El Segundo Family Law Attorney

Experienced El Segundo Family Law Lawyer

An El Segundo Family Law Attorney Who Knows the South Bay Courts

A family law dispute can change your living arrangements, your finances, and the amount of time you spend with your children.

Before you agree to anything or walk into court, you need to understand which decisions can affect those parts of your life and how California law applies to your circumstances.

Rombro & Manley LLP has represented El Segundo and South Bay families in family law matters since 1973. Both S. Roger Rombro and Melinda A. Manley are California Certified Family Law Specialists, an exam-based designation that requires additional education, experience, and testing beyond admission to the California Bar.

The firm’s experience also extends beyond private representation. Mr. Rombro has served as a Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Pro Tempore and as a Los Angeles Superior Court mediator in family law matters.

Ms. Manley volunteers as a mediator through the Los Angeles Superior Court’s family law alternative dispute resolution program.

That perspective informs how the firm prepares cases, evaluates settlement options, and presents issues that may ultimately reach a judge.

Whether your concern involves custody, support, property, or the terms of a divorce, the first step is understanding the legal issues that control your case. Schedule a consultation with Rombro & Manley LLP to discuss what needs attention now and how you can prepare for the decisions ahead.

Family Law Matters We Handle for El Segundo Families

A family law case can involve several legal issues at once.

Decisions about your children may overlap with support, while property questions can affect the financial terms of a divorce.

Rombro & Manley LLP handles a range of matters for families throughout El Segundo and the South Bay, including

• Divorce and legal separation, including the division of significant assets and debts under California community property law
• Child custody and visitation, including relocation disputes and requests to modify existing orders
• Child support and spousal support matters
• Paternity and parentage cases involving custody and financial support
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements that establish financial rights and responsibilities before or during marriage

The right approach depends on the issues involved, the existing orders or agreements, and the facts that need to be established. A focused review early in the process can help identify which decisions require immediate attention.

California Rules Shape How Property and Custody Issues Are Resolved

California family law provides specific rules for dividing marital property and determining custody. Knowing those rules before negotiations begin can change how you approach the case.

Under California Family Code § 2550, the court generally must divide the community estate equally unless the spouses have reached a written agreement, or made an oral agreement stated in open court, providing for a different, legally permitted arrangement.

Community property can include far more than money held in a joint account. Depending on the circumstances, retirement assets, home equity, business interests, and other property acquired during the marriage may need to be identified and characterized.

Family Code § 3011 directs the court to consider the child’s health, safety, and welfare when making custody and visitation decisions, along with other statutory factors relevant to the case.

That makes preparation important. Financial records may need to be gathered and reviewed. Parenting history may need to be documented. Existing orders may need to be evaluated before you agree to changes that could affect your case going forward.

Preparation Starts Before Your Case Reaches Torrance Courthouse

The work that supports a family law case often begins well before the hearing itself.

For an El Segundo client, that can mean organizing financial information, reviewing retirement accounts, identifying property interests, and establishing a clear record of the parenting issues involved.

Rombro & Manley LLP prepares cases with the South Bay court system in mind. The firm’s attorneys have extensive experience with Los Angeles Superior Court family law matters, including negotiation, mediation, and litigation.

Ms. Manley also volunteers as a mediator through the Los Angeles Superior Court’s family law alternative dispute resolution program. Mr. Rombro has mediated and arbitrated family law disputes within the Los Angeles Superior Court system since the early 1990s and previously served as a Judge Pro Tempore.

Those roles provide experience with both sides of the process, from helping parties reach agreements to evaluating how disputed issues may be presented before the court.

If your matter may proceed through the Torrance Courthouse, preparation gives you an opportunity to address the important financial and parenting questions before they become last-minute issues.

FAQs About El Segundo, CA Family Laws

What should I bring to my first meeting with a family law attorney?

Bring any court orders, petitions, financial records, agreements, correspondence, or other documents connected to your case. We will review the information available, discuss your objectives, and identify the issues that need attention first.

Do I need an attorney for an uncontested divorce?

Not every uncontested divorce requires full legal representation, but the paperwork still needs to accurately address the issues involved. Property, support, and custody terms can create consequences after the divorce is finalized. A consultation can help you determine whether your proposed agreement addresses those issues properly.

How does a Los Angeles County court decide child custody?

Under Family Code § 3011, the court considers the child’s health, safety, and welfare along with other statutory factors. The facts presented to the court and the existing parenting arrangements can affect how those factors are applied in a particular case.

How is property divided in a South Bay divorce?

California’s community property rules generally require an equal division of the community estate under Family Code § 2550, subject to legally permitted agreements and other exceptions. Determining what belongs to the community estate can require careful review of real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, debts, and property acquired before or during the marriage.

How long will my Los Angeles County family law case take?

An uncontested matter with complete paperwork may move through the process differently from a contested divorce or custody dispute involving multiple hearings, financial issues, or disagreements over parenting time. The issues involved and the level of agreement between the parties can affect how long the case takes.

Discuss Your El Segundo Family Law Matter With Our Firm

The decisions made during a divorce, custody dispute, or support case can affect your finances and family arrangements long after the immediate court date has passed.

Getting the legal issues identified early can give you a clearer basis for deciding what to negotiate, what to challenge, and what needs to be prepared for court.

Rombro & Manley LLP has represented families in El Segundo and throughout the South Bay since 1973. With two California Certified Family Law Specialists and extensive Los Angeles Superior Court experience, the firm can review your circumstances and explain the legal issues that may shape your case. Contact Rombro & Manley LLP to schedule a confidential consultation and discuss the next step for your family law matter.