Contested Divorce Attorneys in California
A contested divorce can be one of the most stressful experiences a family faces. At Cage & Miles, our experienced divorce attorneys provide strategic representation to protect your rights, guide you through disputes, and pursue practical solutions—whether in negotiation or in court.

What is a Contested Divorce?
A contested divorce means that spouses are unable to agree on many of the major terms of the divorce - namely property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support.
This is in contrast to an uncontested divorce, where couples have no disagreements over such issues. A contested divorce generally takes longer, involves higher costs, and can inflict more stress on parties and their families. If the parties contesting issues in a case begin to work together, a contested case can transition to become an uncontested case.

Offering the Legal Support You Deserve
Divorce is rarely a cut-and-dry process, especially in a high-conflict divorce. Because no two clients are alike, we strive to offer you the personalized, one-on-one attention you need to obtain a successful outcome. Our divorce attorneys offer compassionate legal counsel, but are not afraid to aggressively protect your interests, should you be shortchanged in any way.
Our legal team has extensive experience navigating complex issues and finding cost-effective solutions that make sense for both parties. We make it a priority to preserve relationships while advocating vigorously to protect our clients' best interests.

Steps to filing for a contested divorce
- Prepare, file, and serve a divorce petition
- Respond to the divorce petition
- Pre-trial motions and hearings
- Settlement proposals and negotiations
- If settlements are unproductive, parties proceed towards a trial

California Divorce Process
Divorce in California is often contentious, and even cases that start amicably can escalate into disputes. Our attorneys guide clients through each stage of the California divorce process with strategies designed to minimize court involvement, reduce litigation costs, and protect what matters most.

Speak With a Divorce Specialist
Contact us for a confidential, introductory conversation with our Intake Specialist. We’ll talk with you about your unique family law matter, and match you with an attorney who is best suited to handle the particular issues in your case, so we can help you take the next step forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions?
In California, there is a mandatory 6-month “cooling off” period before a judge can terminate your marital status. If you have reached a settlement relatively quickly in your divorce, you can enter into an enforceable agreement on all issues filed with the court; however, there will be a date stamped in the future for termination of your marital status. The waiting period begins the day the divorce petition is served.
Our lawyers understand the stress and anxiety associated with the divorce process. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible legal representation to help you put your best foot forward during divorce proceedings. As our client, you can trust that we possess the experience, depth, and knowledge necessary to successfully handle such sensitive issues.
The cost of divorce in California will vary depending on the nature of the case, number of issues, and complexity of support and property division. In addition to legal fees, both parties will be required to pay filing fees to the court beginning with a “first paper fee” of $435 per party.
It's not required that you obtain an attorney for your case, but it is strongly advised. Divorces involve an immense amount of paperwork, negotiation, meeting deadlines, and other potentially stressful issues, and failing to accomplish even one of these tasks on time can seriously damage your case and set you up for a conclusion that will ultimately leave you extremely unhappy. A good divorce attorney can help you ensure that everything is done properly and put you on the best path to a happy future, making them well worth the investment.
Many no-fault divorce states require a couple to be separated for a specified period of time before they can file for divorce. While California is a no-fault divorce state, it does not have a minimum separation requirement. As long as minimum residency requirements are met for the State of California, a spouse can file for divorce or legal separation at any time. Of course, the mandatory six-month “cooling off period” will still apply.
The answer to this question is never straightforward because it will depend largely on how well you and your spouse can work together throughout the process. If you both make a genuine effort during negotiations to be reasonable, then your divorce will be much faster than if you spend the entire process taking each issue to court. However, California divorce laws also mandate that a divorce cannot be finalized until six months after service of the divorce petition, so it will take at least six months to terminate your marital status, no matter your situation.
It is difficult to know how long a contested divorce will take due to various delay tactics, court backlog, and other complications. However, a case where the parties have reached an agreement on all issues typically takes much less time. California divorce laws do include a mandatory six-month “cooling off” period, so a divorce will take at least six months to be finalized even if it is an uncontested divorce. Despite the “cooling off” period, parties with a full agreement can submit all paperwork and obtain enforceable orders as soon as they can complete the requisite steps.
It is possible to file for divorce without an attorney; however, ending a marriage can be complicated. If you have assets or children, getting legal guidance can help you protect your interests and be sure your paperwork is done correctly the first time. Additionally, filing for divorce without a lawyer may become even more difficult if your spouse decides to hire one. Our attorneys at Cage & Miles, have extensive experience in family law and will work hard towards finding peaceful resolutions for all parties.
As long as contact between a parent and child is in the child’s best interests, the courts make every effort to ensure that both parents remain involved in the lives of their children. It’s actually pretty rare for one parent to be awarded sole child custody. The courts strongly prefer to develop a fair parenting plan that is beneficial to the child and ensures frequent and continuing contact between the child and both parents.
California was the first state to adopt a “no-fault” divorce law, which simply means that your family law judge can grant you a divorce simply by citing “irreconcilable differences.” While this does make a divorce obtainable by nearly any person seeking to end their marriage, it does also mean that poor conduct during the marriage is usually not allowed to play a role in a judge’s decisions regarding property division, spousal support, child support, and child custody. One big exception to this general rule arises in cases involving domestic violence.
This also will largely depend on your circumstances. No two divorce cases are the same, and your judge will consider a number of factors when determining whether or not to award one spouse a spousal support payment. Generally, the court will consider the need for support, the ability of a spouse to pay support, the length of the marriage, the earning potential of the supported spouse, any relevant health considerations, documented evidence of domestic violence, and all assets/obligations of the parties.
Client Testimonials
Hear directly from the individuals and families we’ve helped through complex, emotional legal matters. Their words reflect our commitment to clarity, compassion, and successful outcomes.
I highly recommend Cage and Miles if you’re going through a divorce. From the start, Jaime walked me through the process, gathering information and all the while was very empathetic to what I was going through. In nearly every situation, she was able to predict exactly what my ex would do, and in hind sight I wish I had followed more of her advice. This is an emotional time in one’s life, and I let past feelings cloud my decisions.
You cannot go wrong with Cage & Miles. They are truly exceptional. I found Cage & Miles at an incredibly difficult time in my life and I found everyone at the firm to be very compassionate to my situation. Jaime is extremely knowledgable and put me at ease. She answered all of my questions and listened to my concerns. I want to thank Jaime and the rest of Cage & Miles for their time, compassion, and exceptional legal advise.
I hired John Sylvester two years ago while I was going through several issues in my family law case. To date, he has helped me resolve every single one of those issues in my favor. His professionalism and knowledge of the law is second to none. He was always responsive when I had questions. He helped me understand how everything worked, from RFOs, to subpoenas, to trial litigation. John always had a plan, and he was always prepared. He was able to take all the information I gave him and make sense of it all. John never pushed me to spend more money and Rebecca the co-owner was kind enough to work out the financial aspects of my bills with me. I consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with John, and I have already recommended him to friends and family who want the best family attorney in San Diego.
I was represented by Cage & Miles and their legal Team. Let me start by saying that there is no better law firm to help you with a personal legal matter that you have no idea where to start. I worked mostly with Ryan an Amazing, Knowledgeable, Ambitious, Professional young man with such Integrity. Never leaves an e-mail without being answered promptly. Answers all your questions in layman's terms. He speaks to you with such respect and never lets you feel shot down. It was a long and weary 2+years but there is no other law firm I would have wanted to stand next to me. Thank you!
Highly recommend. I couldn't have made it through this without the support of the Cage & Miles Team. They were always there for me and walked me through all the nuances of the process. They are very experienced and knowledgeable, they explain it in non-legal terms so that you can understand the situation. They are always open to ideas, approaches and this allows you to evaluate options with facts of the laws.
Steven set my mind at ease immediately. My situation felt incredibly difficult and extreme. After our initial consultation I knew that when the time came for me to act that Steven was the perfect professional for me to hire. He was very diligent dotting every “i” and crossing every “t” while carefully explaining each step through completion. I can’t imagine anyone else doing a finer job. Thank you!
Top notch legal team. Very knowledgeable on all family laws matters. Practical approach to solving the challenges of divorce and reaching resolution. Would strongly recommend Cage & Miles!!
This review is long over due. I cannot say enough nice things about Jillian Duggan-Herd. Over the past several years, Jillian has helped me with multiple family law issues. Every single time, Jillian was able to help clear up the issues with integrity, honesty and a high standard of ethics. Jillian is a professional of the highest standards. Without the help of Jillian, I know that I would not have had the successful outcomes I have had. Jillian will stand by your requests and will guide you through what is sometimes a very stressful and lengthy process. Though there were MANY difficult challenges for Jillian in my personal cases, she did not falter. Not once... Thank you Jillian for the dedication, professionalism, honesty and integrity. Your hard work has allowed many smiles within our family and we are extremely grateful. On a scale of 1 to 10, you are an 11. Keep up the amazing work!
I cannot say enough great things about Cage and Miles. I've worked with Jaime and her team for over 2 years now for my divorce modifications. They have come through every single time when I needed them. Jaime and her team are not the type of lawyers that takes your money and do minimal work. They go far and beyond for anything even if the issues are small. They caught things that I did not even notice. Jaime especially takes her time listening to me and giving me the most honest opinion. Initially, I was dealing with my ex-husband by myself to save money, but it became very stressful. I decided to hire an attorney and turned to a professional that can take that stress away. I interviewed a few lawyers in my area, but no one compared to Jaime and her team. I highly recommend everyone to use Cage and Miles.
Jaime Cage and her team were invaluable in helping me through a challenging marriage dissolution. I expressed a sincere interest in placing my children first and then have the rest follow. I was not interested in a complicated process that would make an already challenging situation more difficult. Jaime ensured we stuck to my goal every step of the way. Thanks to Jaime I wrapped up this process in two months and can now focus on being the best dad possible.
Jaime Cage helped me through one of the most difficult periods of my life. My ex-spouse had promised in the beginning that our divorce process would be "amicable" but instead hired 3 different attorneys to fight every step of the way. I had Jaime the entire time, and her calm demeanor helped me stay the course, even when opposing counsel continued to demand document after document. She even made sure that any battle I wanted to pursue was worth the attorney fees I would end up paying. She always kept me appraised of developments. I have recommended her to family members who are going through divorces.
My experience with Cage and Miles has been exceptional. Going through an incredibly difficult life change has been considerably easier knowing and experiencing the benefit of having legal representation that I can trust. Shannon, Jaime, and the entire staff have been outstanding. I highly recommend seeking help from Cage and Miles!!!
No one anticipates needing a family lawyer but if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of getting divorced Cage & Miles is an excellent firm to help during this monumental transition. Jaime Cage and her associates are experienced, brilliant, efficient and knowledgeable. Jaime helped me feel empowered. I am very grateful for everything the firm has done for me.
It's not easy to combine pragmatism with something as personal as family law. Maria Spear has a unique ability to clearly and quickly distill empirical truth from the excess information and emotion that tend to muddy the waters of family and custody litigation. Unfortunately, it took an an extensive trial and error process to find this group. Heine is quoted saying "Experience is a good school. But the fees are high." As someone who is not big on online reviews, I'm writing this in thought of the next person who experiences the pains and uncertainty of this process: there is no substitute for excellent legal counsel when your family affairs' are in jeopardy. Cage & Mills is an excellent firm.
Jaime and her team were the best ever!! Given the nature of this very traumatic and confusing experience, Jaime and her team explained every detail so you could make sense of it all. They made very feel safe, throughout all the uncertainty. They were always available to answer a question and or pull you off the ledge! My divorce worked out exactly as they planned. If you need a lawyer then do yourself a big favor and have Jaime Cage and her team totally look after you! It will be the smartest decision you will ever make. Thank You Jaime and team.
Hi - I am eternally grateful for Traci Hoppes and her team at Cage & Miles - on the contrary of being a divorce attorney, she has saved our marriage. Traci is a CFLS (Certified Family Law Specialist) with an abundance of experience and expertise in her field of practice. She is also gifted with her experience and understanding of addiction and how to navigate these troubled waters. She has saved my young children from harm's way, and this is not a debt in which I can repay. Traci has forced my wife to look at herself and made her accountable for her actions, this in turn has brought about her sobriety and her joining AA. She is two years sober now and still working on herself. I am proud of her and her continued sobriety. Thank you again, Traci all the best to you!
Jaime & Shannon did a great job for me. I always felt like I knew what was going on with my case and like they listened to what I wanted. A few times I was pretty upset about my case and Jaime explained everything to me so I could understand and calm down. It's amazing how much they know off of the top of their heads. They are great attorneys and people, and I would recommmend them to anyone else in a heart beat.
Divorce is a messy business and not always pleasant. Shannon Miles was very knowledgable and matter of fact (which I really appreciated). Her team at Cage & Miles were easy to work with, professional, thorough, and cared about providing a good experience for their clients. I appreciate all of their hard work and follow up to get my divorce finalized. I would recommend them if you need a good lawyer.
Great firm. They have been over the top exceptional! I have a "high conflict" case and Jaime has been amazing with every tantrum my ex throws our way. They are also knowledgeable about personality disorders which are helpful in my case. Jaime and Shannon take the time to explain the divorce process and help make a smooth transition for you and your family.
I can’t recommend Avi Levy enough. He represented me during an extremely difficult and toxic divorce and was a constant source of strength and professionalism. Thanks to his expertise and commitment, I was awarded full legal and physical custody of my children, which was my greatest priority. Throughout the process, Avi was always available to answer my questions, guide me through every step, and ensure I felt supported. I knew I was in excellent hands, and his skill and dedication truly made a difference during one of the hardest times in my life. If you need someone who will fight for you and put your needs first, Avi is the one to trust.
They are very good company to deal with the family law, I had Mehry Mohseni and Stephanie they did an awesome job. They will let you know what is going on in your case, help you how the court works and put you in the picture when you go inside the court what you expect to happen. They will prepare you for your court day very well.I’ll recommend them to anyone going through these kind of problems they will do their best for you.
I was involved in a highly complex and exhaustive family law case over the last couple years. Jillian Dugan-Herd was my 2nd attorney and thanks to her it's finally over! She is honest, fair, intelligent, professional, kind, unbelievably fierce and highly respected not only by the judge but also her colleagues (I saw that 1st hand). She's quite simply a bad-ass. Other attorneys were coming out of the attorney room telling me how hard she was fighting for me. I was humbled by and grateful for her intense dedication to my case and her incredible ability to argue on my behalf. She never gave up! I was wholly represented and no words will ever fully express my gratitude! My case was not an easy one and the results she got me were fair but also life changing. I know I would not have gotten the results I got with any other attorney. Listen to her, she will not steer you in the wrong direction. She has your & your children's best interest at heart.
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Experienced Contested Divorce Attorneys Near You
Cage & Miles family law attorneys serve all of San Diego County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino. No matter where you are in Southern California, our family law attorneys are prepared to speak with you so that you can gain insight into the options for your family law case.
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