Resources
Clients
Click here for resources for Professionals
SONOMA COUNTY RESOURCES
Sonoma County Resources list (PDF)
List of various resources for individuals and families in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Bar Association
Local organization of attorneys. Includes information regarding their legal referral service.
Sonoma County Courts
Website for Sonoma County courts. Includes calendars, rules, resources and other information.
FAMILY LAW ARTICLES AND INFORMATION
Glossary of Family Law Terms
Commonly Asked Questions about Divorce in California
California's Premarital Agreement
Introduction to the Collaborative Process and the Legal Dissolution of Marriage Procedures
Can't We All Just Get Along
Article on Collaborative Practice in Northbay Business magazine.
FAMILY LAW WEBSITES
Dispute resolution choices
Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire
A multi-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to the collaborative approach to conflict resolution.
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Website of the international organization for collaborative practice. Includes detailed information for both consumers and professionals.
Collaborative Practice California
Website of the California organization of collaborative practice groups.
Mediate.com
Website with many articles and resources related to mediation and other alternative dispute resolution methods.
General divorce information
Divorcemagazine.com
A no-nonsense, online magazine with various articles and columns of interest to the separated or divorced person, including links by state for finding an attorney.
Legal information
The State Bar of California, Consumer Information
Consumer information page of state bar website. The State of California has produced a series of good pamphlets, which includes pamphlets on "Divorce and Custody" and "Domestic Violence." These pamphlets are available to you online through the Bar Association website.
Divorcenet.com
Divorcenet features a series of informational articles regarding various aspects of California family law.
Nolo Press
Publisher of legal self-help books. Website includes many resources, including articles, legal encyclopedia and dictionary.
California Courts "Self-Help" website
Includes FAQs and information on estate planning, seniors' rights, family law and many other topics.
Parenting and step-parenting
National Parenting Center
Dedicated to providing parents with comprehensive and responsible guidance from the world's most renowned child-rearing authorities since 1989.
Comamas
"The goal of the CoMamas Association is to teach stepwives and their families how to develop cooperative and respectful relationships so they can end their war and get along for the sake of the children."
National Stepfamily Resource Center
Dedicated to successful stepfamily living. The site provides educational information and resources for anyone interested in stepfamilies and their issues.
ESTATE PLANNING RESOURCES
ABCs of Estate Planning
ABCs of Living Trusts
Your Will, Courtesy of the State of California
Estate Planning Questionnaire, Singles
Estate Planning Questionnaire, Couples
MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY / HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE
There may come a time in anyone's life when you are no longer capable of making your own health care decisions. This could be because of dementia. It could be because you've been hit by a bus and are in a coma. Whatever the reason, if you can't make your own decisions, it's important to name the person who will make them for you.
At Conner, Lawrence & Rodney, we recommend that your Medical Power of Attorney or Health Care Directive (they are the same thing!) be specifically drafted for you with YOUR wishes in mind. Usually, this is done in conjunction with a complete estate plan, although we will also prepare them for you without an estate plan. Our Powers of Attorney are carefully based on what YOU tell us about your wishes, especially concerning end of life issues.
We understand that everyone can't afford an individually-tailored document. For that reason, we are happy to offer a link to the State of California Health Care Directive form. We modestly state that it's not as good as ours, but it will probably do the trick. And it is SO much better than nothing! Please take a couple of minutes to download the form and FILL IT OUT! Give the person you are asking to make decisions for you a copy.
We hope you never need this, but if you do, your family will be grateful that it's there.