Comprehensive Legal Services for Every Need
At Westlake Legal Services, we provide experienced, dedicated legal representation across four core practice areas to serve individuals, families, and businesses throughout their most important legal matters. Whether you're a business owner navigating complex commercial disputes and employment law issues, an individual seeking justice after a personal injury, someone facing criminal charges that threaten your freedom and reputation, or a family dealing with the emotional challenges of divorce and custody matters, our firm brings decades of combined experience to every case. We understand that each legal situation is unique and personally significant to our clients, which is why we take a personalized approach—from proactive business law strategies and aggressive personal injury advocacy to compassionate criminal defense and sensitive family law guidance—ensuring that no case is treated as "just another file" while working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcomes for your specific legal matter.
Expert Legal Representation Across Key Practice Areas
At Westlake Legal Services, we understand that family law matters are among the most emotionally challenging and personally significant legal issues you may face. Our firm seeks to provide dedicated representation to help you navigate the complexities of divorce and family disputes while protecting your interests and those of your children. We recognize that every family situation is unique, and we work closely with our clients to develop strategies that seek fair resolutions while minimizing conflict and stress during these difficult transitions. Whether you're facing a straightforward dissolution or complex interstate custody issues, we are committed to guiding you through the legal process with professionalism, sensitivity, and unwavering advocacy for your rights and your family's future.
Areas of Practice:
- Dissolution
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Distribution of Assets
- Interstate and International Child Custody Disputes
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Separation Agreements
Westlake Legal Services provides comprehensive business law services to help companies navigate today's complex legal landscape, where success demands more than product knowledge—it requires understanding business law and employee relations. With business lawsuits rising, including million-dollar judgments for discrimination and sexual harassment, which are typically excluded from standard insurance coverage, our proactive approach prevents problems by reviewing contracts, purchase orders, and invoices to protect your rights and preserve all available options. When litigation arises, our firm leverages decades of experience in prosecuting and defending business claims as well as delivering seasoned representation across all aspects of business law.
Areas of Practice:
- Contract Review and Drafting
- Employment Law and Discrimination Claims
- Sexual Harassment Defense
- Purchase Order and Invoice Review
- Business Litigation
- Commercial Disputes
- Corporate Legal Compliance
- Employee Relations Law
Westlake Legal Services recognizes that your legal matter is the world's most important one to you, which is why we provide dedicated, aggressive representation in serious personal injury cases while ensuring complete client satisfaction from initial consultation through case resolution—treating every case as unique rather than "just another file." We typically represent personal injury clients on a contingent fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless and until we secure a recovery for your case, making quality legal representation accessible when you need it most.
Areas of Practice:
- Automobile and Pedestrian Accidents
- Dangerous and Defective Products
- Elder Abuse
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Motorcycle and Bicycle Accidents
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Toxic Torts
- Wrongful Death Claims
Criminal charges carry consequences that extend far beyond monetary fines or incarceration—they threaten your reputation and good name with immeasurable costs that can impact every aspect of your life. At Westlake Legal Services, we understand that most criminal defendants are good people who may have made a mistake or simply found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, and we are committed to working with you to achieve the best possible outcome for your case, protecting both your freedom and your future.
Areas of Practice:
- Assault
- Battery
- Burglary
- Criminal Trespass
- Domestic Violence
- DUI/DWI
- Fraud
- Hit and Run
- Possession of Narcotics
- Prostitution
- Receipt of Stolen Property
- Shoplifting
- Weapons Offenses
- White-Collar Crimes
California Information and Faq
At least one of the parties to the dissolution action in California must have been a resident of the state for at least six months prior to the filing of the action and a resident of the county in which the action is filed for at least three months prior to the action being filed.
A divorce in the State of California is called a dissolution of marriage. California law allows for dissolution of marriage on grounds of irreconcilable differences and incurable insanity. Irreconcilable differences are statutorily defined as those differences determined by the court to be substantial reasons for not continuing the marriage and which make it appear that the marriage should be dissolved. For a decree of dissolution of marriage to be granted based upon incurable insanity, proof must be presented to the court that at the time the petition was filed, the insane spouse was, and still is, incurably insane.
An action for dissolution of marriage in the State of California is filed in the Superior Court. The title of the action initiating the dissolution is a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, while the title of the action granting the dissolution is referred to as a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. The party who initiates the proceeding is called the petitioner, while the other party is referred to as the respondent. No judgment of divorce is final until six months have elapsed from the date the respondent was served with a copy of the summons and petition or the date of appearance of the respondent, whichever comes first.
A summary dissolution of marriage proceeding is begun by the filing of a joint petition signed by
both the husband and wife stating that all of the requirements for summary dissolution have been
met, providing the mailing address of both husband and wife, and a statement of whether or not
the wife desires to have her former name restored. To qualify for a summary dissolution, all of
the following conditions must exist at the time of filing:
- Â Less than five years have passed between the date of marriage and/or registration of a domestic partnership and the date of our separation.
- One of the parties has lived in California for at least six months and in the county of filing for at least the three months preceding the date of filing.
- There are no minor children who were born of the relationship before or during the marriage or domestic partnership or adopted during the marriage or domestic partnership. Neither of the parties is, or to the best of their knowledge is, pregnant.
- Neither party has an interest in any real property anywhere. (You may have a lease for a residence in which one of you lives. It must terminate within a year from the date of filing the petition. The lease must not include an option to purchase.)
- Except for obligations with respect to cars, on obligations incurred by either or both parties
during our marriage or domestic partnership, the parties owe no more than $7,000. - The total fair market value of community property assets, not including what the parties owe on those assets and not including cars, is less than $57,000.
- Neither party has separate property assets, not including what they owe on those assets and not including cars, in excess of $57,000.
- Both parties waive spousal support
- Both parties give up their right to appeal
Other requirements may apply and/or change
A judgment of legal separation may be obtained in the State of California on the same grounds as those permitted for an action of dissolution of marriage.
The courts in the State of California may award support to either spouse, without regard to marital misconduct. The goal in awarding spousal support is to help the spouse receiving alimony to become self-supporting within a reasonable time. Generally, the courts consider one-half the length of the marriage to be a reasonable time for a spouse to become self-supporting.
1. The marketable skills of the supported spouse.
2. The extent to which the supported spouse’s present or future earning capacity has been impaired due to duties of the marriage.
3. The extent to which the supported spouse contributed to the earning capacity of the supporting spouse.
4. The ability of the supporting spouse to pay.
5. The needs of each party.
6. The obligations and assets of each party.
7. The duration of the marriage.
8. The age and health of the parties.
9. Any other factors the court deems are equitable and just.
The courts in California will divide the community property of the parties equally after setting aside each spouse’s separate property. Community property is presumed to be all property acquired by the parties during the marriage and held in joint form. This presumption may be rebutted by a clear statement in the title by which property is acquired that the property is separate and not community property or by proof that the parties have a written agreement that the property is separate property.
The court will determine the issue of custody based upon the best interests of the child. In determining the best interests of the child, the courts will consider the following:
1. The health, safety, and welfare of the child.
2. Any history of abuse by a parent.
3. The nature and amount of contact by both parents.
4. Any history of substance abuse.
5. The wishes of the child.
There is a presumption that joint custody is in the best interests of the child. If the court awards joint custody, the court shall specify the rights of each parent to physical control of the child. The court shall grant reasonable visitation to the non-custodial parent unless it can be shown that such visitation is not in the child’s best interest. Each parent shall also have equal access to records of the child, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and school records.
If it appears on the face of the petition that custody is a contested issue, the court shall order mediation to assist the parties in the settlement of those contested issues and to assist in the development of an agreement that assures the child of close and continuing contact with each parent. Child support. Either or both parties may be ordered to pay an amount reasonable and necessary for the support of any minor children of the marriage. The State of California has enacted child support guidelines, which establish the presumptive correct amount of child support due. Deviation from the guidelines requires the court to state in writing why the application of the guidelines would be unreasonable or unjust, and:
1. The amount of support that would have been ordered under the guidelines.
2. The reasons for the deviation.
3. The reasons the support is ordered are in the best interests of the child.
Upon request in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, the court may restore a party to their former or birth name.