Tristan teGroen Law

Our practice takes family law cases, including adoptions, surrogacy, dissolutions, parentage, prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, domestic violence, guardianship and dependency cases in Ventura County and parts of Los Angeles County.

Admitted to the California Bar in December 1996, I started as a solo practitioner in Westlake Village. Later, I began enjoying work on key areas of dissolution, custody, parentage plus cohabitation issues, prenuptial contracts, surrogacy, adoptions and division of retirement plans. I moved to the office I have now in Thousand Oaks (Newbury Park) in 2005.

I was raised by divorced parents and have been my own client in a divorce case. I realize why clients become depressed and arrive at the court with devotional books and best friends. I share my children with my former wife on a weekly rotational basis.

Fighting in court (litigation) is not necessary, although I do litigation (this is often unavoidable, especially in custody cases). Lawyers are also able to provide 'limited scope' services, which may benefit clients in the current economy. A lawyer can appear for you on one or more days or work only on one issue and not the other. For example, I have filed a 'Notice of Limited Scope' and appeared for a client on strategic court dates (usually evidentiary hearings), or worked only on retirement plan division.

New clients are entitled to a free initial consultation with me. This consultation may be by telephone, but is usually face to face at our office. We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards. Virtually every family lawyer asks for an advance payment, commonly (and incorrectly) called a 'retainer.' I like, virtually all family lawyers charge hourly, although, on rare occasions, I have charged a flat rate for a case. My hourly rate is $295.