Family Law Appeals Attorney

Do You Need an Appeal Attorney in California?

Your best chances of success are when you have a highly qualified family law appeals attorney on your side. In California, a civil judgment can be entered after a trial or by default when the party who is sued fails to appear in court. Although considered final for most purposes, a judgment can be appealed on legal grounds, such as if the trial court misapplied the law. In order for an appeal to be made, proper formalities must be followed, including filing the appeal in a timely manner and appealing to the correct court.

Call 951-894-8440 or send us an email for your free case review today.

Civil Appeals

The entry of a judgment in your case may not be the end. Many litigants are faced with the prospect of dealing with an appeal after judgment is entered. Whether you are appealing or you are responding to an appeal, the process is often difficult for clients to understand. Let’s face it: judges and juries can make mistakes, and you could be left to deal with the consequences.

Your time to appeal an unfavorable judgment is extremely limited. If you are considering an appeal, or if you have been served with a Notice of Appeal, please contact our office right away to discuss your rights. We are specialized Civil and Family Law appeals lawyers in California.

Default Judgments

A default judgment is a judgment entered when a defendant fails to appear in court to contest a civil lawsuit. By failing to appear, the defendant is considered to have given up a defense. However, the case is not considered to have been decided on the merits.

Many default judgments are entered when a defendant has no notice of the pending action. This frequently occurs if the plaintiff:

• Did not have a correct address
• Failed to follow the proper procedures for serving the defendant
• Intentionally served the defendant improperly in an attempt to win a default judgment

To appeal a default judgment, a defendant needs to show two things. First, they had no notice of the action and couldn’t have reasonably had notice. Second, they are appealing in a timely manner. Our Murrieta family law appeals lawyers can help you present the proper legal arguments in an effort to reverse a default judgment and have the case decided on the merits.

Post-Trial Judgments

Whether a civil case is decided by a judge or a jury, either party — defendant or plaintiff — may appeal to have the verdict reversed or to have the award of damages modified. Unlike a trial, an appeal does not involve the presentation of evidence or deciding the facts of the case. Instead, it is a matter of purely legal arguments.

Founding attorney Andrew L. Westover is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Under his leadership and guidance, our firm works diligently to ensure that our client’s child custody and financial interests are protected during family law proceedings, including family law appeals.

Contact A Family Law Appeal Attorney

For a free case review with a family law appeals attorney, call us in Murrieta at 951-894-8440 or contact us via email. We advise and represent clients throughout Southern California.