Every divorce comes with its own set of challenges, and same-sex couples deserve legal guidance that recognizes their individual family circumstances. Whether you are navigating the division of shared property, determining financial support, or resolving matters involving children, Shorb & Connor, LLP, helps you understand your rights and available options. We work to address your concerns with care and develop a practical approach that supports your goals as you begin the next chapter of your life.
Same-sex divorce in California follows the same Family Code as any other marriage, but the legal picture is often more layered. Overlapping domestic partnership histories, parentage questions involving assisted reproductive technology, and marriages that predate full legal recognition all add complexity that calls for attorneys who work these issues every day. At Shorb & Connor, LLP, we’ve focused exclusively on family law and divorce since 2013, and we serve Chula Vista clients filing at the South County Regional Center.
Founding attorneys Andrew L. Shorb and Kristin L. Connor built the firm around a single practice focus: divorce and family law. That concentration means same-sex divorce complexities aren’t exceptions here. They’re part of the daily work. From the first call, clients speak with our team, and every consultation is with an attorney.
Call us at (888) 222-1220 to schedule your free consultation with a same-sex divorce attorney in Chula Vista.
Every attorney at our firm works family law and divorce matters only. There’s no rotation between practice areas and no hand-offs to associates. You work with a dedicated attorney and paralegal team from first contact through resolution.
Andrew Shorb’s background in civil litigation and public defense strengthens complex property analysis and courtroom advocacy. Kristin Connor’s grounding in California family law brings precision to custody, support, and parentage matters. Together, they lead a firm built for cases that require both legal rigor and personal attention.
We handle high-net-worth and military divorces for same-sex couples, and our familiarity with San Diego County Superior Court procedures, including the South County Division serving Chula Vista, supports effective local case management.
Our representation covers the full range of issues that arise in same-sex divorce. These cases often involve more moving parts than a standard divorce, and we address each one directly.
Marital Property Division
California is a community property state. Assets and debts acquired during marriage are generally divided equally, but same-sex couples may also hold property acquired before the right to marry was legally recognized. That history can require additional documentation and careful tracing to distinguish community from separate assets.
Domestic Partnership Dissolution
A divorce decree dissolves only the marriage. If a prior registered domestic partnership wasn’t converted into the marriage, it may remain a live legal relationship requiring its own termination. We address both statuses and the property implications that come with each.
Child Custody and Parenting Plans
California family courts decide child custody based on the best interests of the child and don’t discriminate based on parental sexual orientation. For non-biological parents, particularly when children were conceived through assisted reproductive technology, additional steps may be needed to establish parental rights. We treat parentage as part of every custody discussion.
Spousal Support
Support calculations consider the length of the marriage. Couples with pre-marriage domestic partnership histories may face additional complexity in determining the relevant relationship duration for spousal support.
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
When safety is a concern, we can move quickly to seek the protections California law provides.
Name and Gender Marker Changes
Restoring a former name can be handled in the divorce judgment, while a gender marker change generally requires a separate petition. When clients need it, we include the process as part of our representation.
Many same-sex couples in Chula Vista entered a registered domestic partnership before same-sex marriage became legally available in California. When those couples later married, the domestic partnership didn’t automatically disappear in every case. A divorce decree terminates only the marriage. If the domestic partnership wasn’t converted into or merged with the marriage, it remains a separate legal relationship requiring its own termination proceeding. Until both are dissolved, neither party is free to remarry.
This distinction carries real financial consequences. Property and debts accumulated during a domestic partnership may be subject to community property principles depending on when the partnership was registered and what rights it carried at the time. California spousal support rules are largely based on the duration of the marriage, but a prior domestic partnership may extend the legally relevant period courts consider. Couples who converted a domestic partnership to a marriage should confirm with an attorney whether that conversion merged both relationships or left the partnership as a separate status requiring its own termination.
Chula Vista residents file all family law pleadings and appear for hearings at the South County Regional Center, the San Diego Superior Court branch serving the South County Division. Our familiarity with that court’s local procedures helps us manage your case efficiently from filing through final judgment.
Before filing in San Diego County, at least one spouse must have been a California resident for six months and a San Diego County resident for three months immediately before filing. California is a no-fault divorce state, with irreconcilable differences as the standard ground available to every married couple. Once the petition is filed and served, California Family Code § 2339 requires a mandatory six-month waiting period before the court can enter a final judgment. The clock starts on the date of service of the summons and petition, or the date the respondent files an appearance, whichever comes first.
If the marriage took place outside California, that doesn’t affect your ability to file in San Diego County as long as at least one spouse meets the residency requirements. Same-sex couples who married in California but later relocated to a jurisdiction that won’t dissolve the marriage may also file here under California Family Code § 2320(b), which waives the standard residency requirement in that circumstance. The case is filed in the county where the marriage was originally entered.
From first contact, you work with a dedicated attorney who builds a focused strategy around your background, children, property, and relationship history, including any prior domestic partnership. We stay in regular contact throughout the process, providing clear updates so you understand each development as it happens. Our aim is to reach agreement where possible. When negotiation proves difficult, we’re prepared to protect your interests in court.
Starting the process doesn’t require a commitment. Our free consultation gives you the chance to speak directly with an attorney, review how California law applies to your situation, and get an honest picture of what lies ahead.
Shorb & Connor, LLP, serves Chula Vista and San Diego County. Call (888) 222-1220 to schedule your session with a divorce lawyer in Chula Vista today.
Learn the legal procedure for divorce in California with this free downloadable infographic. San Diego divorce attorneys Andrew Shorb and Kristin Connor share details about the various paths a divorce case can take and what to expect at each step.
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