Howell’s office in Upland, CA today to schedule an appointment. Call (909) 920-0908 or email info@torrencelhowelllaw.com to request your free case evaluation now.

Many couples go through trial separations when they’re not getting along well. Sometimes these trial separations are brief and the couple gets back together stronger than ever – other times, not so much. If you are your spouse have separated, you may be wondering what your legal options may be. How should you move forward?

What are your options?

The best way to find out what your legal options may be is coming to speak to Southern California’s most trusted family law attorney, Torrence L. Howell. Anyone who is going through a trial separation is welcome to schedule an appointment with Attorney Howell. There, he’ll ask plenty of questions about your exact situation and offer you specifically tailored legal advice.

Straight-forward legal advice

Attorney Howell will provide you with honest legal advice that you can count on as you move forward. He’ll offer you even-handed advice that will give you real peace of mind. Dealing with a separation can be tremendously difficult emotionally, so you need someone to help you navigate the practical, legal considerations. Attorney Howell will always keep your rights and best interests in mind, always advising you on the ideal course of action without pressuring you in the least.

Issues to be aware of during a separation

During your first initial consultation with Attorney Howell, he’ll go over all of the most essential information to be aware of according to your exact situation. This may include:

• Alimony
• Child custody
• Child support
• Divorce
• Domestic violence
• Property rights

Modifications, too

If you do decide to get divorced after a trial separation, you should know that life doesn’t stand still. Children grow up, former spouses’ income changes, and many other factors may make the child support and custody agreements set out in divorce terms less than ideal. With Attorney Howell on your side, you can be confident that the terms in your divorce case will be set with absolute diligence and fairness.

Family and business law

Attorney Howell specializes in both family and business law, so he’s especially well-suited to helping separated spouses through the legal nuances of divorce when one or both partners own a business. Division of business assets can be rather tricky, particularly if the goal is to keep the business intact. That’s why it’s incredibly beneficial to have Attorney Howell help you through setting the terms of your divorce. His knowledge of business-savvy issues during divorces will be an invaluable tool to you as you go about this life-changing process.

Find out if Attorney Howell is the right family law attorney for you by scheduling a free case evaluation with him today. He’ll be glad to go over all the details of your case with you when you make an appointment by calling (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com. Evening and weekend appointments can often be arranged upon request.

Attorney Torrence L. Howell practices family law in the Upland, CA area. He also specializes in business law, which gives him a real advantage when it comes to advising and representing clients in matters that intertwine family and business law. Clients have found that one of his most helpful tools is the Divorce Checklist. It’s important consider all of the items listed on this checklist to ensure your divorce proceeds smoothly. There are more items that could be added to this list according to the circumstances of each divorce. For personalized divorce legal advice, mediation, and representation, contact Attorney Torrence L. Howell for a free initial case evaluation today. Call (909) 920-0908 or email info@torrencelhowelllaw.com to make an appointment now.

In the meantime, here’s a helpful checklist everyone who’s getting a divorce can use. If you’d like, you can download this the Divorce Checklist as a PDF here.

This Checklist is divided into 3 categories – Children Decisions, Support Decisions, and Equitable Distribution. First, let’s start with Children Decisions.

Children Decisions:

• Parenting options (sole decision making by one parent, join decision-making but residence primarily with one parent, split residence and decision-making, etc.)
• Access or visitation? (weekdays/weekends, holidays and long weekends, school recesses, summer vacations, birthdays, phone calls, notice of changes, and expenses of missed times, etc.)
• Geographic restriction (foreign travel, relocation with the children, etc.)
• Access to records (doctors, dentists, schools, etc.)
• Notification (addresses and phone numbers, illnesses and accidents, children’s whereabouts, etc.)
• Grandparent visitation

Next up, we have Support Decisions:

• Child support (amount, date of payment, cost of living adjustments, amount of reduction upon emancipation of one child)
• Definition of emancipation (age, college, marriage, living away from home, employment, etc.)
• Extra expenses (college or private school tuition, childcare costs, summer camp/activities, extracurricular activities)
• Medical (insurance coverage, procedure for claims filing and reimbursement, payment for uncovered expenses, decisions on elective procedures including orthodontia, dental, prescription, eyeglasses, psychotherapy expenses, etc.)
• Life insurance (amount, duration, type, beneficiary, trustee for children, amount of cash value, etc.)
• Alimony (amount, cost of living adjustment, time of payment, duration, etc.)
• Health insurance/COBRA rights

Lastly, we have Equitable Distribution:

• House or condo real estate (if marital home is sold, who occupies until sale, who pays expenses until sale on mortgage, taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs, etc.)
• Sale of house (when, age or graduation of children, remarriage or cohabitation, how to determine selling price, option to buy, expenses of sale, division of proceeds, capital gains exposure, etc.)
• Consideration is the marital home is to be retained by one person (who remains in home, valuation of home, division of value – lump sum and/or payout, etc.)
• Business interests (method of valuation, division of value: lump sum and/or payout, etc.)
• Retirement funds (valuation, division of value – lump sum and/or payout, etc.)
• Division of personal property (bank accounts and liquid assets, stocks, bonds, tax shelters, cars, jewelry, collectibles, household furniture, family photographs, etc.)

Other important issues include:

• Estate waivers (effects of waivers, provisions for children of this marriage, etc.)
• Tax returns (liability or refunds on past returns, future filings, child dependency exemptions, etc.)
• Costs of divorce (how to divide legal costs, filing fees and expert witness fees, including accountants, appraisers, etc.)

If you have any questions, need some guidance about your specific divorce, or are ready to start working with Attorney Howell right away, schedule your first initial consultation now by calling (909) 920-0908 or emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com. Attorney Howell looks forward to offering you impeccable legal advice and representation so your divorce can proceed as smoothly as possible.

Attorney Torrence L. Howell specializes in family law in the Upland, CA area. He has been practicing family law here for over 29 years, so there’s virtually no question he hasn’t heard before already. But there are many questions that just about every client asks him. If you’re considering scheduling a free initial consultation with Attorney Howell, learning the answers to these questions now may be helpful. Here are the top FAQs Attorney Howell receives just about on a daily basis:

How do I file for a divorce?

A California, filing for a divorce is relatively simple. All you have to do is file a Petition for Dissolution, pay a small fee, and have papers served to your spouse. While it’s a relatively simple process, it’s always a good idea to enlist the expertise of Attorney Howell to make sure your paperwork is in order before filing.

Can my ex block the divorce?

No, California state law allows for a divorce to proceed without the participation of both spouses. He or she may not contest the divorce, but they may contest certain provisions such as alimony, child support, etc.

How does alimony work?

In almost all cases, alimony is provided by a high-earning spouse to the low-earning one. The amount will be vary, with the goal being to ensure the lower-earning spouse enjoys a similar lifestyle as when he or she was married. If you and your spouse aren’t able to reach an agreement on alimony terms on your own, Attorney Howell will mediate between you to hopefully come to a consensus. If that’s not possible, you’ll have to go to court, where the judge will use the alimony calculator and consider other factors as well to determine your alimony terms.

How long does alimony last?

There’s no hard and fast rule about how long alimony lasts. If a couple is married for more than 10 years, lifetime alimony may be put in place. Many cases decide to have the alimony period last for half the length of the marriage – others provide alimony as a one-time lump sum payment.

What if I have a pre-nup?

Pre-nups aren’t ironclad. They may be invalidated in court based on various factors. If you believe your pre-nup is unfair, come speak with Attorney Howell about getting in annulled.

How are retirement accounts handled in divorce?

Most retirement account amounts must be divided in half in the event of a divorce. In the case of IRA accounts, one spouse may choose to buy out the other to make sure all assets are divided evenly.

There are many other FAQs that Attorney Howell receives constantly, such as:

• How is child support calculated?
• What are my child custody options?
• What are my visitation options?
• Can I deny my ex visitation?
• What if I’m not happy with the provisions of my divorce decree?

Feel free to check out more answers to these FAQs here. And if you have further questions, don’t hesitate to schedule a free initial consultation with Attorney Howell. Just call his office at (909) 920-0908 or email info@torrencelhowelllaw.com to discuss your important family law matter with him ASAP.

If you are in the midst of a divorce and you’re trying to set divorce terms, it can be incredibly difficult to reach agreements in all areas. Common problematic areas include alimony, child custody and visitation, child support, and property rights. If there are any domestic violence issues, these issues become even more complicated and difficult to navigate effectively.

No matter what problems are coming up during your divorce, it’s essential that you contact an attorney who specializes in family law to help you set fair divorce terms that both parties to satisfy both parties. Even if your divorce settlement is relatively straight-forward, working with an experienced family law attorney will give you great peace of mind before, during, and after your divorce.

What to do about child visitation disagreements

Child visitation terms is one of those divorce areas where it’s absolutely essential to reach an agreement. If you and your ex are having arguments about the child visitation terms of your divorce, without making any progress on reaching an agreement, you don’t have to just keep hitting your head against the wall, so to speak. Help is available to you!

Free consultation with Attorney Howell

All you have to do is come speak with family law specialist attorney Torrence L. Howell. His office is located in Upland, California, and he’ll be glad to meet you for a free initial consultation about your upcoming divorce. As your divorce attorney, he’ll make sure all terms of your divorce are fair and equitable to both parties while always making sure your rights and bests interests are protected throughout the process.

Stay out of court if you can

Attorney Howell always recommends resolving disputes between exes outside of the court system whenever possible, particularly when children are involved. While a judge will strive to be objective and rule in the best interests of the child, only parents can really know what’s best for the child’s continual well-being. Arbitration can also be incredibly expensive because of the legal costs involved, and it’s also very time-consuming. Save yourself the hassle, money, and time spent on going to court, and work with Attorney Howell instead to resolve all your divorce terms issues.

Expert mediation services

Attorney Howell will help you and your ex reach an agreement on child visitation terms and all other issues that may arise during your divorce proceedings. He has many years of experience mediating between exes, so he will know just what to do to resolve your disagreement successfully.

Start working with Attorney Howell today by calling his Upland, California office at (909) 920-0908, by emailing info@torrencelhowelllaw.com, or by clicking “Free Case Evaluation” at the top right of this page to send an online message.