About Ernest Krause, Attorney at Law — Family Law Sacramento California

Family law sacramento California clients turn to attorney Ernest Krause for focused, experienced domestic relations representation in Sacramento County. Sacramento County Superior Court — located at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse at 720 9th Street — processes one of California’s largest family law dockets, with Sacramento County recording an 11.3 percent divorce rate, the third-highest among California’s 58 counties. In this active legal environment, having an attorney who knows the Sacramento family court system, its judges, and the county’s self-help and mediation resources translates into more efficient proceedings and better-prepared clients at every stage.

Attorney Krause’s practice addresses the full range of family law matters that arise in Sacramento’s diverse, urban-suburban population — from complex marital property division involving state government employment benefits and real estate, to custody disputes that require careful parenting plan development for families with demanding work schedules or significant geographic distances between households.

What Clients Say

Sacramento family law clients consistently describe the Sacramento Superior Court’s family division as high-volume and fast-moving — a system that rewards clients who come in with well-prepared counsel and clearly organized documentation. Attorney Krause’s local practice experience means clients benefit from an attorney who knows what the court expects, how to move cases forward efficiently, and where the opportunities for resolution exist before costly contested hearings.

Family Law Sacramento California — Practice Areas & Services

• Family Law: Comprehensive representation in Sacramento County Superior Court for divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, spousal support, and domestic violence restraining order proceedings.
• Divorce & Property Division: Complex marital estate analysis including state employee pension benefits (CalPERS), real estate, business interests, and retirement account division under California community property law.
• Child Custody & Visitation: Development and litigation of parenting plans for Sacramento families, including move-away cases and modification proceedings when circumstances change after a final custody order.
• Child & Spousal Support: Calculation, negotiation, and enforcement of support orders using Sacramento County’s guideline formulas and the California DissoMaster software standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are family law cases filed in Sacramento, California?

Family law cases for Sacramento residents are filed at the Sacramento County Superior Court, with the main family law filing center at the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse, 720 9th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. The court also processes family matters through its William R. Ridgeway Family Relations Courthouse at 3341 Power Inn Road, which handles the majority of family law trials and hearings for Sacramento County residents.

How does California divide marital property in a Sacramento divorce?

California is a community property state — assets and debts acquired during marriage are owned equally by both spouses and are divided 50/50 at divorce. Separate property owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance during marriage is not subject to division. Sacramento County divorces frequently involve CalPERS pension benefits, which require a specialized court order called a DRO (Domestic Relations Order) to divide. Real estate, stock options, and deferred compensation plans each carry their own division requirements under California family law.

Can a custody order be modified in Sacramento after it is entered?

Yes — California allows modification of custody and visitation orders when there has been a significant change of circumstances since the last order. Common triggers in Sacramento include a parent relocating to another county or state, a child’s changing school or medical needs, or a material change in a parent’s work schedule or living situation. Modification requests are filed at Sacramento County Superior Court, and the court applies a best-interests-of-the-child standard with additional scrutiny required when one parent seeks to relocate with the child.