Family Law attorneys in Los Angeles

About Family Law matters in Los Angeles

Family law in Los Angeles County covers dissolution and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and the division of property built up during a marriage. Most of it runs through the Superior Court, and most of the work is procedural: what has to be served, what has to be disclosed, and in what order.

California is a community property state. Broadly, what either spouse earned or acquired during the marriage belongs to both, and what came before it or by gift or inheritance generally does not. That sounds simple and is where most disputes actually live, because assets get mixed together over years — a pre-marital account that received deposits from salary, a house bought before the marriage but paid down during it.

Custody is decided on the best interests of the child rather than on a default split, and the court expects a workable schedule rather than an argument about who is the better parent. Support is calculated from a statewide formula using income and the timeshare each parent has, which means the parenting schedule and the money are connected even when they feel like separate fights.

Fee structures vary here more than in most areas. Uncontested filings are often flat-fee; contested matters are usually hourly against a retainer. Ask which applies to your situation, and ask what happens to the retainer if the other side files something unexpected.