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

⁠Super Lawyer 10+ years

Certified Family Law Specialist

Avvo Rating (10)

Justia Lawyer Rating 10.0

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.