Westwood Pacific Law PLLC
OUR PRACTICE AREAS
BUSINESS GUIDANCE & RESTRUCTURING
Assisting with Formation, Management, Dissolution, Wind-Up, Restructuring & Bankruptcy for Business Owners, Partnerships, LLCs & Corporations
About 20 percent of new business fail within the first year, and nearly half fail within five years. Long-term business success depends on careful planning, management, and sound legal guidance.
We advise and guide our business clients in the formation, growth, maintenance, and management of startups, corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and non-profit organizations, as well as representing owners, shareholders, partners, and board members in business matters and disputes.
We also help businesses with succession planning, dissolution, wind-up, restructuring, and dispute resolution, and .in receivership and bankruptcy cases including chapter 7 liquidation and chapter 11 and 12 reorganization as well as out-of-court workouts and related litigation.
PROBATE & ESTATE PLANNING
Representing Heirs & Administrators in Probate Estate Matters & Creating Estate Plans & Succession Plans for Individuals, Families & Business Owners
We represent heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, and personal representatives in probate and trust administration matters and related litigation. We are also available to serve as court-appointed administrators in cases where family members wish to appoint an independent third-party to navigate the probate process on their behalf.
In addition, we provide estate planning consultation and services including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, community property agreements, elder-care planning and facilitation, as well as mediation services related to estate, trust, and probate disputes.
INDIVIDUAL BANKRUPTCY & DEBT WORKOUT
Debtor & Creditor Representation in Individual & Business Bankruptcy & Out-of-Court Debt Resolution
Bankruptcy offers a "fresh start" to debtors who have limited options for dealing with debt. It can stop garnishment and foreclosure and allow debtors to discharge debt while retaining their exempt assets. It's a complicated process, however, that is not a silver bullet for everyone. For some people, filing bankruptcy can be a bad decision. It's important to have an experienced bankruptcy attorney to help you navigate the process and determine whether bankruptcy is the right choice, whether it's a chapter 7 liquidation, chapter 13 payment plan, or chapter 11 or 12 reorganization, or whether a debt workout is a viable alternative.
Receivership is also an option for business debtors, often allowing them to restructure or wind-up their business on more-favorable terms than in bankruptcy. We also represent debtors, creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy cases, mediation, and adversary litigation.
DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW
Helping Couples & Families Navigate Separation, Divorce & Parenting Issues
We represent clients in a variety of family law matters, including divorce and legal separation, parentage,, child support and parenting plan modification, and child relocation. Our family practice is solution- rather than litigation-focused. We are not "collaborative" lawyers; we take a collaborative approach when appropriate, but are prepared to litigate when necessary.
We also offer mediation of divorce, post-divorce, parenting, and relocation cases, under the belief that the best outcome for divorcing parties and parents (and their children) is one they decide for themselves.
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
Representing Home Buyers, Sellers, Owners, & Real Estate Brokers in Residential Real Estate Matters
We represent home buyers, sellers, and owners in purchase-and-sale transactions, title and boundary disputes, adverse possession and partition claims, seller disclosure damages and rescission claims, and neighbor disputes.
We also offer mediation of real estate disputes including purchase-and-sale transactions, boundary disputes, neighbor disputes, adverse possession and partition claims, and disputes between home and condominium owners and associations.
MEDIATION & ARBITRATION
Helping People Find Meaningful, Time- and Cost-Efficient Out-of-Court Solutions to Their Disputes
Although litigation is the most commonly used dispute- resolution process, it isn't always the best option. Litigation can be time-consuming, emotionally unsatisfying, expensive, not private, and the result is not always what either party hoped for. In litigation, somebody loses, and sometimes it seems both parties end up dissatisfied with the result.
We offer in-person and online mediation as an option to litigation. As a third-party neutral, we help facilitate an out-of-court resolution to many types of personal, family, and business disputes. Check our Mediation page for more information about our dispute-resolution services.