Family Law

Family law is the body of legislation that pertains to domestic and family-based issues, such as:

• the definition of a marriage, civil union, common law marriage and domestic partnerships
• issues related to abuse, domestic violence, adoption and legitimacy
• the end of relationships, including divorce and parental responsibility issues

Given the breadth of these laws, it's no surprise that family law courts are among the most overwhelmed, crowded courts in the legal system. Interestingly enough, it's one of the few court systems in which litigants come from every racial and socio-economic background.

If you are in the Los Angeles area and are dealing with a family law issue, contact the experienced family law attorneys at the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc. Our lawyers will thoroughly evaluate your case and provide you with the aggressive, yet compassionate and professional representation you need to get through your case and move on with your life.

Areas of Family Law

Specific types of cases that commonly come through family courts include (but aren't limited to):

• adoptions
• alien spouse cases
• annulments
• child custody cases
• common law marriage cases
• divorce
• domestic violence, spousal abuse and child abuse cases
• paternity cases
• spousal support cases

Experienced, Professional Representation

At the Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc., our family law attorneys have extensive experience in providing our clients with the best possible representation by:

• finding evidence and/or witnesses to support your claims
• exposing inaccuracies and fallacies in the opposing arguments
• working with specialists, such as psychotherapists and counselors, to support your claims when expert testimony is required during official legal proceedings

While some cases may require trial proceedings, others can be settled via mediation or arbitration.

Answers to Frequently Asked Family Law Questions

Here are some general answers to frequently asked family law questions. For more specific answers to your individual case, set up an initial consultation with one of our esteemed family law attorneys.

• How are custody issues resolved? Family law courts make every effort to get both parties to accept the terms of custody agreements. While the precise nature of the custody agreement (including child support) will vary from case to case, in most cases, family law courts order counseling and mediation to help disputing parties resolve their custody issues.
• Can one spouse intervene and stop divorce proceedings? Although divorce proceedings can't be stopped in "no fault" divorces, in the case of fault divorces, a spouse can intervene by proving to the court that (s)he is not "at fault," (s)he was provoked into committing the act or the other party condoned the act.
• Is there a statute of limitations for filing a domestic violence case? To ensure that the courts are not overburdened and legal claims are handled in a timely manner, there is a statute of limitations on filing domestic violence charges in the state of California: Plaintiffs must file their claims within one year of the incident.

If you are facing a family law issue in Los Angeles and are seeking a highly-skilled yet compassionate family law lawyer, contact our law offices today. We will evaluate the details of your unique circumstance and explain all your legal rights and options.

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