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Eugene M. Siegel
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Eugene M. Siegel
Law Office of Eugene M. Siegel
8301 E. Florence Ave.
Suite 200
Downey, CA 90240
Phone: (562) 862-7541 | Fax: (562) 862-2790
http://www.Siegellaw.com
Quality Service & Aggressive Representation-25+ Yrs Exp
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
Divorce, paternity, custody, visitation, child and spousal support, asset and debt division.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Restraining Orders
- Enforcement Actions
- Child Support
- Custody
- Paternity
- Visitation
- Marriage
- Grandparent Rights
- Termination of Parental Rights
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
Divorce, paternity, custody, visitation, child and spousal support, asset and debt division.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation Rights
- Delinquent Support Payments
- Division of Property
- Restraining Orders
- Uncontested Divorce
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1979
Bar Number: 90939
Other Court Admissions
Supreme Court of the State of California (1979) and Federal Central District Court of California (1980).
Association Memberships
California, Norwalk, Los Angeles, and Orange County Bar Associations.
Continuing Education
I attend seminars for family law and divorce related issues. I have also lectured attorneys on undue influence by one spouse over another on property issues. I exceed the state's requirement on continuing education hours.
Example Cases
I have represented clients in hundreds and hundreds of cases. Due to privacy concerns, I cannot divulge their names or case numbers.
Examples are as follows: In one custody matter, I represented the dad. Mom wanted primary physical custody with visitation to Dad. Dad wanted equal time. After trial, the parties ended up with a 50/50 timeshare. Both Dad and Mom had two days during the week each week and the parties alternated weekends.
In another case regarding asset and debt division, husband had wife sign a deed giving over her interest in the house to him. Several years later, during the divorce, my client, the wife, indicated that she was forced to do that and did not understand her rights. At trial, I was able to set aside that portion of the transaction as to husband so that she shared equally in the community interest of the property.
These are just two examples of the many successful results I have been able to acquire for my clients.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Western State University College of Law
City:
Fullerton
State:
CA
Year:
1978
Honors:
American Jurisprudence Award
Focus and Accomplishments:
Law Library Service for two years, assisted students with legal research.
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
Long Island University
City:
Brooklyn
State:
NY
Year:
1972
Focus and Accomplishments:
Majored in Political Science.
Degree:
Masters
School:
St. Johns University
City:
Queens
State:
NY
Year:
1974
Focus and Accomplishments:
Majored in Government and Public Administration. Worked on campaign for governor.
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Family law matters including but not limited to: dissolution of marriage, legal separation, nullity of marriage, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, pension issues, asset and debt division, paternity cases, and modification of existing court orders.
I started practicing law in 1980 in Long Beach. In 1981, I moved to Hawaiian Gardens and practiced there as a solo practitioner until 2000. I then moved the Law Offices of Eugene M. Siegel to Downey and have been practicing there as a solo practitioner since 2000.
Previous Employment Summary
For the past 29 years, I have been a solo practitioner with a primary emphasis in divorce, nullity and legal separation, and all related issues. During that time, I was associated with the Law Offices of Dorothy L. Carfrae from November of 2000 through January of 2002.
Activities and Awards
I have served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles and Orange County Superior Courts, hearing family law and divorce related matters, civil matters, including trials, law and motion, small claims and traffic cases. I am AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. I was awarded with the Attorney of the Year for the Los Angeles County Southeast District for 1992. I have served as an arbitrator and mediator for Los Angeles County and served as a volunteer attorney for the City of Cerritos Senior Citizen's Legal Clinic.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I think it is wise and important for the clients to understand, or at least have some essential understanding of the legal issues in their case. Throughout the representation of my clients, I try to explain to them the legal issues and how they relate to the facts of their case. I try to explain to my clients what the options are for them from a legal perspective. I try to explain to them what the law says and what I can do for them and how I can use the law to help them get the maximum results on the issues important to them.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
When a client comes in to see me regarding a divorce or family law related issue, I want them to bring in every single document and piece of paper they have relative to their case. It is important for me to review the documents with the client so that I understand what has already been filed in this case and what information has been exchanged. The best and most efficient way for me to help a client in their case and to make sure they get the result they want is to look at all the paperwork that has already been generated in the case before I have been retained. That paperwork may require me to amend or change something, or file other documents with the court.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I coach and go over testimony with clients who I represent. Experience tells me it's difficult to coach clients who are going to represent themselves in court, but I do have people and will see people who come in to see me on a consultation and want advice on subjects for which they are going to represent themselves.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I enjoy using my mind and intellect. Being an attorney, especially in court, requires thinking and instantaneous analysis. I am good at that and I am good at analyzing situations. I enjoy the art of arguing issues and analyzing issues. I am very good at what I do and I thoroughly enjoy getting results that make my clients happy that they retained me to represent them at a very difficult time in their lives.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have practiced in the family law area for 30 years, trying hundreds of cases. I have served as a Judge Pro Tem for many years and have heard many family law cases. The experience of deciding cases as a Judge Pro Tem and trying and handling cases for almost 30 years has made me an excellent attorney. Other attorneys have rated me with an AV-Rating with Martindale-Hubbell, so other attorneys believe I am excellent as well.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
Family law and divorce related issues are my primary area of practice. I get great satisfaction in helping people at difficult times in their lives and there is no more difficult time than going through a divorce, especially when there are children involved. It is very gratifying to help people during these difficult times. I'm able to analyze the situation well. I'm able to make sure my clients get maximum results and maximum benefits, whether it be on custody and visitation issues, support issues, or asset and debt division. Simply stated, I chose my primary areas of practice because over the years I found that I am excellent at what I do.
What do you like best about your career?
I have the freedom of taking cases that I want to take. Helping people through difficult times is very rewarding. Having them tell me at the end of a case, "thank you for everything that you did for me," and telling me that anytime anyone they know needs an attorney that they will refer that person to me is very rewarding because if the client is happy at the end of the case, then you know you did a good job. The other aspect of my career that I thoroughly enjoy is that I am in total control of what I do and I am good at what I do because I know the law, I understand the law, and I know how to apply it for the benefit of my clients.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner. When the client calls my office, they get me. My secretary has been with me for over 15 years. She knows every case and she knows all the clients and she is extremely sensitive to the needs of my clients. I have a very firm policy, and that is when a client calls and if I am there they get to speak to me, unless they have a question for my secretary, and if I'm not there and in court every call is returned within 24 hours. I generally work late in my office Monday through Friday, so I usually will return every call before I leave that night.
What are your strengths and style?
My clients know that I care about their case because just about every one of them knows that I treat their case as if it were my case. I make recommendations to the clients based on what I would recommend and do if it were my own case. I am able to look at cases from a perspective of the judge because I have sat as Judge Pro Tem in family law for many years. I can tell the clients what I think the alternatives are. I tell the clients what I think the court will decide based on the facts as I have seen them. I am very open and very honest with all my clients. For instance, when we're discussing support I will prepare the Dissomaster, which is the same computer program used by the court. I show the client, based on their income and their spouse's income, what the range of spousal support could be and what child support could be based on the number of children and the amount of time each parent has with the children. I am very open and honest with my clients. I tell them what I think I can do for them. It's very important to me that my clients understand what I can do for them, what the range of results are in their case, and what potential results are in their case. I want them to know how I can help them and what I can do for them. It is very important that my clients understand the issues and their case. My philosophy is very simple: When I go to court with my client, I make sure that they are better prepared for anything that could happen in court than the other side. Doing that maximizes the results for my clients, which is important to me and important to them.
Personal Interests:
Golf and sports events. I also make it a practice to read every relevant family law case that is decided by the upper courts that will impact my practice and representation of my clients in all family law and divorce related matters.
Office Manager/Assistant
Cheryl A. Siegel
Fax
(562) 862-2790
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday afternoon hours for appointments are available. For emergency after hours, please call (562) 862-7541 for a 24 hour voicemail.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I charge hourly for all services I render in family law and divorce related matters.
Hourly Rates
$250 to $300, dependent on the case.
Free Initial Consultation?
Yes. It varies anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes so that I can understand fully what the client is seeking and how I can best serve them.
Typical Retainer
$2,000 to $2,500, depending on the case issues plus filing fees and court costs, which usually run anywhere from $500 to $600.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
