Commonly Asked Family Law Questions
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What is family law?Family law deals with legal issues related to family relationships, such as divorce, child custody, adoption, and domestic violence.
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Why should I hire a family law attorney?A family law attorney can provide legal guidance, support, and representation during a family law case. They can help you navigate the legal system and work towards a favorable outcome.
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What is the difference between a contested and uncontested divorce?A contested divorce is when the parties involved cannot agree on the terms of the divorce, such as division of assets and child custody. An uncontested divorce is when both parties agree on all terms of the divorce and can file jointly.
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Can I modify a child custody agreement?Yes, a child custody agreement can be modified if there has been a significant change in circumstances, such as a relocation or a change in the child's needs.
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What is mediation in family law?Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps the parties involved in a family law case to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. It can be a less adversarial and less expensive alternative to going to court.
Our Satisfied Clients
Real Stories from Real People
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“It is my opinion there's no better family law firm, period.”
“I had a very complicated and emotional interstate child custody case on which both Donna Santo and Michael Mehas provided me with expert legal advice to bring the matter to a positive conclusion.”- Nick C., director of The Notebook -
“Donna obtained a good result for me, for which I am ever grateful.”
- Carla H.I met Donna Santo over 20 years ago, when I needed an attorney to represent me in a post-judgment custody dispute trailing across three states due to my nomadic military background. As prior military I had a great respect for the courts. I met Donna first, and she scared me. But of course that was what I wanted: a sharp, assertive attorney. The onset of that custodial dispute marks one of the most horrible periods of my life. Fortunately, Donna and her team were my guides as well as my advocates. To this day, when on occasion I have needed a family law attorney, I have called Donna. She has always obtained a good result for me.
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“Donna, through her vast experience, was able to give me my financial life back and has made it possible for me to plan for my future.”
- DanGreat family law attorney. I consulted with Donna Santo regarding my complex family law case and was immediately impressed with her professionalism, knowledge and experience. Throughout my case I was given status updates and was able to pick up the phone and contact Donna. I never felt lost during the process. Donna was able to answer all of my questions and respond to all of my concerns. My ex wife went through several attorneys and even was self-represented for a while. Through all of this, Donna stayed the course, went to trial and we prevailed on all issues.
Because of Donna’s ability to understand real property laws, ours was in another country, complex income tax issues, self-employment and corporation income components, breach of fiduciary duty in my case, we were able to present our well-prepared case to the court.
Donna, through her vast experience, was able to give me my financial life back and has made it possible for me to plan for my future.
Needless to say I am pleased with the outcome in my case and highly recommend Donna, and her helpful staff, to anyone needing a professional Family Law attorney in Ventura County.
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“If 10 stars had been a choice I would have given them 10 STARS.”
“If 10 stars had been a choice I would have given them 10 STARS.”- Paul R. -
“A+ lawyer!”
- JessIt's been a constant struggle with my son's father, before acquiring Ms. Donna Santo as my attorney, I had no chance to show the courts the stress my ex was causing for me and my son. Ms. Santo and her team have helped me exercise my rights as a mother and legally they have put me in a position to ultimately give my son the best life possible. Her staff was extremely professional and helpful. I was very satisfied with the services I received and I would highly recommend her. She is a good listener and she gave me great advice. Ms. Santo went above and beyond to make sure I fully understood the process and responded quickly to emails and voicemails. She is the greatest lawyer ever.
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“Donna and Michael handled my case with care”
“Donna and Michael handled my case with care”- Laura Q. -
“I feel fortunate to have a law firm like Santo Mehas in my corner.”
- Chris K., LA MassageProI feel fortunate to have a law firm like Santo Mehas in my corner. I always felt like I was the most important client they had no matter what the issue was that I was dealing with. Michael Mehas and Donna Santo are accessible, compassionate and incredibly focused on getting me the best outcome for my family and business legal issues. This has been a true blessing to me over the years, and the relief I have felt the times I have dealt with them has made running my business and personal life much smoother. I have also recommended them to several of my friends and clients and I would do so again without hesitation in the future.
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“I highly recommend Donna Santo and the Mehas law firm”
“I highly recommend Donna Santo and the Mehas law firm.”- Revis J.
