Family Law

• Divorce
• Child Support
  If you are entering into a divorce or legal separation, I encourage you to contact me, Robert Burns. With more than 35 years of experience, I am fully prepared to assist with the most complex of divorce or family law issues, including determination of paternity and modifications to child support, custody and visitation. I pride myself on being “a people’s lawyer,” offering personal attention and smart representation to each of my clients.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Family law, including divorce, legal separation, paternity, division of assets and liabilities, domestic violence, spousal support, child custody, support and visitation, and child abduction or concealment, including international cases under the Hague Convention
• Paternity
• Guardianship
  Ordinary fees in guardianship, conservatorship, and trust cases, as well as extraordinary fees in all cases, are determined per Chapter 16 of the San Diego Superior Court Rules.
• Spousal Support
• Legal Separation
  Dealing with a divorce or legal separation can take a heavy toll on individuals, couples and the entire family. It can be a highly traumatic time, and involves several matters that need to be resolved, including division of assets and debts and decisions regarding the support and care of children.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
• Premises Liability
• Property Damage
  Automobile accidents can cause major disruption to your life. Regardless of the severity of the accident, those who are injured can face medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of income and other challenges. If your injuries were caused by the negligence or carelessness of others, you may be entitled to receive compensation.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, I encourage you to contact me, Robert Burns. As an attorney with more than 35 years of experience, I am able to offer knowledgeable advice and smart representation. I am “a people’s lawyer,” who is dedicated to obtaining fair compensation for personal injury victims. I also am fully prepared to determine if you also have a workers’ compensation case, and refer you to reputable legal representation.
• Medical Malpractice
  With my breadth of experience, spanning three decades, I am able to assist with a variety of complex legal issues related to family law, probate and personal injury cases. These cases often will touch on other legal areas, including real estate law, civil rights, contracts law, international law, estate planning law, medical malpractice law and appellate law.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  After the death of a loved one, dealing with the complex, confusing and time-consuming probate or estate litigation process is the last thing you want to experience. But all too often this is what the deceased person’s loved ones face, especially if there is no will, the wishes of the deceased are improperly documented, or the estate is embroiled in complex financial entanglements. Regardless of death there are a variety of other matters commonly handled in the probate courts such as conservatorships and disputes over the validity, management and enforcement of trusts. In these circumstances, it is vital to have proper legal representation to handle these legal matters on your behalf.
• Wills
  People often set up trusts to protect their estate and beneficiaries from the probate process. However, even the best laid estate plans can result in will contests, improperly documented trusts and other disagreements that require the courts to properly administer the estate.
• Trusts
  A:  Yes, easily.  Unfortunately, alternatives to probate, such as use of a living trust, tend to result in disputes resolved though litigation in the Probate Court.
• Probate
  I am Robert Burns, an attorney and counselor at law with more than four decades of experience. As “a people’s lawyer,” I am dedicated to making a difference in my client’s lives. I have the skill and know-how to help you with a variety of legal issues related to family law, probate law and personal injury claims. I am a seasoned attorney who understands what is at stake both financially and emotionally. I am fully prepared to fight for you in court, but also will make every effort to work toward resolution outside of court when possible.