California Family Law Appeals & Writs
Your Hearing Is Over. The outcome is unfair. You do not have to give up.
The judge got it wrong. You know it. The evidence showed it. But knowing you're right and proving reversible error are two different things. Family law appeals require a rare combination: deep knowledge of family law's unique standards and mastery of appellate procedure. Most trial attorneys don't have both. Most appellate attorneys won't touch family cases.
Straight Talk About Your Appeal
Before You Spend Another Dollar, Get the Truth
Most appeals fail. Not because the trial court was right, but because the wrong issues were raised the wrong way. Our Strategic Case Assessment tells you:
- Which errors are actually appealable (most aren't)
- Whether the law supports reversal (hope isn't a strategy)
- What it will really cost (appeals aren't cheap, but false hope is more expensive)
- If a writ is better than an appeal (faster, cheaper, sometimes more effective)
We'll tell you if your case isn't worth pursuing. That small upfront investment could save you $50,000 in futile litigation.
Why Family Law Appeals Are Different—And Why That Matters
Commercial appellate attorneys avoid family law. The emotions run too high. The law is too specialized. The economics don't work for big firms. That leaves you with three options: your trial attorney learning appeals on your case, a general appellate attorney learning family law on your case, or us—California Certified Family Law Specialists who also specialize in appellate practice. We have spent over a decade the family courts and know exactly how to frame your case for reversal.
We Speak Both Languages
- To the trial court: "Best interests of the child"
- To the appellate court: "Abuse of discretion requiring reversal under Marriage of LaMusga"
This isn't just semantics. It's the difference between winning and losing.
The Technology Advantage You Won't See (But You'll Feel)
We use utilize the latest in advanced technology to analyze thousands of pages of transcripts in days, not weeks. We find every preserved error, every inconsistency, every legal argument your opposition hopes we'll miss. You pay for results, not outdated inefficiency.
This means:
- Faster turnaround on critical deadlines
- More thorough issue spotting
- Competitive flat-fee pricing
- Resources to handle that 20-day writ deadline
What We Handle
Appeals
- Custody and visitation orders
- Support modifications and arrearages
- Property division and characterization
- Attorney fee awards
- Domestic violence restraining orders
- Move-away denials
- Sanctions orders
Writs (When You Can't Wait)
- Emergency custody changes
- Stay of enforcement pending appeal
- Disqualification of judges
- Discovery disputes with immediate harm
- Void orders and jurisdictional challenges
Special Expertise: The Impossible Cases
- Judicial bias claims that actually work
- Due process violations in RFO hearings
- Default judgments and relief under CCP 473
- Jurisdictional attacks on out-of-state orders
Time Is Not Your Friend
- Appeal deadline: 60 days from notice of entry (no extensions)
- Most writs: 60-90 days from the order (some shorter)
- Record preparation: Can take 30-45 days alone
Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your right to appeal.
The Bottom Line
Experienced Aspire Law Partners Available to Represent You
You're not hiring us to tell you what you want to hear. You're hiring us to win if winning is possible, and to tell you the truth if it's not. Fifteen years in family court taught us what judges care about. Our appellate expertise knows how to prove they got it wrong.
A Final Word About Tough Cases
The trial judge was hostile. Your ex lied. Your previous attorney dropped the ball. We've heard it all. Some of it matters on appeal. Most doesn't. The question isn't whether you were treated unfairly—it's whether the unfairness constitutes reversible error.
Let's find out.
