Maria Rogova Family Law - San Diego Divorce Attorney

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Maria Rogova Family Law - San Diego Divorce Attorney San Diego Divorce and Family Law Attorney (English/Russian)

09/28/2026

Divorce is tough, but a divorce that plunges you into debt can become a total financial disaster. People rarely calculate the actual math of separating. Imagine you were paying $4,000 a month for a two-bedroom apartment together. Now you're separating and both of you need separate places to live. Suddenly, you may be facing another $4,000 in housing expenses. The question is, can your budget handle doubling your living expenses? In most cases, the answer is no. People frequently rely on the marital standard of living when discussing spousal support. The spouse who earned more during the marriage may be expected to provide support. But in reality, that support usually is not enough to maintain the same lifestyle once one household becomes two. You may have had the same family budget during the marriage, but now that budget has to support two households. Understand when you may qualify for support. Call 619 737 3919 for a complimentary first consultation.

09/26/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about a prenupt is viewing it as a sign of distrust or planning for divorce. In reality, negotiating a prenupt is the most honest conversation you will ever have. In my office, women often admit they're afraid of giving their best years to support their husband's career only to end up with nothing. Men are afraid their spouse will take half their assets and leave. These are very real fears. A prenupt isn't about writing in infidelity penalties. It opens a dialogue. What are we afraid of? And how can we make sure we both feel safe? When both partners are protected, they stay together out of a genuine desire to be together, not out of fear of financial ruin. A is a tool for building security in a relationship not an exit strategy. If you have questions about or property division call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

09/24/2026

Leaving the family home at the start of a divorce can be one of the most dangerous legal mistakes you can make if you are not prepared. If you have children and move out without first establishing an agreed upon parenting plan, you may risk losing your normal parenting schedule and spending less time with your children. In some cases, you may have to file a motion for custody and visitation and wait several months for the court to make an order. What feels like a simple decision to get some space can have lasting consequences. Before you pack your bags and walk out the door, understand how that decision could affect your home, your finances, and your relationship with your children. In divorce, an emotional decision today can create a legal problem tomorrow. Take the time, understand your options before you leave. If you're planning a divorce and want to protect your rights to your home and children, call 619 7373 919. The first consultation is complimentary.

09/22/2026

As a family law attorney, I can quickly recognize which parent is making decisions based on the child's best interest and wellbeing, and which parent is allowing personal conflict to get in the way. Forcing a child to report on the other parent or badmouthing your ex in front of your kids is a massive red flag. To the court, it can signal poor parenting and emotional manipulation. A green flag is maintaining a consistent routine, relying on court orders when plans change, and genuinely encouraging your child to spend time with the other parent. Judges don't judge your personal grievances, they judge your ability to shield your child's wellbeing from adult conflict. If you need help setting up a custody schedule or parenting plan, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/28/2026

One of the most frightening situations after a separation: your ex-partner doesn't return the children after their parenting time.

The first question I ask: is there an active custody order?

If there is — and it spells out the return schedule — the other party is in violation of a court order. That gives you concrete legal leverage.

If there isn't already a custody order—and that's more common—we can file a motion for custody or, when the circumstances allow it, an emergency request (ex parte). This is an urgent request asking the judge for a temporary order when there are concerns about a child's safety or well-being.

Ex parte isn't a tool for ordinary disagreements. The court needs to see real risk or immediate harm. But when children aren't returned and contact is cut off, this might be the right path.

If you're in that situation right now, don't wait. Call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/26/2026

“It's better to stay quiet than argue.” In the moment — sure, maybe. But over years of marriage, this works against you.

When you constantly hold back what's actually bothering you, it doesn't go anywhere. It builds. And at some point it shows up in small things — irritation, distance, coldness. And then — in my office.

As a divorce attorney, I see this over and over. People don't come to divorce because of one big fight. They come after ten years of silence about the things they should have talked about when they were happening.

The law doesn't resolve accumulated resentment. It only divides property and sets custody and support. Everything else — what you didn't say to each other over the years — stays with you.

If your marriage is already at that point and you're weighing your options, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/24/2026

If you're already in a new relationship while your divorce isn't finalized, the smartest thing you can do is keep that new partner away from the children and the other party.

Bringing a third person into a divorce almost always doubles the cost. The conflict escalates, emotions go to a new level, and what could have been settled quietly starts going through court.

From a legal standpoint, a new partner can become relevant in a custody case. The court's focus isn't on your dating life, it's on the child's well-being and whether the new relationship affects the safety, stability, and overall environment in which the child is being raised.

Moving on is fine. But until the divorce is finalized, keep the two lives separate. It will save you money, peace of mind, and often, your relationship with your kids.

If you have questions about divorce or custody, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/22/2026

I hear this advice all the time: get a prenup before the wedding. But people rarely understand what a prenup actually does, and what it doesn't.

A prenup does three things.

First, it defines what stays separate property. A business, investments, real estate, and etc. Without an agreement, those lines blur over time, especially in long marriages.

Second, it creates predictability. Divorce is expensive largely because of uncertainty. When the outcome is predictable, there's less reason to fight.

Thir, it protects negotiating position when there's an imbalance between the parties. When one spouse owns a company or expects a large inheritance, the agreement closes off future disputes before they start.

What a prenup doesn't do.

It doesn't guarantee you won't fight during a divorce. People can still challenge the agreement and fight over what isn't in it.

And it doesn't save a bad marriage. A prenup isn't relationship insurance, it's a legal tool for managing financial risk. That's all it is.

If you have questions about prenups, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/20/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about family court is that if you're telling the truth, you'll win. That's not how it works. The court doesn't decide cases based on what you know happened, it decides cases based on the evidence that is properly admitted into the record. I've seen people walk into court with photos, text messages, emails, and documents that clearly supported their case, yet they still lost. Not because they weren't telling the truth, but because they didn't know how to get that evidence in front of the judge. The other side had an attorney who understood the rules of evidence and courtroom procedure. That's the uncomfortable reality of family law: the truth alone isn't enough. If your evidence isn't presented and admitted correctly, the judge may not be able to consider it, no matter how compelling it is. In the courtroom, evidence that isn't admitted is, for all practical purposes, evidence that doesn't exist.

If you're preparing a case and aren't sure how to protect your position, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

08/18/2026

Every marriage has an ending. That's not cynicism, it's reality. It ends in one of three ways: the death of a spouse, nullity, or divorce. Marriage is more than a promise between two people, it's also a legal contract that creates rights, responsibilities, and financial consequences. That's why family law exists. Prenuptial agreements, property agreements, and estate planning aren't signs that you expect the marriage to fail. They're signs that you understand every marriage eventually comes to an end and that it's far easier to make fair decisions while you still trust and care for each other than when emotions have been replaced by conflict. No one gets married expecting the relationship to end, but the couples who plan for every possibility often protect themselves, their children, and their future from unnecessary hardship. Preparing for the end of a legal relationship isn't planning for failure, it's planning responsibly for life's only certainty.

If you have questions about prenups or property division, call 619-737-3919. The first consultation is complimentary.

Address

1901 1st Avenue, Ste 301
San Diego, CA
92101

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+16197373919

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