Raquel M. Silva
Law Office of Raquel M. Silva
1667 Oak Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
Map
Phone: (530) 758-0500 | Fax: (530) 758-0616
http://www.silva-familylaw.com
Representation with Care and Integrity
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
Step-parent and second parent adoptions, petitions to terminate parental rights, and guardianships.
Sub-Topics
Abuse
- Domestic Violence
Children
- Child Custody
- Child Support
- Children's Rights
- Paternity
- Visitation
Couples
- Civil Unions
- Domestic Partnerships
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Power of Attorney
Enforcement Actions
Name Changes
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
All aspects of family law, including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and the like.
Sub-Topics
Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
Annulment
Child Support
Custody/Visitation Rights
Delinquent Support Payments
Division of Property
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights
Restraining Orders
Uncontested Divorce
Bar Admissions
CA, Nov 2005
Bar Number: 237983
Other Court Admissions
• California
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
Association Memberships
• California State Bar - Family Law Section
• Yolo County Bar Association
• Yolo County Family Law Bar Association
• American Bar Association - Family Law Section
Continuing Education
I exceed the required number of continuing education hours and attend over 30 hours of continuing education seminars each year in the areas of family law and estate planning.
Example Cases
I recently prevailed in a child custody trial in Yolo County Superior Court where my client regained his equal parenting time with two minor school-aged children. I was also recently successful in a child support trial where the opposing party had continually misrepresented his self-employment income and resources, including obtaining a large attorney fee award for my client.
Education
UC Davis School of Law - King Hall
Juris Doctorate
Davis
CA
2005
Yes
Dean's Honor List; Witkin Award For Academic Excellence; King Hall Public Service Law Program
UC Davis
Bachelor of Arts
Davis
CA
2001
Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society; Dean's Honor List
Emphasis in Political Philosophy
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
My firm focuses on providing practical and effective legal representation to individuals and families in Yolo County. My firm was established in November 2005. Prior to that time, I was the office manager and paralegal to attorney Yasmin Spiegel with whom I now share office space.
Previous Employment Summary
Prior to becoming an attorney, I was a paralegal for 16 years in Encino, Santa Barbara, Portland, Oregon and Davis. I worked on many different cases in the areas of civil and business litigation, personal injury, accounting malpractice, real estate title litigation, corporate law, probate, and family law.
Activities and Awards
I am currently on the approved Minor's Counsel list for Yolo County Superior Court. I also volunteer my time one afternoon each month as a Pro Tem Family Law Settlement Judge in Yolo County Superior Court.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I highly recommend that clients educate themselves about the legal process and about the legal issues they are facing. The more that my client knows about their own situation and legal issues, the better able I am to advise and strategize with them about possible settlement options or, if necessary, litigation and trial.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am happy to review and assist in the revision of documents prepared by clients who wish to represent themselves. I am also happy to review documents for clients who are going through the mediation process to ensure that the agreements they are making in mediation are in their best interests.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am happy to assist individuals who wish to represent themselves, including drafting and editing court forms and legal documents. I also routinely meet with self-represented clients to discuss what to expect in court and/or in the child custody mediation process.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I had been a paralegal since I was 20 years old (since 1989). After spending the majority of my adult life working in law firms, I realized that practicing law was what I was meant to do career-wise. I then decided it was time to complete law school and become an attorney.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I believe that my prior experience as a paralegal, working in many areas of the law, better enables me to handle the wide-range of issues that arise in family law and estate planning. I enjoy working with people to resolve their issues. I also believe that my own personal experience of going through divorce allows me to more fully understand and empathize with the experiences of my clients.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
After working in many other types of law, I realized that the areas of family law and estate planning allow me to work directly with my clients to resolve their legal issues in a personalized and pragmatic way.
What do you like best about your career?
I find great satisfaction in helping my clients through the legal process in the most caring and efficient way possible.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a sole practitioner so I deal directly with all of my clients. I have a very experienced and knowledgeable paralegal, Julie Barrow, who assists me with all aspects of my case management and initial drafting of documents, disclosures and the like. My legal assistant and billing clerk, Angie Harmon, is attentive to my client's immediate needs and is an invaluable asset to my firm.
What are your strengths and style?
I try to resolve a majority of my cases through the negotiation process whenever possible and I believe that my ability to problem-solve in creative ways allows me greater success in the negotiations. I am also a zealous advocate for my clients in the court process when negotiation fails or is not a viable option.
Personal Interests:
I am a dual citizen of the U.S. and Portugal (my grandparents immigrated to the United States after WWII) and I enjoy traveling in Europe and learning European history and culture. I am a strong believer in Waldorf education and I have two children who attend local Waldorf schools. In my spare time, I enjoy yoga, skiing, snowboarding and ceramic tile mosaic.
Office Manager/Assistant
Angie Harmon, Legal Assistant
Fax
(530) 758-0616
Office Hours
Monday through Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fridays
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Spanish speaking interpreter available for an additional fee of $30 per hour.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Uncontested dissolution: $2,500 plus actual court costs.
Name change petition: $500 plus actual court and publication costs.
Complete trust and estate planning packages from $1,500 to $2,000, plus actual recording fees.
Hourly Rates
$250.
Free Initial Consultation?
No free consultations.
Typical Retainer
$5,000 for pre-judgment matters; $3,000 for most post-judgment matters.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the state agency that licenses lawyers upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any state licensing agency.
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