Anthony J. Catena's profile

    Anthony J. Catena

    Top rated Family Law attorney in Irvine, California

    Education Qualification:

    California Western School of Law

    Practice Areas:

    Family law,

    Adoption,

    Child support,

    Custody & visitation,

    Divorce,

    Domestic violence,

    Father's rights,

    Mediation & collaborative law

    3161 Michelson Dr Suite 1160Irvine, California, 92612

    First Admitted: 2013, California

    Professional Webpage: https://www.molmfamlaw.com/attorney/cartena-anthony/

    Bar/Professional Activity:
    • Orange County Bar Association - Member
    • State Bar of California - Member
    • Member San Diego County Bar Association, 2022
    Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
    • Obtained Ex Parte change in custody orders in January 2022 and "sole" legal and physical custody orders for 15-year old child at bifurcated trial in April 2022 for Father in contested custody litigation, 2022
    • Settled long-term marriage in representation of Wife for $5,000 per month in "non-modifiable" spousal support and division of real property asset to client as sole and separate property with "no visitation" of 14 year old child to opposing party (Father), 2022
    • Settled long-term marriage for $300,000 spousal support "buyout" with one-month until trial in divorce litigation pending since 2015, 2022
    • Negotiated $10,000/mo. temporary family support stipulation for Wife against self-employed Husband with complicated financials. Case involved expert witness analysis and reports at multiple hearings, 2021
    • Obtained order for Adjudication of Parentage for 37 year old man as to biological father despite adoption and termination of parental rights over 30 years prior, 2021
    • Represented Husband in short-term marriage of three-years, and obtained award of real property as Husband's sole and separate property and a termination of spousal support after less than one-half length of the marriage, 2021
    • Obtained post-Judgment "ex parte" order for "move away" and change in custody of two minor children to Father after two-days of evidentiary hearing , 2021
    • Obtained $4,911/mo. post-Judgment spousal support and $13,000 attorney's fees/sanctions order for Wife against self-employed, high-earned Husband after Husband and his attorney failed to produce documents in advance of hearing. At oral argument, and after three continued hearings, convinced the Court to adopt Husband's gross business income as "income available" for support, 2021
    • Negotiated $150,000 spousal support "buy-out" obtained for Husband against high-profile Wife in contested divorce proceeding after multiple mediation sessions without need for court appearance, 2021
    • Represented Wife in long-term marriage and obtained settlement of $4,000/mo. in "permanent", non-modifiable spousal support from self-employed, high-profile Husband , 2021
    • Negotiated settlement where community real property with equity exceeding $350,000 was awarded to Wife as sole and separate property as well as $20,000 Attorneys Fee award obtained for Wife in long-term marriage after multiple contested hearings, 2021
    • Negotiated "50/50" custody for Father after two years of litigation and after Father successfully defended against retaliatory and false DVRO application by Mother, 2020
    • Obtained change in custody for client, Father, after multiple continued hearings in contested post-Judgment litigation. Father had limited custodial time per Court order from 2011, but had been exercising significant time with Children. Negotiated 50/50 custody in November 2019, but returned to Court after Mother voluntarily relinquished Children to Father in 2020. Terminated Father's child support obligation and defended against multiple frivolous attempts by Mother to seek contempt charges against Father, 2020
    • Represented Husband in short-term marriage of less than two years at two-day trial against Wife. Court terminated spousal support and awarded Husband sole legal custody and sole physical custody of 2-year-old minor child. Convinced court that Wife breached fiduciary duty and Court ordered over $17,000 in reimbursement for misappropriated community property, 2020
    • Represented Wife in short-term marriage, and successfully obtained primary physical custody orders of 5-year-old child. Defended against extremely untimely Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment, and Court awarded attorney's fees of $8,000 and monetary sanctions under Family Code Section 271 of $2,000 to Wife due to conduct of Husband and his counsel that frustrated settlement, 2020
    • Obtained emergency "order shortening time for hearing" for return of minor child from North Carolina to Los Angeles to client, Mother, after Father removed child from State of California under color of wrongly obtained "ex parte" order immediately preceding COVID-19 shutdown of Court system. Minor child was ultimately ordered returned to Mother's primary care in Los Angeles, and Husband was ordered to pay $5,000 of Wife's attorney's fees and costs, 2020
    • Obtained order for $56,000 in child support arrears, interest, and penalties and successfully opposed request for modification of child support for Mother against "extraordinarily high earner" and professional athlete father in contested child support litigation after Father unilaterally reduced support from $13,000/mo. to $2,500/mo. during COVID-19 pandemic, 2020
    • Settled case on eve of trial in high-conflict litigation whereby Husband was awarded larger share of community property home, and waiver of over $20,000 in child support arrears despite existence of DVRO against Husband protecting Wife, 2020
    • Obtained "permanent" Domestic Violence Restraining Order after two day trial representing Father against Mother. Court awarded sole legal and sole physical custody of 7-year old minor child to client after trial, 2020
    • Obtained "permanent" Domestic Violence Restraining Order for Wife after multiple-day contested trial. Wife awarded sole legal and sole physical custody of 1-year-old child, with professionally monitored visitation to Husband. Court also awarded $2,100/mo. in child support, and $3,369/mo. in spousal support for 5 months after 11 month marriage, payable by Husband to Wife. Court also awarded Wife $6,250 in attorney's fees and costs after Court found Husband received $20,000 in "gifts" that were considered "income" for purposes of support and fees., 2019
    Honors/Awards:
    • Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2023-2024
    Educational Background:
    • University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 2009
    Other Outstanding Achievements:
    • National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Under 40 Family Law Attorney, 2019
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