Practice Areas
Divorce
Going through a divorce can be emotionally and financially difficult. Helen Silva is a caring and thoughtful attorney who will stand by your side through the process and work to ensure that the results will be fair and in the best interests of any children involved.
Legal Separation
Some clients choose to obtain a legal separation rather than a divorce. Helen Silva can explain the differences between the two and help you determine what outcome is right for you.
Child Custody and Visitation
You love your children more than anyone else, and facing a battle over custody and visitation can be daunting. Helen Silva will work with you toward obtaining results that are in the best interests of your children. Putting children first is her most important philosophy.
Domestic Violence
Are you experiencing domestic violence? Helen Silva has years of experience working for domestic violence shelter and legal assistance programs. With trauma-informed advocacy, she will strenuously advocate for your safety and security.
Guardianship
Guardianship is a complicated legal process. Caregivers who are seeking guardianship of children under their care need assistance navigating the court system, and Helen Silva can provide that assistance.
Child and Spousal Support
If you are facing legal issues regarding child support or spousal support (alimony), Helen Silva will assist you in ensuring that the calculations are fair and based upon actual facts and evidence.
Premarital Agreements
Helen Silva can draft or review premarital agreements and help you understand the legalities and formal language they may contain.
Divorce Mediation
Divorce litigation can be costly - both emotionally and financially. Helen Silva can help divorcing couples negotiate and reach agreements that are fair, while ensuring that the language in their agreement will protect both parties and be accepted by the court. Using Helen Silva as your divorce mediator will make the process more peaceful and create better long term results for everyone involved.
Family Law Lawyer
About Law Office of Helen M. Silva
Helen M. Silva grew up on the Central Coast, attending Arroyo Grande High School and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for undergraduate school. She moved to San Francisco to attend law school, but returned after a few years to her home, where she has practiced law since 1994. Helen began to exclusively practice family law in 2008, and she worked for several years for non-profit domestic violence programs such as the Women's Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County, Stand Strong, and Lumina Alliance, providing legal assistance to over 200 survivors of domestic violence. She brings her caring, empathetic personality and sense of humor to her clients, helping them to feel more comfortable as they navigate the emotionally difficult processes involved in family law. Helen limits her client caseload so that she can give personalized, individual attention to every client. She will also bring her legal skills, attention to detail, and strong advocacy to every case in which she is involved.