Answers to the questions you're probably already asking yourself.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
FlexLaw is our modern approach to family law representation. Instead of paying a massive upfront retainer and getting billed by the hour with no real control over costs, you choose a monthly plan that matches your needs—and only pay for additional legal work when you actually need it.
Think of it this way: traditional law firms offer one-size-fits-all representation. You pay $10,000 or more upfront, the firm drives your case however they see fit, you get billed $500-600 per hour for every email, phone call, and court appearance, and at the end of the month you're surprised by a bill you weren't expecting. You have very little control, and very little visibility into what's happening with your money.
FlexLaw flips that model. You select a plan level (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum) that unlocks different categories of services. Your monthly fee covers your consultation access—daily chat sessions, email support, and video consultations depending on your plan. When you need actual legal work done—a document drafted, a settlement negotiated, a court appearance—you choose from our FlexLaw Projects menu at transparent, flat-fee prices.
You control what gets done. You control when it gets done. You control what you spend.
We're attorneys. Licensed, experienced, California-credentialed attorneys—including a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. We provide legal advice, legal strategy, and legal representation. We can appear in court for you. We can negotiate on your behalf. We can analyze your case and tell you what the law actually means for your specific situation.
Legal document preparers can fill out forms. They cannot give you legal advice, represent you in negotiations, or appear in court. They cannot tell you whether your proposed settlement is fair, whether you're entitled to spousal support, or how a judge is likely to rule on your custody arrangement.
The difference isn't just credentials—it's protection. When things get complicated (and family law often does), you want an attorney in your corner. With FlexLaw, you get exactly that—you just get to decide how much attorney involvement you need at any given moment.
We understand the skepticism. When you're going through a divorce, everything feels uncertain—and the last thing you need is to worry about whether your legal team is legitimate.
Here's what you should know: Our managing partner is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist—a credential held by fewer than 1% of California attorneys. Earning that certification requires passing a rigorous examination, demonstrating substantial family law experience, receiving favorable evaluations from judges and fellow attorneys, and completing ongoing specialized education. The State Bar of California only grants this designation to attorneys who have proven exceptional competence in family law.
Our team also includes Certified Collaborative Family Law Professionals and Registered Financial Consultants credentialed through the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC). That financial expertise means we handle complex property division, business valuation issues, and retirement account analysis in-house—work that many firms outsource to expensive third-party experts.
We handle our own appeals. We draft our own QDROs. We have over 30 years of combined family law experience. The only thing "different" about FlexLaw is the pricing model—not the quality of representation.
The State Bar of California certifies attorneys as "specialists" in specific practice areas through a rigorous credentialing process. To become a Board Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), an attorney must:
Fewer than 1% of licensed California attorneys hold this designation. When you work with a CFLS, you're working with someone the State Bar has independently verified as an expert—not just someone who "does" family law cases.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
We handle:
We do not handle dependency cases (child welfare/DCFS matters) or adoptions.
FlexLaw isn't just for simple cases. Our tiered structure is specifically designed to scale with complexity.
For high-asset cases involving business valuation, complex property division, or forensic accounting issues, our team includes Registered Financial Consultants who can handle that analysis in-house—saving you the cost of outside financial experts for many matters.
For contested custody situations, our Gold and Platinum plans provide negotiation and litigation representation. We can attend mediations, participate in settlement conferences, and appear in court for custody hearings.
The difference is that you decide how much support you need at each stage. Many clients start at Silver, handling initial paperwork and negotiations themselves with our guidance, and upgrade to Gold or Platinum only if their case becomes contested. Others know from the start they'll need courtroom representation and begin at Platinum.
Complexity doesn't disqualify you from FlexLaw—it just means you might need a higher tier.
Your attorney is just as "real." Our credentials, our experience, and our courtroom skills are identical to any traditional firm—we just charge differently.
When opposing counsel sees correspondence from our office, they see a Board Certified Family Law Specialist with 30+ years of combined team experience. They see professional pleadings, thorough discovery, and skilled negotiation. The fact that you're paying monthly instead of hourly doesn't change any of that.
In fact, our model often gives clients a strategic advantage. Traditional hourly billing creates pressure to settle quickly—every day the case drags on costs money. Our clients can afford to be patient. They can wait for a fair settlement rather than accepting a bad deal just to stop the billing clock.
You can change your plan at any time. FlexLaw is month-to-month with no long-term commitment.
If you start at Bronze thinking your divorce will be uncontested, but your spouse hires an aggressive attorney and starts filing motions, you can upgrade to Gold or Platinum the next month. If you start at Platinum expecting a fight but your spouse agrees to settle early, you can downgrade and save money.
You're never locked in. The plan you choose today doesn't have to be the plan you have tomorrow.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
FlexLaw plan range in pricing with monthly plans starting at $595 per month.
There's also a one-time Setup Fee of $195 when you enroll, covering onboarding, initial case assessment, and your first consultation.
Your monthly fee covers your consultation access—chat sessions, emails, and video calls depending on your tier. Actual legal work (documents, court appearances, negotiations) is purchased separately from our FlexLaw Projects menu at flat-fee prices.
FlexLaw Projects are the specific legal tasks we perform for you—drafting a petition, preparing discovery responses, appearing at a hearing, negotiating a settlement. Each project has a transparent, flat-fee price published in our Projects menu.
Examples:
You only purchase the projects you need. If your spouse agrees to everything and you just need us to draft the paperwork, you might only purchase 3-4 projects total. If your case is contested and requires multiple hearings, you'll purchase more.
Either way, you know the price before you commit. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices.
No. Your monthly plan fee is fixed. FlexLaw Projects are priced in advance. The only costs beyond these are third-party expenses that we don't control—court filing fees, process server fees, expert witness costs if you need them. And we'll always tell you about those before you incur them.
Compare that to traditional hourly billing, where you might receive a monthly invoice for $8,000 you weren't expecting because your attorney had several phone calls with opposing counsel you didn't know about.
With FlexLaw, you're in control. Nothing happens without your approval, and nothing gets billed without you knowing the price first.
We offer retainer financing through our lending partner that allows you to spread your legal costs over 36, 48, or 60 months.
Here's how it works: You decide how many months of service you want to finance (typically 6 months at a time). That total amount—say, 6 months of Gold service plus estimated projects—gets funded through a personal loan. The loan proceeds go into our client trust account, and we draw from that balance each month to cover your plan fee and any projects you purchase.
The result? Instead of paying $1,395/month out of pocket, you might pay $240-350/month on a 48-month term. You get professional legal representation now, while spreading the cost over time.
To get started:
If finances are tight, this option can make professional representation accessible when you need it most.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Limited scope representation—sometimes called "unbundled legal services"—means you hire an attorney to handle specific tasks rather than your entire case from start to finish.
Under the California Rules of Professional Conduct, attorneys are explicitly authorized to limit the scope of their representation with client consent. This isn't a loophole or a workaround—it's an established, ethically-sanctioned practice that's been growing for decades.
In a traditional "full scope" arrangement, your attorney handles everything: every document, every phone call, every court appearance, every decision. You pay for all of it whether you need it or not.
In a limited scope arrangement, you and your attorney agree in advance which tasks the attorney will handle and which you'll handle yourself. You might draft your own initial emails to your spouse but have your attorney review your settlement agreement. You might attend a mediation yourself but hire your attorney to appear for contested hearings.
You're not getting "less" of an attorney—you're getting the right amount of attorney for each stage of your case.
Absolutely. Limited scope representation isn't just legitimate—it's encouraged by California courts.
Family law has the highest rate of self-represented litigants of any civil court area. Judges see unrepresented parties every day, and they've consistently supported limited scope arrangements as a way to help more people access professional legal guidance.
California Rule of Court 5.70 specifically addresses limited scope representation in family law cases. Courts accept Judicial Council form FL-950 (Notice of Limited Scope Representation) to formally document when an attorney is appearing for specific proceedings only.
The reality is this: traditional full-scope representation is now the exception in family court, not the norm. Most family law clients today use some form of limited scope arrangement or unbundled services. You won't be treated differently—you'll be treated like the majority of litigants.
Limited scope representation is a powerful equalizer. It puts you in control in ways that traditional representation doesn't:
Control over costs. You decide which tasks to delegate and which to handle yourself. No more paying $500/hour for your attorney to write emails you could write yourself.
Control over direction. In traditional representation, the attorney often drives strategy. With limited scope, you stay actively involved in every decision. It's your divorce—you should have a say in how it's handled.
Control over involvement. Some clients want to be hands-on. They want to understand what's happening in their case, review every document, participate in every decision. Limited scope lets you be as involved as you want to be.
Better resource allocation. Instead of paying for unlimited attorney access you might not need, you invest your legal budget where it matters most—complex negotiations, contested hearings, critical strategy decisions.
This isn't about getting "less" representation. It's about getting smarter representation.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
California law requires a minimum of six months from service of the summons to entry of judgment. No divorce can be finalized faster than that, regardless of how simple or agreed-upon it is.
Beyond that minimum, your timeline depends largely on how cooperative the process is. If both parties are fully cooperative with no disputes, you can expect to finalize right around that six-month minimum. When one side causes minor delays—dragging their feet on paperwork, missing deadlines, or being slow to respond—you're typically looking at six to nine months. Once contested issues arise that require court hearings, the timeline extends to nine to eighteen months. And if your case involves complex litigation or goes all the way to trial (less than 2% chance), you could be looking at eighteen months or longer.
The biggest factor in your timeline? Whether you end up in court. The more you can resolve through negotiation, the faster and less expensive your divorce will be.
Not necessarily. You only need to appear in court if you reach an impasse—an issue you and your spouse simply cannot resolve through negotiation.
Here's the reality: 98% of divorce cases settle without trial. Only about 2% actually go before a judge for a final decision on contested issues. The goal is to put all your effort into the settlement track before concluding that something has truly reached an impasse.
Even when disputes arise, skilled practitioners work to resolve them through private channels rather than public court:
These forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) are often faster, less expensive, and less stressful than traditional litigation. Good attorneys are solutions-oriented—they find the path of least resistance to your goals rather than escalating every disagreement into a court battle.
If you genuinely reach an impasse on one or more issues, trial becomes necessary. But even then, you have options.
First, not every issue needs to go to trial. You might agree on property division but disagree on custody. You can settle what you can and litigate only what you must.
Second, "trial" doesn't always mean a dramatic courtroom showdown. Many contested issues are resolved through evidentiary hearings—shorter proceedings (often half a day) where the judge hears testimony and makes a decision on specific disputed matters.
Third, we always preserve your right to appeal. If a judge makes an error, you should have the option to challenge it. We handle our own appellate work—we don't outsource it—and we build the record throughout your case so that if an appeal becomes necessary, you're positioned to pursue it.
Trial is the last resort, not the default. But if you need to get there, we're prepared to take you.
Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage): Legally ends your marriage. You're no longer married and free to remarry. This is what most people mean when they talk about ending a marriage.
Legal Separation: A court order that divides your property, establishes support, and determines custody—but you remain legally married. Some people choose this for religious reasons, insurance purposes, or because they're not certain they want to permanently end the marriage.
Annulment: A legal declaration that your marriage was never valid in the first place. Annulments are only available in specific circumstances—fraud, bigamy, incest, age, incapacity, or physical incapacity. They're harder to obtain than divorces because you must prove specific legal grounds. We handle annulment cases regularly and have particular expertise in this area.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Your plan level determines your consultation access:
Live Online Chat: Text-based real-time sessions with our legal team during scheduled blocks. Paralegal access is available daily on all plans; attorney chat sessions are available weekly (Silver), twice weekly (Gold), or unlimited (Platinum).
Email Consultation: Send questions anytime. Response times are next-day for most plans, same-day for Platinum.
Zoom Video Consultations: Face-to-face video meetings for more complex discussions. Available twice monthly starting at Silver, weekly for Platinum.
You can also purchase Priority Consultations ($275/30 min or $495/hour) any time you need immediate attorney access beyond your plan's included sessions.
You'll work with our small, highly skilled team of attorneys. We're not a legal factory processing hundreds of cases through paralegals and junior associates—we're a focused practice where you get personalized attention from experienced professionals.
Every client has access to our Board Certified Family Law Specialist. For day-to-day questions, you'll also work with our paralegal team and associate attorneys. But strategy, complex issues, and court appearances involve our senior team directly.
Yes. FlexLaw is month-to-month. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time.
Many clients start at Bronze or Silver, then upgrade to Gold if negotiations stall or Platinum if court appearances become necessary. Others start high and step down once the contested phase resolves. Your plan should match your current needs—and those needs can change.
We'll tell you. During your initial consultation, we assess whether FlexLaw makes sense for your situation.
Some clients genuinely need traditional full-scope representation—cases so complex, so high-conflict, or so emotionally overwhelming that they need an attorney managing everything. If that's you, we'll say so and help you find appropriate counsel.
FlexLaw works for most people, but not everyone. We'd rather be honest about fit than take on a client who'd be better served elsewhere.
Contact us for a consultation. We'll learn about your situation, explain how FlexLaw would work for your specific case, and help you decide whether this is the right approach for you.
Please reach us at (805) 273-8552 (Text/MMS) if you cannot find an answer to your question.
No pressure. No obligation. Just honest answers about your options.
Aspire Law Partners
Westlake Village, CA Santa Clara, CA
Copyright © 2025 Aspire Law Partners
All Rights Reserved.
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