About the Firm
About the Law Offices of Cathleen Norton
Exclusively Dedicated to Family Law for Over 20 Years
Recognized for excellence in family law and trusted by clients for strategic, compassionate advocacy, our firm combines deep experience with a commitment to clear guidance and client-centered support.
Strategic Family Law Representation in Los Angeles and Ventura County
- The Law Offices of Cathleen Norton is devoted exclusively to California family law.
- For more than twenty years, Cathleen E. Norton has represented individuals in complex divorce, custody, support, and post-judgment litigation throughout Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Divorce is not simply a legal process — it is a financial restructuring, a custody determination, and often a high-stakes transition that permanently alters the course of a family’s future.
- Serious matters require disciplined strategy.
About Cathleen E. Norton
- Certified Family Law Specialist
State Bar of California #237452
Admitted 2005 - Cathleen Norton is a Certified Family Law Specialist — a designation awarded by the State Bar of California to attorneys who demonstrate advanced expertise in family law through rigorous testing, peer review, and substantial trial experience.
- She practices exclusively in:
- Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce)
- High-Asset Divorce
- Complex Property Division
- Child Custody & Visitation
- Child Support
- Spousal Support
- Post-Judgment Modifications
- Enforcement & Contempt Proceedings
- Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
- Her approach combines:
- Mastery of the California Family Code
- Procedural fluency in the Los Angeles Superior Court
- Evidentiary precision
- Strategic negotiation
- Cost-benefit litigation analysis
- Clients seek this firm when the stakes are high — financially, emotionally, or both.
Courts Served
The firm regularly appears in
- Los Angeles County
- Stanley Mosk Courthouse (Downtown Los Angeles)
- Van Nuys
- Chatsworth Courthouse
- Pasadena
- Torrance
- Long Beach
- Whittier
- Compton
- Pomona
- Ventura County
- Ventura Superior Court
Local procedural knowledge matters. Understanding judicial tendencies, courtroom culture, and evidentiary expectations is critical to effective representation.
High-Asset and Complex Divorce Matters
- Many Los Angeles divorces involve substantial financial complexity. The firm routinely handles cases involving:
- Multi-million-dollar real estate portfolios
- Moore/Marsden reimbursement claims
- Closely held businesses
- Professional practices
- Executive compensation and stock options
- Retirement and deferred compensation accounts
- Long-term marriage spousal support exposure
- Fiduciary breach and disclosure violations
- California is a community property state. Assets and debts acquired during marriage are generally divided equally unless statutory exceptions apply. Strategic characterization and tracing analysis are often decisive.
Child Custody Representation Grounded in Evidence
- Custody determinations are governed by the “best interest of the child” standard.
- Courts consider:
- Health and safety
- Domestic violence history
- Stability
- Co-parenting capacity
- Demonstrated involvement in the child’s life
- This firm represents both mothers and fathers. Custody litigation is approached with factual discipline — not assumptions, emotional rhetoric, or generalized claims.
- Declarations are built on specific conduct, dates, patterns, and corroborating evidence.
Spousal Support and Financial Orders
- Spousal support determinations require careful analysis of Family Code §4320 factors, including:
- Marital standard of living
- Earning capacity
- Duration of marriage
- Age and health
- Balance of hardships
- Temporary support may follow guideline formulas. Long-term support requires judicial discretion and persuasive presentation of statutory factors.
- Financial outcomes must be analyzed not only for today — but for long-term sustainability.
Awards & Recognitions
Our Philosophy
- Family law requires balance:
- Firm when necessary
- Strategic always
- Measured in negotiation
- Prepared for trial
- The Law Offices of Cathleen Norton does not manufacture conflict. It prepares thoroughly, evaluates risk realistically, and pursues outcomes that protect clients’ financial stability and parental rights.
- Clients are advised candidly about strengths, vulnerabilities, cost exposure, and litigation risk. Long-term consequences drive decision-making — not short-term emotional reactions.
Personalized family law representation across Southern California, including Los Angeles and Ventura County.
Main Office:
9465 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Email Us:
cathleen@cnortonlaw.com
Call Us:
(310) 300-4021
Office Hours:
Mon - Sun: Open 24 Hours
Contact Form
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