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THE LAW OFFICE OF ELLEN F. DRISCOLL

Family law experts

EXPERIENCED AND PROFESSIONAL

Over 30 years experience in family law

WE OFFER HIGHLY PERSONAL, CUSTOMIZED SERVICE

The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll has the experience to effectively litigate on your behalf

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA

Our office is conveniently located in Old Town, not far from the courthouse.

ABOUT US

INTODUCING THE LAW OFFICE OF ELLEN F. DRISCOLL

With over 30 years of experience in family law, The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll is committed to your needs. We understand that family law issues such as divorce and child custody involve the most personal aspects of your life. We will listen to you and guide you through each step of the legal process. We will always keep the needs of your children in mind.

When you contact The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll, we will schedule you for your one-hour initial consultation. The cost of this consultation is $100. Whether your case involves divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence, pre/post nuptial agreements, or complex property division issues, this is your opportunity to familiarize yourself with our office and learn about your legal rights.

Once you retain The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll, we will work with you to develop the right strategy for your case. Our office has handled hundreds of family law cases and we understand that your case will require an individualized approach. We have the resources and experience to thoroughly prepare your case. We will advise you regarding all aspects of your case and help you to make the decisions that best serve your needs.

Our goal is to resolve your case efficiently and to your satisfaction. We have been able to successfully settle many of our cases because we understand the importance of settling from a position of strength. In the event that we need to proceed to trial, The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll has the experience to effectively litigate on your behalf.

THE ATTORNEYS

LET OUR EXPERTS HELP YOU

ELLEN F. DRISCOLL

Ellen F. Driscoll, the founding partner of the firm, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Oregon in 1976, and her Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law in 1979. Ellen is a Certified Family Law Specialist, having received this designation from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in 1996.

In addition to Ellen’s 35 years of experience litigating family law cases, she has also served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court Family Law Mediation Panel since 1994.

Ellen is a member of the Board of Directors for the San Miguel Catholic School in Watts, California. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Cancer Support Community Pasadena. Ellen also serves on the Board Affairs Committee at her alma mater Alverno Heights Academy. She has been a member of the Junior League of Pasadena since 1995. She is a member of the Caltech Associates. She is a member of the Pasadena Bar Association and the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists. She has been recognized as a 2015 and 2016 Super Lawyer and named a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine from 2009 to present

OUR SERVICES

PRACTICE AREAS

WE OFFER A RANGE OF SERVICES TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS.

FAMILY LAW

Family law is a complex and specialized area of law that includes divorce (dissolution of marriage), paternity actions, child custody issues, establishing or enforcing child and spousal support, and domestic violence cases.

The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll has the knowledge and experience to handle all aspects of your family law case. We will listen to your needs and guide you through each step of the process.

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DIVORCE ( DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE)

Divorce in California is referred to as dissolution of marriage. In a divorce, the court can issue orders about child custody, child visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division. Upon completion of the divorce, the parties are restored to single status.

CHILD CUSTODY

There are two kinds of child custody: first, legal custody, which means who makes important decisions for your children (such as medical, educational, and religious decisions); and second, physical custody, which means where your children live.

Physical custody will be determined based on the children’s best interests. With rare exception, your children will continue to see both parents. The key to creating the right physical custody plan for your children is to design a fixed and predictable schedule. This can be accomplished by reaching an agreement with the other parent or by presenting your case to a judge who will make a physical custody determination.

CHILD SUPPORT

Child support is the amount of money that a court orders a parent to pay every month for the benefit of the child. California has a statewide formula (called a “guideline”) for determining how much child support should be paid. Child support is determined based on set criteria including the amount of time that the children are with each parent and the relative incomes of the parents.

LEGAL SEPARATION

Legal separation is essentially the same as divorce except that you cannot remarry. With a legal separation, the Court can issue orders about child custody, child support, spousal support, and property division. People choose to file for legal separation because they do not want to divorce their spouse for religious, moral, or personal reasons.

SPOUSAL SUPPORT

When a couple is divorcing, the court may order one spouse to pay the other a certain amount of support money each month. This is called “spousal support.”

You can request spousal or partner support to be paid while your case is in process. This is called a “temporary spousal support order.” Support can also be ordered once the divorce or legal separation becomes final, as part of the final divorce or separation judgment.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Abuse or threatened abuse is considered domestic violence. The family law court can make domestic violence protective orders when the person being abused and the abuser are, or have been in, an intimate relationship (married or domestic partners, are dating or used to date, live or lived together, or have a child together).

If you need immediate protection, you should 1) Call 911, or 2) A local law enforcement agency, or 3)A local domestic violence shelter, or 4) National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

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RELOCATION WITH CHILDREN

If you want to move with your children to a different city, county, or a different state and away from your spouse or the other parent, you should consult with an experienced family law attorney. These cases are often very complicated and can be contentious.

The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll has the compassion and experience to handle your child custody move-away case. We frequently work with psychologists or psychiatrists that are appointed by the Court who are trained to determine what child custody arrangement is best for the children.

MODIFICATION OF FAMILY LAW JUDGEMENTS/ORDER

You may need to make changes to your spousal support or child support order after the conclusion of your case. This need can arise when your income has decreased and/or your former spouse’s income has increased. Your child custody order may need to be changed as your children get older and their needs, interests, and activities change. A significant amount of our cases involve modification of existing orders.

PATERNITY ACTIONS

Establishing parentage determines who the legal parents of a child are if the parents were not married when the child was born. A child of unmarried parents is afforded all of the rights of a child born to a couple that is married. In a paternity action, the court will issue orders for child custody and child support.

PROPERTY DIVISION

When you get divorced or legally separated, the property that you and your spouse acquired during the marriage must be divided, including assets and all debts. California law is very complicated and a consultation with an experienced family law attorney is essential. If your case includes complex property division issues, we work closely with forensic accountants, real estate appraisers, and actuarial services to determine the value of your assets including closely held businesses, pensions, intellectual property, and stock options. If we are able to reach an agreement with your spouse regarding property division, you will have much more control over the assets that you receive in the divorce.
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PRE-MARITAL - POST-MARTIAL AGREEMENTS

It may be prudent to map out in advance what will happen in the event of a divorce. This can be accomplished through a Pre-Marital or Post-Marital Agreement.

The Law Office of Ellen F. Driscoll has experience drafting and reviewing both Pre-Marital and Post-Marital Agreements. We also work closely with estate planning professionals to ensure that the goals of the Pre-Marital or Post-Marital Agreement are consistent with your estate planning goals.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

TESTIMONIALS

WE ARE HAPPY TO PROVIDE GREAT SERVICE, EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES.
Ellen and her team are gracious and professional, helping me navigate through family court with minimal stress and the confidence of knowing that not one detail of my case will be overlooked. Ellen embodies my ideal family law attorney—an advocate and supportive partner in the quest for justice for my son. I feel a sense of relief with a calm piece of mind knowing that Ellen is by my side, and that is priceless. S.Z.

Ellen helped me choose my battles well, and won them for me. She assembled an amazing team whose expertise are unrivaled. Ellen’s wisdom, courage and perseverance helped me obtain a settlement that gave my children and I a new lease on life. A.A.

I felt comfortable and secure that Ellen and her legal team addressed the complicated nature of my divorce case with prompt personal attention, methodical analysis, warm professionalism and care. I feel extremely pleased with my divorce settlement and optimistic about the future. CRISTINA C.

I felt comfortable and secure that Ellen and her legal team addressed the complicated nature of my divorce case with prompt personal attention, methodical analysis, warm professionalism and care. I feel extremely pleased with my divorce settlement and optimistic about the future. D.Z.

Ellen and her staff guided me through the divorce process with professionalism and compassionate understanding. They patiently and clearly explained options and outcomes and helped me get through what I thought were insurmountable obstacles. I highly recommend Ellen and her staff —they are standouts among attorneys.

D.H.

My divorce languished for three years, then I found Ellen. She took on my complicated case and held my hand through all of the frustrating divorce conflict my husband was dishing out. And she got it done without going to trial, saving me money and further stress! K.R.

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