LAW OFFICE OF JOSEPH J. BELL

Comprehensive Family Law Services

JOSEPH J. BELL

A California lawyer for more than 42 years, Joseph Bell's primary area of practice is family law of all types, including juvenile law. He began his career as the supervising attorney of Nevada County Legal Aid, Inc. He has litigated various general civil disputes and environmental land use issues in state and federal court. Mr. Bell has been certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California, since March 18, 1995. He has handled hundreds of dissolution of marriage, dissolution of domestic partnership, custody, visitation and support matters, as well as juvenile dependency, guardianship and adoption matters. Though he is an experienced litigator, he emphasizes proactive family law dispute resolution services including:

living together, same sex marriage, domestic partnership and pre-marital agreements;
counseling and coaching to effect reconciliation or dispute resolution;
alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, private judging, arbitration and collaborative resolution of disputes.

He has served as mediator, arbitrator and as a pro tem judge of the Nevada County Superior Court in family law and civil matters. He has prior experience in personal injury/tort actions arising out of personal relations. He has also litigated employment disputes including wrongful termination and harassment claims, as well as land use/environmental (water) law issues.

As a former member of the Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California, and as a Board member and Past President of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS) Mr. Bell has written articles on legal issues for the California Bar Journal, The Specialist (published by ACFLS) and other digital and legal media. He frequently speaks on legal topics to community and bar groups. He is a founder of non-profit organizations including the ACFLS Charitable Foundation, Inc., the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) and the Sierra Nevada Group, Sierra Club. He also held every office in the Nevada County Bar Association and presently serves as a Member at Large of its Executive Committee. He has regularly been a presenter at the annual Nevada County Superior Court Family Law Update, since 2004.

Mr. Bell was a former State Bar Vice-President and Chair of the Board Committee on Courts and Legislation. He served as liaison to the California Judges Association Family Law Committee and the State Bar Family Law Section, Executive Committee. He is an active member of the national Association of Family and Conciliation Courts as well as the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association. He received the ACFLS “Sterling Award” in 2014. From 2015 to 2018 he served as President of the ACFLS Charitable Foundation, Inc., which provides grants to local support services for family law litigants. Mr. Bell was a member of the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee for the Judicial Council of California, a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children and he is an active volunteer member of Gold Country Kiwanis International service club. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Bell was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ethiopia and he continues to be an active member of Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Associations.

You can view a full version of Joe's Resume Here ...

DEE MURPHY

Dee Murphy is Mr. Bell’s paralegal. She attended Nevada Union High School, Sierra College, and obtained her paralegal credential from Pacific College of Legal Careers in 1985. Dee assists Mr. Bell and the law firm’s clients with the family law process. Her work includes drafting legal documents and assisting clients with the completion of the discovery process. Dee has worked in the legal profession for over 30 years in Nevada County.

SHAUNEEN DESCHAINE

Shauneen Deschaine, our newest part-time employee and lifetime resident of Nevada County, performs all bookkeeping and accounting tasks for the Law Office of Joseph J. Bell. She is also responsible for client management and the monthly billing process. She has over 15 years of experience working in the banking industry and in local government finance.

TERI SMITH

Teri is our part-time legal secretary with over twenty years of experience working in family law in Nevada County. Teri graduated from Texas Tech University in 1989, and went on to earn her paralegal credential in 2010. Teri provides valuable support in all functions of the office, and is most often the first point of contact for anyone contacting the office seeking a consultation.

Home: TeamMember

Home: FAQ

FAQ

Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. HOW MUCH ARE THE FEES?

Mr. Bell's charges vary, depending on the type of case. There are two major types of fee charges and payments, hourly rate and contingency payment. Mr. Bell's hourly rates are currently $400 per hour for family and juvenile law and related litigation, for which he is a specialist. Contingency fees are not permitted for California family law matters.

2. HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY UP FRONT?

The minimum deposit in all family, juvenile and related matters is normally $7,500. A deposit is almost always required.

3. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE MY CASE?

The time to complete a case also varies, depending on the nature of the case, the attitude of the opposing party(ies) and the other attorney(s). Some cases can be quickly resolved by alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation, arbitration or negotiation. Other cases require court intervention for temporary or permanent orders. Some cases require a full trial of some or all issues, which can take years and cost many thousands of dollars. The minimum amount of time to obtain a final judgment dissolving the status of marriage is six months in California, for example. However, that does not mean that some, many or even all other issues cannot be settled or resolved in less time. When the facts of the case are clear, and the law is clear, the time for resolution is easier to estimate, and vice versa.

4. WHY SHOULD I RETAIN A SOLO PRACTITIONER INSTEAD OF A LARGER FIRM?

In some cases it might be better to hire a larger firm, which will usually mean a firm outside the Nevada City-Grass Valley area. For example, personal injury types of cases where the plaintiff does not have the funds to pay the costs of litigation are more easily handled by a large law firm which may have greater ability to "advance" (ie., loan) the costs, to be repaid from a settlement. On the other hand, where the matter is likely to go to a trial in a local court, it is usually advantageous to have an attorney who knows the court, opposing counsel, the type of juror likely to hear a case, and who is close at hand for meetings and conferences. The choice of lawyers should also take into consideration the amount of personal contact the client expects to have with the lawyer and the expectation that the same lawyer will handle the case from beginning to end.

5. WHAT ARE THE COURTS OR AREAS WHERE YOU TAKE CASES?

Mr. Bell's practice is primarily in Nevada County and Placer County. He rarely handles cases outside these counties due to the costs of travel, which must be charged to the client. Further, infrequent appearances in a county can be a disadvantage due to the local rules or procedures many courts have adopted, and which are not always known to visiting attorneys.

6. ARE THERE TYPES OF CASES WHICH YOU DO NOT TAKE?

Mr. Bell does not handle patent and copyright, bankruptcy, incorporation, tax law, criminal defense, probate, real estate transactions or litigation, landlord tenant, or worker's compensation and social security administrative proceedings. His primary area of practice is family law, including juvenile matters.

7. CAN I RELY ON YOU TO "FIGHT FOR ME" AND "WIN MY CASE?"

This question arises from the belief that the legal system really works like it is shown to in movies and on television. The reality of litigation is that it is seldom simple, usually very costly and highly unpredictable. Unfortunately, winning a case is usually accompanied by some kind of loss whether it is time, expense or emotional detriment. For that reason, consistent with the ethical rules, Mr. Bell always does his very best to disclose both the risks as well as the possible outcomes at each stage of representation, from first consultation to final resolution. He looks to his clients to guide his advocacy, after they have a clear understanding of their options. In some cases, aggressive advocacy is mandatory, while in others it might be counter-productive. In all cases, he strives to keep a cost-benefit analysis uppermost as a factor to guide litigation.

8. DO YOU KNOW THE JUDGES AND OTHER LAWYERS, AND WILL IT HELP?

Mr. Bell knows most of the judges and attorneys who litigate matters in Nevada and Placer Counties. Knowing the bench and bar can facilitate communication in some cases, but will not determine the outcome of a case. There are far too many other factors, most importantly the law, the facts of the case and the available and admissible evidence which determine outcome. Beyond that, unknown factors and chance play a role in outcome determination.

9. WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE DO YOU HAVE HANDLING MY TYPE OF CASE?

You can view Mr. Bell's resume online. You can also contact the office to discuss your particular type of case to determine specifically what experience we have in a certain type of litigation or legal concern.

10. DO YOU OFFER FREE CONSULTATIONS?

Mr. Bell charges $300.00 for all consultations and does not have a set time limit for the consultation, though most are completed in about an hour. You should plan to schedule a consultation in advance and have all of your paperwork with you or previously delivered to the office for the consultation.

Home: Files

SOME USEFUL RESOURCES

Contact Us

350 Crown Point Circle, Suite 250

Grass Valley, CA 95945

info@bellslaw.com | Tel: 530-272-7477

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS These terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”) govern the use of www.bellslaw.com (the “Site”). This Site is owned and operated by The Law Office of Joseph J. Bell. By using this Site, you indicate that you have read and understand these Terms and Conditions and agree to abide by them at all times. Intellectual Property All content published and made available on our Site is the property of The Law Office of Joseph J. Bell and the Site’s creators. This includes but is not limited to images, text, logos, documents, downloadable files and anything that contributes to the composition of our Site. Links to Other Websites Our Site contains links to third party websites or services that we do not own or control. We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of any third party website linked to on our Site. It is your responsibility to read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of these third party websites before using these websites. Limitation of Liability The Law Office of Joseph J. Bell and our directors, officers, agents, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates will not be liable for any actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses including legal fees from your use of the Site. Indemnity Except where prohibited by law, by using this Site you indemnify and hold harmless The Law Office of Jospeh J. Bell and our directors, officers, agents, employees, subsidiaries, and affiliates from any actions, claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses including legal fees arising our of your use of the Site or your violation of these Terms and Conditions. Applicable Law These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the State of California. Severability If at any time any of the provisions set forth in these Terms and Conditions are found to be inconsistent or invalid under applicable laws, these provisions will be deemed void and will be removed from these Terms and Conditions. All other provisions will not be affected by the removal and the rest of these Terms and Conditions will still be considered valid. Changes These Terms and Conditions may be amended from time to time in order to maintain compliance with the law and to reflect any changes to the way we operate our Site and the way we expect users to behave on our Site. We will notify users by email of changes to these Terms and Conditions or post a notice on our Site. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns: (530) 272-7477 info@bellslaw.com Law Office of Joseph J. Bell 350 Crown Point Circle, Suite 250 Grass Valley, California 95945 Effective date July 30, 2024

PRIVACY POLICY We recognize that you may be concerned about our use and disclosure of your personal information. Your privacy is very important to us, and the following will inform you of the information that The Law Office of Joseph J. Bell, may collect from you, and how it is used. By using our website, www.bellslaw.com, you are accepting the practices described in this policy. Information Collection We may collect non-personal information, such as a domain name and IP Address. The domain name and IP address reveals nothing personal about you other than the IP address from which you have accessed our site. We may also collect information about the type of Internet browser you are using, operating system, what brought you to our Website, as well as which of our Web pages you have accessed. Additionally, if you communicate with us regarding our Website or our services, we will collect any information that you provide to us in any such communication. We may contact you via email in the future to tell you about changes to this Website or privacy policy. Information Use We use the collected information primarily for our own internal purposes, such as providing, maintaining, evaluating, and improving our services and Website, fulfilling requests for information, and providing customer support. Security We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. If we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the web page. While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment. Cookies We use "cookies" on this site. A cookie is a piece of data stored on a site visitor's hard drive to help us improve your access to our site and identify repeat visitors to our site. For instance, when we use a cookie to identify you, you would not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. Cookies can also enable us to track and target the interests of our users to enhance the experience on our site. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information on our site. Sharing We will not sell or otherwise provide the information we collect to outside third parties for the purpose of direct or indirect mass email marketing. We will disclose personal information and/or an IP address, when required by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to: •Cooperate with the investigations of purported unlawful activities and conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on our company •Protect and defend the rights or property of our Website and related properties •Identify persons who may be violating the law, the rights of third parties, or otherwise misusing our Website or its related properties Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online - for example through e-mail, discussion boards, or elsewhere - that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your personal information. Please be careful and responsible whenever you are online. Links This Website may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of any other site that collects personally identifiable information. Surveys & Contests From time-to-time our site may request information via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and you may choose whether or not to participate and therefore disclose this information. Information requested may include contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code, age). Contact information will be used to notify the winners and award prizes. Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. Consent By using this Website, you consent to the collection and use of information as specified above. If we make changes to our Privacy Policy, we will post those changes on this page. Please review this page frequently to remain up-to-date with the information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it. You must review the new Privacy Policy carefully to make sure you understand our practices and procedures. If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at (530) 272-7477; via email at info@bellslaw.com; or via mail Law Office of Joseph J. Bell, 350 Crown Point Circle, Suite 250, Grass Valley, CA 95945. Effective date July 30, 2024

HTTP://WWW.BELLSLAW.COM