
Torrance Fathers' Rights Attorney
Protecting Fathers' Rights in California
When it comes to deciding family law matters involving children, the court is not supposed to favor one parent simply because of his or her gender. While the old-fashioned way of thinking says that the mother is the nurturer and therefore the better parent, the reality is that fathers are just as capable of being good parents and have equal parental rights. For this reason, the courts are supposed to give equal consideration to both mothers and fathers when it comes to these types of family law cases.
If you are someone who needs to protect your fathers' rights in court, you can find strong legal advocacy when you turn to Patricia Barberis, A Law Corporation. Our law firm has Torrance divorce attorneys who represent clients in Torrance and the Los Angeles area, as well as in other parts of California. Do not hesitate to turn to our firm for effective legal representation!
Legal Support for Fathers in Family Law Disputes
Here are some of the many different ways in which we can help fathers take a stand for their rights:
Establishing Paternity in California—If the mother of your child is claiming that you are not the father, you can take a paternity test that officially settles the matter. Once your DNA test shows that you are in fact the father, we can help you get your fathers' rights recognized by the court. Establishing paternity provides you with the right to claim child custody and visitation, and it also makes you legally responsible for financially supporting the child.
Advocating for Fathers' Child Custody Rights—If you and the mother of your child split up (either through divorce or through the termination of a non-marital relationship), you have a right to seek child custody as long as you are the legal father. Our legal team can help you ensure that you are being treated fairly by the court and that the best interests of your child are being served. Whether you are seeking joint custody or sole custody, we can provide you with solid representation!
Securing Fathers' Visitation Rights—Some fathers prefer to seek visitation rather than child custody. With visitation, the mother has primary custody while the father is allowed to have regular visits with the child. This may involve seeing the child on certain days or caring for the child on certain weekends. Our law firm can assist fathers who are seeking their rightful visitation time.
Fathers' Consent in Adoption Proceedings—If a child is going to be put up for adoption, the father must be notified. This is because permission must be granted by both birth parents or legal parents before a child can be put a child up for adoption, except for in certain circumstances. In order to have the right to make an adoption-related decision, it must be shown that the father actually made efforts to serve as the child's parent. If this is not shown, the court might not recognize the father's parental rights.
Our law firm has been serving clients throughout the South Bay since 1977. With 70 years of combined experience between our attorneys, we are well suited to represent you in your family law matter.
Contact Patricia Barberis, A Law Corporation to learn more about how you could benefit from our legal team!
What Sets Us Apart
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Trusted by Generations of FamiliesOur reputation for integrity and excellence has made us a go-to firm for families across Los Angeles County for nearly five decades.
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Tenacious & CompassionateWe fiercely advocate for our clients while offering the empathy and support needed during life’s most challenging moments.
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70 Years of Combined ExperienceWith decades of trusted legal service in the South Bay, we bring deep knowledge and proven results to the most complex family law matters.
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Mother & Daughter Legal TeamBenefit from the strength and synergy of a family-led team that brings a personal, united approach to every case.

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Meet Pat & ColleenDiscover the experience and dedication behind our trusted mother–daughter legal team.
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TestimonialsHear directly from clients who’ve trusted us to guide them through family law challenges.
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FAQFind straightforward answers to the most common family law and divorce questions.

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I couldn't have chosen a better law team to represent my family and me. Everyone in the office treats us with love and care, ensuring that I understand everything that is happening. You are a wonderful, loyal person, and you are also an excellent, caring, and highly professional lawyer. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all you have done. I did not want the day to pass without thanking you again for your work today.Mikki D.
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Pat, Colleen, and the team helped me through a very difficult custody issue many years ago, so I called them again when I needed to divorce. I thank them for their excellence, efficiency, and a successful settlement!Shireen C.
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Divorce can be very difficult, expensive and stressful. You need someone to talk to that could lead you in the right direction when you’re ready. Colleen was the right person to do that. She and Pat Barberis are the team that made me feel protected when I was the most vulnerable early in the divorce process. They were patient with me and Colleen was by my side in court when I really needed in person representation before the court.C.D.
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Joseph R.
Pat helped me with my divorce, which was a difficult time for me. She was fantastic, helping me through the whole process. She worked very hard to ensure it was as positive an outcome for me as possible.
When I turned to her for some legal advice just recently, several years after my divorce, I was able to set up a consultation with her that same day. She worked through the situation with me, understanding it and providing me with options that could be pursued, and giving me very solid advice. I would never hesitate to engage her again if the need arose. I would strongly recommend Pat for any family law needs you might have.
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Pat helped me with my divorce previously, which was a very difficult time for me. She was fantastic, helping me through the whole process. She worked very hard to ensure it was as positive an outcome for me as possible. When I turned to her for some legal advice just recently, several years after my divorce, I was able to set up a consultation with her that same day. She worked through the situation with me, understanding the it and providing me with options that could be pursued, and giving me very solid advice. I would never hesitate to engage her again if the need arose. I would strongly recommend Pat for any family law needs you might have.Joe
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Pat did a phenomenal job throughout my high conflict divorce. She will communicate all your options to you, she will advocate for you and fight for you, and she is so knowledgeable--her amount of expertise will put your mind at ease. She would be so prompt with all communications that if I ever had a question she would even respond to me after hours or on the weekends if needed (which I was super impressed with and it was much appreciated). Her team (which includes Colleen Barberis) and all of the office staff were incredible throughout the divorce and I will be forever grateful to them for getting me to the finish line with this divorce. I walked away with an incredible settlement and had a great outcome because of all their hard work. Thank you so much Pat, Colleen, and office staff!!Liz L
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Patricia and Colleen and their helpful office staff were a full service team who helped support me and get me through my family court battles. They were quick to respond and helpful. I would recommend them to everyone.Sarah T.
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I have had the best representation and experience with the law team of Patricia Barberis. I have had the pleasure of using them twice. They do a great job. Patricia Colleen and everyone in the office is super helpful and very talented in what they do. Their understanding of family law is amazing. Patricia and her team were very kind and patient with me in difficult times and circumstances. The last one was during the Pandemic late last year and they did an A+ job. Patricia’s guidance was super helpful and her paralegal Nancy did a fantastic job too. I highly recommend Patricia Barberis Law Firm for all family law matters. They are wonderful people and are extremely knowledgeable.
