Family Law

• Divorce
  Collaborative Divorce is a different way for a divorcing couple to resolve their disputes. The spouses, their attorneys, and other professionals work together to negotiate a settlement that is optimal for their family. The parties and their attorneys commit to resolving disputes without going to court and sign an agreement preventing the parties' attorneys from representing the spouses in any disputed court proceeding. The focus is on constructive problem solving, rather than on adversarial bargaining and court imposed resolutions.
• Child Support
  You may claim a tax deduction for spousal support, and the other party must pay taxes on spousal support received. However, child support is not tax deductible.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  When seeking a court order for child custody, you should always be thinking, "What is in the best interest of my child?" Before issuing an order for child custody, the Court will typically require both parents to attend a mediation session to assist the parties in reaching an agreement on what arrangement is best for their child(ren), in their particular situation. One of our experienced attorneys can assist you in preparing for the mediation session, and preparing a plan for child custody. Should it be necessary, we also represent clients in litigating their child custody issues.
• Adoption
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
  Traditional Prenuptial Agreement: An agreement entered into prior to marriage to protect your assets, avoid your spouse's debts, protect your children from a previous relationship, set a foundation for clear communication, and help prevent conflicts.
• Spousal Support
  Permanent support is the amount of support that must be paid after the conclusion of the divorce case pursuant to a settlement agreement or court order. One goal of permanent spousal support is to assist a person for a period until they can become self-supporting and this period is generally half the length of marriage. However, if the marriage was of "long duration"—approximately 10 years—then the court typically will not terminate jurisdiction over spousal support. Under California Family Code Section 4320, many factors affect the amount and duration of spousal support, so you should consult with one of our attorneys to analyze your particular situation.
• Legal Separation
  A legal separation does not end a marriage or domestic partnership. You can't marry or enter into a partnership with someone else if you are legally separated (and not divorced). A legal separation is for couples that do not want to get divorced, but want to live apart and have court orders made on financial, property, and parenting issues. Couples sometimes prefer legal separation for religious reasons.
• Annulment
  An annulment (or nullity of marriage or nullity of domestic partnership) is when a court says your marriage or domestic partnership is NOT legally valid. For example, a marriage or domestic partnership that is incestuous or bigamous is not valid. Other marriages and partnerships can be declared 'void' if at the time of the marriage one of the following existed...
• Child Abuse

Criminal Law

• Restraining Order
  Yes. Temporary restraining orders (rules prohibiting both of you from doing certain things) go into effect automatically when the divorce process begins. For example, neither of you will be allowed to take your minor children out of state without the other spouse's written permission or a court order. Usually neither of you will be allowed to cancel or change the beneficiaries on your insurance policies or transfer property. Also, you will be required to notify your spouse before any out of the ordinary spending, and be prepared to account for such expenditures to a judge. These requirements are described on the back of the divorce Summons.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Mr. Libbe graduated from California Western School of Law, cum laude, and received various academic achievement awards. While in law school, he gained a broad perspective of the law by working for two small law firms and for the U.S. Attorney's Office in San Diego, California. During that time, he worked on a variety of different cases involving breach of contract, personal injury, family law, and complex fraud cases.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  The attorneys at The Law Offices of Blaha & Perry have over 100 years of combined experience helping clients in Alameda and Contra Costa counties with their family law and estate planning matters. Follow the links below to learn more about each of our lawyers.
• Wills
  Having handled over 5,000 divorce or family law-related cases and over 2,000 wills and trusts cases, Mr. Blaha has perfected a unique and highly effective approach that results in a win-win solution. He thoroughly prepares his clients to settle their cases before litigation or, if necessary, meticulously prepares clients and witnesses for trial. His goal is to efficiently facilitate the best win-win settlement, at every stage, for each case.
• Trusts
  We practice Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estate and Trust Administration, both in transactional and contested cases. We limit our firm's practice areas in keeping with our mission statement—to provide top quality service in the areas we do practice!
• Power of Attorney
  An estate plan typically consists of a Will, or a Will and a Trust, a Durable Power of Attorney for financial matters, and a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. Through a Will or Trust, you decide who will get your property, and in what proportion. Besides providing for your family, you can provide for some or all of your property to go to schools or charities or other entities, and you can also specifically exclude someone who would otherwise be entitled to some portion of your estate. A Durable Power of Attorney for financial matters allows a person chosen by you to handle your financial affairs if you are unable to do so yourself. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care allows a person chosen by you to make required health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. If these Durable Powers do not exist, someone must petition the Court to be appointed your Conservator if you become unable to handle your own affairs. Besides the additional costs, the Conservator might not even be one of your relatives or trusted friends.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Tax Law
  Jerome Blaha, managing partner, founded what is now Blaha & Perry in 1973. He represents clients in all aspects of family law, estates and trusts. He is a California State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist and a section member (family law, tax, estates and trusts) in the American Bar Association and other bar associations. Mr. Blaha has extensive experience in family law, including Child Custody, Business Valuation, Securities, Characterization and Tracing of Assets and Income Tax issues, Mediation, and effecting emotional Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements, and in estate law, including analysis of estates, preparation of Trusts, Wills and other documents to effect clients' desired Estate Plans, Probate of Estates, Administration of Trusts, and Contests of Wills and Trusts.