Matthew’s practice is devoted exclusively to family law. As a result, he has handled a large volume of family law cases in matters such as divorce (including the issues of child support, spousal support, child custody, legal separation, attorney’s fees, division of property, valuation of complex business interests, enforcement of Court orders, etc.), paternity matters, palimony (Marvin v. Marvin) civil litigation claims, and post-judgment family law issues. He has also drafted, negotiated, defended, and sought to set aside prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and cohabitation (Marvin v. Marvin) agreements.Matthew is equally as comfortable litigating a case to its completion as he is negotiating a settlement agreement. He implements a tactful approach to all of his cases with an aim towards achieving the best possible result for each client. His particular knowledge in the areas of Family Law, Finance, and Accounting provides him with a skill set that makes him uniquely qualified to handle high-asset and financially complex family law matters.

Matthew comprehends and is sensitive to the personal and private nature of all the matters he handles for each of his clients. As a child of divorce himself and as a father of two, Matthew is very sensitive to and understanding of the substantial emotional costs specifically associated with matters involving minor children.

When he is not handling family law matters, he enjoys taking his two children to Disneyland, playing basketball in the Landau Lawyer’s League, or being a dedicated fan to his beloved Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers.

EDUCATION

Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University – JD
Santa Clara University BSC, Finance, Political Science

SUCCESSFUL RESULTS

The following are examples of successful results that have previously been attained by Matthew Smurda, Esq.:

(1) Successfully defending a high-profile client against a request to increase child support to ~$20,000 per month and instead obtaining a reduction of child support to ~$3,000 per month;
(2) Prevailing with an award of sole legal and physical custody, as well as the return of four minor children, to a client whose spouse had unilaterally taken the children for several months without her consent;
(3) Obtaining an award of attorney’s fees and costs payable by the opposing party in a dissolution of marriage case in the amount of $200,000 pursuant to Family Code§2030 & §2032.