Carla Hartley

Bar / Professional Activity

• Member Family Law Bar Association, Tarrant County, Texas, 2024
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association Board Member, 2024
• Member Family Law Bar Association, Tarrant County, Texas, 2023
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association Board Member, 2023
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association Board Member, 2022
• Member Family Law Bar Association Tarrant County, Texas, 2022
• Admitted to State Bar of Texas, 2022
• Ventura County Bar Association, Board member, 2021
• Judge Pro Tem in Ventura's Family Law Courtrooms, 2021
• Judge Pro Tem in Ventura's Family Law Courtrooms, 2020
• Judge Pro Tem in Ventura's Family Law Courtrooms, 2019
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association, Treasurer, 2021
• Alumni Council, Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, 2019
• Alumni Council, Santa Barbara and Ventura College of Law, 2020
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association, Treasurer, 2020
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura College of Law, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 2020
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura College of Law, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 2019
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura College of Law, Advanced Legal Writing, 2016
• Adjunct Profession, Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, Advanced Legal Writing, 2019
• Ventura County Family Law Bar Association, Treasurer, 2019
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura Colleges of Law, Advanced Legal Writing, 2018
• Ventura County Bar Association, Board member, 2020
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura College of Law, Advanced Legal Writing., 2017
• Alumni Council, Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, 2018
• Ventura County Bar Association, 2018
• Handel on the Law member, 2008
• Ventura County Family Law Bar, 2018
• Adjunct Professor, Ventura College of Law, Advanced Legal Writing, 2015
• Christian Legal Society Member, 2018

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• Military divorce, post judgment support issue. Military spouse had incurred arrearages, amount was disputed. We assisted in obtaining orders for payment plan which was reasonable, and involved Department of Child Support Services for enforcement and garnishment, 2024
• Military divorce. Very short marriage, which occurred out of state upon parties discovering pregnancy. Military spouse enlisted, was deployed far from home; civilian spouse moved on. Only issues were those revolving around the infant. Resolved by agreement, with military spouse receiving significant video visits with child and in-person visits whenever able to be in area. Expect after child grows, we will have modification for increased visits with military parent. A grace note to this case is both parents want to get along for sake of child, 2024
• Military divorce, post judgment modification of custody and support. Military client stationed hours away from civilian parent's home. Civilian parent interfering with and preventing visitation with minor child since military client remarried. Obtained orders increasing military parent's time with minor child, orders that civilian parent could not be present at exchanges which were to occur at child's school, 2024
• Military divorce, post judgment modification. The parties had previously divorced, this was an action for modification of custody in which the military parent sought to force children to return to state and flip custody back to him. Matter involved defense of a lot of false allegations. At hearing court granted our request to find no change of circumstances had occurred which would warrant a a modification of custody - thereby cutting off a much longer possible trial. Our client still has children, still lives out of state. No change in opposing party's already very, very limited time with children, 2024
• Military divorce, post judgment modification of custody. Our client was military stationed in area, civilian spouse lived locally. Allegations of abuse of child by civilian spouse were being ignored by child services. Client sought our assistance. Client now has primary custody of child, civilian spouse sees child at discretion of child, 2023
• Military divorce with minor children. We represented civilian spouse. We obtained orders, after multiple hearings and a trial, granting our client the right to move out of state with the minor children, and securing good support child support orders for her; spousal support was not necessary because the reason for the move out of state was for her to take a high-paying job near her family. The former family residence was sold, proceeds divided with our client receiving the down payment, sourced from her premarital home, and half the community interest therein. Pension to be divided by domestic relations order, 2021
• Military divorce, post judgment modification of support. Both parties were military at time of divorce. This post judgment action was brought because Wife left service and wanted to return with child to her home state despite our client's objections. We prevented the move away out of state with the child. We also prevented Wife from maximizing her support to allow her to take a few years to go to college, when we were able to show she had present ability and opportunity to earn substantial sums, 2021
• Adoption. In contested action for termination of parental rights, we prevailed, and child was subsequently adopted, 2022
• Military parentage proceeding, both members military. This was relationship of short duration but parties had twin infant children, and our client was ready to leave military and return to her home state. We obtained orders after hearing granting our client primary custody of the infant twins, and permitting her to move with them to her own state. We also obtained excellent support orders after another contested hearing, 2020
• Military divorce, post-military-retirement. Physician client still working at time of dissolution. Matter resolved by stipulated judgment. Parties had been married for decades and significant wealth had been accumulated. Of particular note here, is that both parties were interested in preserving the community estate for the adult children and particularly for a special needs adult child. The parties had already signed off (when military retirement went into pay status) on the survivor benefit plan going to the special needs child so that was an interesting wrinkle that the parties elected not to reverse, due to the expense, 2022
• Military divorce, minor child. We represented active duty spouse. Matter resolved by stipulated judgment after two years of negotiation. Military member was remarkably generous; our primary job was advising client of difference between legal distribution and support amounts and ensuring client was aware he was agreeing to provide civilian spouse with far more than legally required, 2023
• Military divorce, civilian spouse dual citizen who remained overseas. No children. We resolved entire case by stipulated judgment. Pension divided per domestic relations order, no spousal support ordered as civilian spouse was residing in location with greatly lowered cost of living and stated, on record, no intention to return to U.S. Other assets in community divided equally, 2023
• Military divorce, post judgment termination of support. This client was a military spouse, divorced in 2017, retired in 2022. We sought termination of spousal support; though client had retired he was reemployed, but civilian spouse was now receiving pension in amount exceeding prior support amount and was cohabiting. After evidentiary hearing court terminated our client's spousal support obligation, 2023
• Military divorce. We represented military member who had purchased home with separate property contribution from parents for down payment, but had been excluded from home and denied custody by issuance of temporary restraining order. We defeated restraining order, and obtained judgment granting our client the house; civilian spouse had occupied home so long after separation (with military spouse paying mortgage and support) that nearly all her equity had been consumed, 2023
• Military divorce. Military spouse overseas throughout proceeding. Civilian spouse had threatened to seek restraining order if client did not increase payments of support. We defeated request for restraining order, and got orders for greatly reduced support. Marriage of short duration: client to keep entire interest in pension, support obligation to terminate in near future after military spouse pays support for half duration of marriage, 2023
• Military divorce with children. Contested matter on the custody and support issues. Obtained orders that military spouse shall have equally shared time and, in event of deployment, pre-deployment orders will go into effect upon military spouse's return from deployment. Support resolved after civilian spouse found to have ability and opportunity to work and contribute to his support and support of children. Estate divided by agreement at time of trial - community estate equally divided, no significant separate interest for either parent, 2023
• Military divorce, with children. Matter proceeded by settlement: equally shared physical custody, equally shared legal custody, support ordered per guideline after civilian spouse was ordered to seek work. Assets (house, pension) divided but not equally as civilian spouse had minimal interest in pension due to short marriage, and client had significant separate property down payment put into house, 2023
• Military divorce. We represented the civilian spouse, obtained orders permitting her to move to home state with minor children. Court divided community estate per law; support orders obtained were favorable to our client, 2022
• Military divorce, no children. Case proceeded largely by agreement after issue of support was resolved. We obtained orders requiring wife to submit to vocational evaluation and after hearing court found Wife had ability and opportunity to earn commensurate with education and experience. Support ordered at much lesser amount than Wife had requested. Retirement, other assets divided by stipulated judgment, 2022
• Military divorce, with children. We obtained orders after hearing for equally shared custodial time with children, and orders that after deployment, the before-deployment orders would be reinstated. Assets including pension divided by settlement agreement, 2022
• Military Divorce with children, restraining order. We obtained orders protecting our client from abusive spouse, awarding primary custody to our client. Client permitted to move with child pursuant to military orders, 2022
• Restraining Order, Parental Rights, Move Away with child. We obtained domestic violence restraining order for client and limited other parent's access to minor child. Court granted our request for client to move out of state with minor child, 2022
• Adoption by Guardians. Biological mother and father contested termination of parental rights after two years of guardianship. After hearing, court terminated parental rights and freed child for adoption by guardians, 2023
• Adoption - over biological father's objections, his parental rights were terminated after hearing and stepfather permitted to adopt, 2024
• Adoption. Contested action for termination of parental rights of biological father for at-birth adoption. Resolved by settlement; biological father agreed to terminate his rights and became godparent to child with visitation, child was adopted. Biological mother's parental rights terminated, 2024
• Adoption - Re-adoption of minor child. Mother had lost child to grandmother in a dependency action. Mother cleaned up, and grandmother became ill; biological father's parental rights were terminated at hearing and biological mother adopted her own child with consent of her mother (formerly the adoptive parent), 2023
• Adoption by grandparent. In this case we terminated parental rights of other biological parent after hearing, and grandparent adopted child; grandparent and mother were subsequently the child's parents after adoption, 2023
• Adoption of siblings. Biological parent contested adoption by stepfather. After hearing court terminated parental rights of stepfather and siblings were adopted by client, 2021
• Adoption by guardians. One parent deceased, other parent contested adoption as did extended family. After hearing, court terminated parental rights and our clients adopted child, 2021
• Adoption by stepparent. Biological father opposed termination of parental rights. Court granted our request to terminate parental rights and child was successfully adopted, 2023
• Adoption - action for termination of parental rights successfully concluded and child was adopted by stepparent, 2023
• Adoption - Action for termination of parental rights proceeded by default. Adoption concluded, 2023
• Adoption. Initially contested action, resolved termination of parental rights by agreement and adoption ensued, 2022
• Adoption. In contested action for termination of parental rights we prevailed and guardians were able to adopt, 2022
• Adoption - stepparent. In contested action for termination of parental rights, we prevailed and child was freed for adoption, 2021
• Parental relationship action involving military service member who received orders to relocate to another state. Our client petitioned for a move-away, which resulted in our Firm successfully obtaining the Order for minor child to relocate with our client, 2021
• Parental relationship action involving two military service members. After hearing, case resolved with joint legal and joint physical custody, 2015
• Dissolution of marriage proceeding with military service member and dependent spouse. This case resolved in equal distribution of property, retirement plans, and debt, 2020
• Parental relationship action involving military service member. After mediation and hearing, the case resolved in joint legal and joint physical custody, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage of military service members which involved real property and a few assets, parties entered into a Stipulated Judgment, 2018
• Dissolution of marriage of military service member without minor children. At hearing on the Restraining Order brought by Opposing Party, we successfully defended the Restraining Order and it was dismissed. The remainder of the case was resolved after an evidentiary hearing, 2017
• This case is a parentage action involving a military service member. The case resolved with a stipulation as to joint physical and legal custody, 2016
• This case involved a jurisdictional dispute as to whether California, or a nearby state, had authority over the parties' marriage and the parties' child. Motions to Quash petitions were filed in both states. A consolidated hearing on both motions to quash was heard via video conference in both courtrooms, in both states, simultaneously. The end result was that the res of the marriage and personal jurisdiction over opposing party were found to be in the nearby state and jurisdiction over the child was found to be in California. After that the case proceeded to settlement, 2021
• Dissolution of marriage, with children, of military service member. Case resolved in Stipulated Judgment, 2014
• Dissolution of marriage of prior military service member and independent contractor. This case involved no minor children, multiple real estate holdings with a significant separate property interest, in our client's favor, and multiple private and Government pension and retirement accounts. After extended discovery, this case resolved by Stipulated Judgment with our client's retention of his separate property interests, equal distribution of the community property estate, and a buy out of our client's spousal support obligation, 2021
• Dissolution of marriage wherein opposing party was arrested, and jailed, and awaiting Trial for molestation of a minor child by another party. Our client briefly lost custody in a dependency proceeding. We prosecuted the dissolution of marriage and worked closely with dependency counsel. The Stipulated Judgment weighed heavily in our client's favor on property and support issues and has since been awarded sole legal and sole physical custody of the minor child, 2021
• Successful grandparent visitation case., 2019
• This was dissolution of marriage of long duration. Our client had married an affluent individual who attempted to assert that he did not change the character of the properties when he put her name on title and when he distributed tranches of stock shares to her, during the marriage, as compensation for her efforts in the business. After significant discovery was exchanged and after a Chambers Conference at time of Mandatory Settlement Conference, this matter resolved by Stipulated Judgment by all properties deemed community property. The transfers of stock were deemed valid and in addition to her now significant separate property estate, wife received substantial spousal support and a guarantee of continued employment in the parties jointly owned business, 2020
• Dissolution of marriage, with minor child, of military service member. Opposing party's request for move-away was denied. Our client has primary physical custody and does not pay support to opposing party, 2020
• We had previously assisted client with entering into a post nuptial agreement regarding custody, visitation and distribution of property. Upon dissolution, the post nuptial agreement was found enforceable and matters were resolved in our client's favor, 2020
• Military service member dissolution of marriage with property and no minor children., 2018
• Dissolution of marriage of long duration with prenuptial agreement. Opposing party attempted to enforce on the prenuptial agreement which did not meet criteria for a valid agreement at the time it was signed. After deposition of opposing party these facts were fully fleshed out. We sought a bifurcated Trial challenging the validity of the prenuptial agreement and seeking attorneys fees and costs. The Court found the prenuptial agreement unenforceable and invalid and awarded us all attorneys fees and costs incurred after the date of the deposition proceeding. After that, the case involved several houses, several pension/retirement plans, all of which were equally distributed and resulted in a hefty support payment to our client, 2020
• Dissolution of marriage of long duration with Domestic Violence Restraining Order in our client's favor. Community estate equally divided by subsequent Stipulated Judgment with substantial spousal support orders granted to our client, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage involving military service member. Opposing party's move-away denied, 2017
• Same sex dissolution of marriage involving business, real property, and a highly valued artwork collection. After hearing, our client received a substantial support order and the community estate was equally distributed, 2015
• This case was a dissolution of marriage wherein the parties had been separated for some years before filing. Disputes about managing the large community business had resulted in numerous Tax, OSHA, and EDD violations over our client's objections (before we got in the case). The sale of one real property parcel resulted in funds placed in an FBO Trust Account administered by this Firm. The parties then went through a couple more attorneys each and no one would take assume responsibility for the trust funds. Opposing party demanded release of the funds, but would not confer with successor counsel. When the Firm could not obtain a response from successor counsel, we drafted and filed an Interpleader depositing the funds with the Court, 2019
• Parentage action involving military service member., 2019
• Military service member domiciled in Texas is the father of a minor child still living in California with mother. Mother withheld the child in violation of orders in the parentage action. When Father attempted to visit the child, he was accused of domestic violence and stalking and served with a Temporary DVRO while here in California. We successfully defended the Restraining Order action and the TRO was dismissed. Father now enjoys liberal visitation with his child, 2019
• Judgment of parentage was entered in Nevada. Opposing party moved to California. Our client returned home to another state. When the child went to visit our client, at home over the summer, the child disclosed substantial abuse. An out of state action for emergency jurisdiction was filed; however, jurisdiction was ceded back to California. After a long cause Trial, involving witnesses, evidence, and minors' counsel, we successfully obtained Orders that custody switch to our client and after a 30-day wait, our client was permitted to take the child to their out of state home, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage action which involved children, multiple real estate holdings, and county and state pensions and savings plans. Case resolved by Stipulated Judgment, 2021
• This is a post-judgment action for move-away, with child, when our client married a military service member who received Orders to go elsewhere. The move-away was granted, 2019
• Dissolution of domestic partnership and same sex marriage of military service member who was stationed overseas for the entire proceeding. Case resolved by default judgment, 2018
• Dissolution of marriage of military service member and foreign national. This case involved conception of a child, during marriage, while the service member was oceans away from spouse. The case concluded with our client being found not to be that child's parent. As to the child which was our client's biological child, Opposing Party's move-away request to San Diego was denied and our client has primary physical custody, 2017
• Dissolution of marriage of military service member and local school teacher. Case resolved with equal distribution of the community estate, joint legal and joint physical custody to the parties, and the service member has gone to law school, 2017
• Dissolution of marriage case which originated in another county in California with another attorney. This case involved multiple houses, large business interests, and multiple large value assets. We successfully defended an action to transfer one business to Opposing Party and the case was then delayed by a bankruptcy proceeding, which stripped Opposing Counsel of his attorneys fees and costs award. Post bankruptcy, we discovery Opposing Party had remarried in a confidential ceremony two years prior in another state. We brought a successful action for disgorgement of wrongfully received spousal support, resulting in Opposing Party paying a lump sum of hundreds of thousands of dollars to our client, 2016
• Case involved abduction of children to another nation. District Attorneys Child Abduction Recovery Unit was appointed and the children were returned to California. Our client successfully defended a Hague Convention action to return the children to Opposing Party's foreign home. Our client was awarded sole legal and sole physical custody of the children, 2014
• This case involved a dissolution of marriage with no minor children and no restraining orders. The marriage was of long duration and multiple real property and business assets. The dispute was over the separate property character and reimbursement rights of our client's significant assets. We prevailed on these issues. A further dispute was Opposing Party's claim of being disabled and unable to work, wherein she was seeking very high support orders. After a lengthy Trial, at which we presented lengthy video evidence, showing Opposing Party performing all the tasks and functions she had informed the vocational evaluator she could not perform, this issue resolved by settlement with a non-modifiable support order and a non-modifiable termination jurisdiction date of support. Afterwards, this case survived a motion to set aside the Judgment, 2020
• Hague Convention action of enforcing a foreign nations custodial decree in California., 2017
• This case involved dissolution of both marriage and a domestic partnership which the parties had entered into prior to marriage, a minor child, significant support issues and an action to void the fraudulent domestic partnership which significantly the duration of our client's support obligation, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage of military service member and dependent spouse. Opposing Party moved without permission to another state. We obtained orders appointing District Attorneys Child Abduction Recovery Unit and returning children to the state, 2016
• Dissolution of marriage involving prior military service member and independent contractor. This case was hotly contested because Opposing Party stopped working when served with the instant action and withheld the children from our client. After a vocational evaluation, our client's support obligation was significantly reduced. This case is interesting because our client is domiciled in another state, but because our client is a commercial pilot and was able to maintain a home here as well, we secured equally shared custodial time for him, 2020
• Adoption of Indian Child. Contested action for termination of rights of both parents; we prevailed, and grandparents were able to adopt successfully, 2022
• Dissolution of marriage involving domestic violence restraining order and gun violence restraining order against Opposing Party for our client's protection., 2020
• Dissolution of marriage involving military service members. The case required transfer of jurisdiction from another state to California as neither party, nor child, continued to live in the state of original action. Case resolved in our client having primary custody, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage of two foreign nationals who became naturalized U.S. Citizens. No minor children were involved, but the parties had significant concerns about inheritance of assets here and abroad. Our client procured a Restraining Order as well as an order freezing funds, so Opposing Party could not transfer them out of the country. The case resolved when Opposing Party's capacity was recognized as insufficient. This was referred out to a conservatorship attorney, 2019
• Dissolution of marriage involving foreign national who attempted to flee the country with the minor child. This was not a high asset case. Case resolved with orders for primary custody to our client and Opposing Party prohibited from removing minor child from the County, 2017
• Dissolution of marriage involving special needs child, distribution of real estate, pension plans, spousal support and adult child support. Case resolved in equal distribution of the community estate. Our client's request for move-away was granted and our client's request for adult child support was also granted, 2018
• This case was a parentage case in which the parties had purchased real property together. The custody proceeding resolved after mediation by agreement of the parents, but we had to bring a real property partition action in another Court to secure our client's interest in the real property. The partition action was successful as our client had contributed vast amount of funds to the house, 2018
• Dissolution of marriage with military service members, both of whom had become independent contractors for the U.S. Government. This case involved distribution of real property, retirement plans, pensions, and resolved by agreement, including equally shared custodial time, 2017
• Dissolution of marriage involving foreign national, international transfer of significant funds, businesses here and abroad. This case involved co-counsel specializing in immigration issues. This case resolved with our client paying no support with Wife's (opposing party) request for restraining order defeated and with our client retaining all of his premarital separate property interest in his home and pension. Our client paid no support and no attorney fees to Opposing Counsel, 2019
• Dissolution of Marriage involving military service member and a dependent spouse. We represented the service member who was opposing a move-away brought on by their spouse. We successfully defeated the move-away attempt and established equitable support orders and equally divided the remainder of the community estate, 2019
• Dissolution of Marriage with minor children, restraining order against Opposing Party, multiple real estate holdings, and valuation and distribution of professional practice. After three years of law and motion the case went to Trial. The conclusion of this case resulted in our client having primary custody of both children, equal distribution of the community estate, a good valuation of the practice based on our expert's testimony, good support orders, and substantial attorney fee award for Opposing Party's evasive and litigious behavior, 2019
• Dissolution of Marriage of long duration involving multiple real properties, a concealed business (which had been moved out of state by Opposing Party), and fraudulent concealment of income by Opposing Party in attempt to evade support obligations. The end result of this case, after the fraud was exposed, was the award of most of the community property estate to our client and the remainder of the community property estate was ordered liquidated to pay our fees, 2020
• Grandparent visitation action brought by the parental grandfather which eventually resulted after many hearings, and appointment of minors' counsel, in sole legal and sole physical custody to our client (the grandparent) and only supervised visitation to the biological parents. A restraining order was procured on behalf of the minor child against the biological father, 2020
• Post-Judgment action for enforcement of Opposing Party's obligation to re-finance/sell family residence, or to enforce orders re distribution of savings and retirement plans and to modify support. Case resolved after hearing in our client's favor with all orders enforced and upward modification of support, 2019
• Dissolution of Marriage involving real estate holdings in multiple states and countries and involving funds secreted in offshore account, as well as significant stocks, performance units, and private pension plans. After a long cause Trial, the case resolved with primary custody to our client, compensation for secreted funds, equal division of the retirement and pension plans, and equalization of community and quasi-community real estate, 2020
• Dissolution of Marriage involving minor children, multiple real estate holding, multiple private and Government pensions, and significant tracing and reimbursement issues re: waste of community estate. After an energetic year of discovery and law and motion appearances, this case resolved in our client's favor on custody and tracing issues. The remainder of the community estate was divided equally and our client received primary custody of the children, 2018
• Dissolution of Marriage involving two professional practices, and multiple house, and custody dispute over minor children. This case involved tracing and location of hidden assets and after Trial we prevailed on several reimbursement issues and obtained a handsome award of attorneys fees and costs, 2019
• Successful negotiation of joint legal and equally shared physical custody for our client - a military member. The remainder of the case, including support, disposition of real property, and pensions was resolved by agreement without need for court appearance, 2020
• Dissolution of Marriage commenced with jurisdictional dispute over which state had authority to make decisions regarding custody, property, and dissolution of status involving military service members. After we prevailed on the jurisdictional issue, the case resolved by settlement on all issues including disposition of military pension, 2018
• Successful registration of foreign custody decree and award of custody to our client who is a military member., 2020
• Dissolution involving Opposing Party who was the military member. Case resolved with successful custodial move-away, with children, by our client, 2021
• We obtained a ruling that our client, who was not biologically related to one of the minor children, was the child's legal father, as a result of evidence presented at Trial showing he had acted as this child's father from the age of 10 months. Case resolved with sole legal and physical custody to our Client with a move-away petition granted, 2017
• Custody dispute involving minor child of military members. Opposing Party's request to move away with minor child denied. Our client received primary physical and sole legal custody, 2011
• Custody dispute involving minor children of military members. Our client petitioned to move-away and her request was granted. Case resolved with joint legal custody and primary physical custody to our client, 2020
• Independent adoption of infant child born to underaged mother. Both parents rights terminated. Post-Adoption contact was entered into with mother, 2013
• Successful adoption derived out of guardianship proceeding. Both parents rights terminated, 2021
• An independent adoption of child born to non-relatives and placed in our client's care at birth. Adoption successful, 2012
• Step-parent adoption completed after overdose of biological parent., 2012
• This was a successful Adoption following termination of parental rights with Interstate Jurisdictional dispute. Resolved in our clients' favor, 2012
• International re-adoption of minor child; this child was adopted by U.S. parents under the laws of a foreign nation. The international re-adoption was employed successfully to secure for this child the rights and privileges of a U.S. Citizen, 2011
• International re-adoption of minor child; this child was adopted by U.S. parents under the laws of a foreign nation. The international re-adoption was employed successfully to secure for this child the rights and privileges of a U.S. Citizen, 2013
• Successful step-parent adoption of military children involving termination of unknown father's parental rights., 2018
• Step-parent adoption of child with Native American ancestry. Termination of parental rights accomplished and adoption successful, 2017
• Successful adoption of child born to spouse's sister with the Court dispensing of need for mother's consent for adoption to proceed., 2018
• Successful guardianship of minor child by maternal relatives., 2021
• Grandparent guardianship established. Biological parents rights terminated followed by successful grandparent adoption, 2019
• Successful termination of parental rights of biological father who impregnated minor. Adoption successful, 2019
• Successful termination of biological parent's parental rights involving service by publication on unlocatable opposing party; this case also involved interstate jurisdictional issues as adopting parents were military., 2020
• Termination of parental right's of parent convicted of felonies. Biological parent asserted Native American ancestry of child. This case involved the further component of proving the child had no Native American ancestry under the Indian Child Welfare Act. Step-parent adoption successful, 2019
• Military member successfully terminated rights of abandoning parent and resulting in successful step-parent adoption., 2019
• Successful termination of biological parent's right resulting in successful adoption., 2019
• Successful conclusion of step-parent adoption and termination of biological parent's rights., 2021
• Successful step-parent adoption of minor child involving location of record showing biological parent was deceased., 2020
• Successful termination of parental rights of biological parent and successful adoption of the child., 2021
• Successful conclusion of Adoption requiring service of biological parent in India. Parental rights were terminated and our clients concluded their Adoption, 2018
• Successful resolution of child custody case where mother abducted child and fled the State. Child was recovered and Dad was granted custody, 2019
• Successful negotiation of settlement in dissolution case involving multiple real estate holdings, a family run business, and Union Pension Plans, as well as custody and visitation., 2018
• Terminated parental rights of biological father and biological mother, culminating in successful independent adoption of minor child, 2018
• Successfully defended against spurious request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order, 2019
• Termination of biological father's parental rights, culminating in successful stepparent adoption of the minor child, 2013
• Terminated parental rights of biological father and procured consent of biological mother to adoption of child; Indian Child Welfare Act partially contested and determined not to apply on appeal; successful culmination in adoption of child by grandparents, 2018
• Terminated felony father's parental rights and obtained biological mother's consent to adoption, culminating in successful independent adoption of the minor child, 2013
• Termination of unknown father's and known biological mother's parental rights, followed by successful independent adoption of the minor child, 2014
• My client's divorce from his prior wife was finalized over 29 years ago. Judgment was entered at that time in accordance with then-current law, granting my client his entire federal pension as his sole and separate property. Opposing party filed a motion for distribution of his pension plan in 2010, trying to get a distribution of the plan under current law. The law granting my client the plan as his sole property was overturned by Congress about a year later. At the same time, the California State Legislature passed a law that gave ex-spouses until January 1, 1986 to go back to court to set aside or redistribute the pensions under these final judgments. I argued that the deadline for redistribution was long past and that the Court now has no jurisdiction, under current law, to go back nearly 30 years to modify the judgment, when Wife had 5 years to do so and never took action. My client's pension plan was preserved as his sole and separate property., 2010
• Termination of biological mother's parental rights culminating in successful stepparent adoption, 2018
• Judgment with attached settlement agreement entered within 60 days of filing (though status not restored as single persons for another 4 months). Description: This case involved two people married many, many years, who had built a sizeable community property estate. There were no minor children, though spousal support was at issue, 2008
• Out of state case was dismissed. Case in California stayed alive. Client received joint legal, sole physical custody, visitation to opposing party was limited, and support was based on California law. Description: Client returned to California from military post in another state, with children. Opposing party filed for dissolution in the other state; our client filed for dissolution with children here in California. Opposing party tried to evade service but with assistance of JAG, we were able to accomplish service and show opposing party had been transferred to California, 2013
• Father has sole legal and sole physical custody; Mother has only supervised telephone visitation. Description: Father hired us after Mother took the parties' two children and fled with them to another country. Working with the District Attorney's office under the Hague Convention, we recovered the children and had them returned to Father, 2011
• Sole legal, sole physical custody to Dad, with a NICE spousal and child support award payable by Mom to Dad. Description: Our client was a stay-at-home dad of three very young children whom Wife had nominated as Father of the Year the previous summer. When my client filed for divorce, opposing party engineered a domestic violence incident and accused our client of child molestation, which resulted in our client losing custody of these three children for several months. The trial over the restraining orders and custody issues occurred at the onset of this case, and took 8 days of court time spread over 7 months, 2010
• My clients have adopted the child and the period of appeal has passed. Description: A child was given to my clients as guardians. After over two years of biological mother making no attempt to contact the child or support the child in any way, her parental rights were terminated and the child freed for adoption
• After the video was shown, the parties reached a settlement very favorable to my client. He received a date certain for termination of spousal support. Description: Opposing party alleged that she was unable to work, based on various medical diagnoses she claimed to have had. My client was the high wage earner. She wanted very high spousal support until my client retired, as this was a marriage of long duration. Opposing party came to court each day with a walker, and had convinced a vocational evaluator and her own doctor she could not work - could not stand, sit, walk, climb stairs, do fine manipulations, lift anything and so forth. On the fifth day of trial, we presented video gathered over the course of several months showing her exercising vigorously, shopping for extended periods, climbing stairs, etc. After the video was shown to the Court, she never brought her walker back into the Courthouse., 2013
• Our client received her one-half share of the substantial community estate, which the Court found dated from 2000 as we argued; and our client has primary custody of the child. We also received an excellent support order. Description: This case involved a lengthy custodial dispute and an even longer dispute over the character of the community property estate. These parties had been together for 14 years, became domestic partners in 2000, and were married by civil union in another state. It was our contention that the law in the State of California provided that the property acquired from the date of the domestic partnership until the date of separation was community property, and that the child would be best served by remaining with our client, who had been the stay at home mom since the child's birth, 2009
• After a contested trial, our client obtained a 5-year domestic violence restraining order against opposing party, and the Court granted her sole legal and sole physical custody of the minor children. Description: Our client had been in a relationship with opposing party for a few years, and had two small children with him. After the birth of the first child he started tormenting her, physically harming her in many instances. She got the courage to leave him, and to hire an attorney to protect herself and her children, 2011
• Service accomplished according to Hague requirements. Opposing party was charged with the value of the assets taken. My client received the former family residence as her sole and separate property. Description: Opposing party skipped the Country with all assets except the paid off former family residence., 2013

Videos

• Carla Hartley gives direction and encouragement to viewers concerned about the court closures and how this may impact their cases., Adapt and Overcome, Day 3, Legal, Judicial, Business, 2020
• Three things you need to know: 1. What custodial schedule should you be on during this time? 2. Where should you be exchanging your children given all the school closures and health care directives? 3. What does the Court say you should be doing with regard to Covid precautions between coparenting households?, Custodial Orders During Court Closure, Legal, Judicial, Education, Business, 2020
• Carla Hartley discusses our new and ever changing roadmap for legal issues during the pandemic, Figuring Out The New Rules, Legal, Judicial, Business, 2020
• Managing Partner Carla Hartley gives direction and encouragement related to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Calm. Collected. On it., Legal, Judicial, Business, 2020
• Managing Partner Carla Hartley gives an update on the partial court closures in Ventura County and nearby., More News on the partial court closures, Legal, Judicial, Business, 2020

Special Licenses / Certifications

• Admitted to State Bar of Texas., 2022
• Admitted to U.S. District Court, Central District of California, 2010
• Admitted to State Bar of California, 2007
• United States Marine Corps - Sergeant, 1983

Pro bono / Community Service

• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2024
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2023
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2022
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2021
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2020
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2019
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2018
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2017
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2016
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2015
• Executive board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2014
• Founding board member and contributor to Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2013
• Founding board member, Pray for the Courts, Inc., a non-profit corporation to provide support to people working in the court system, 2012

Honors

• Martindale-Hubbell – Peer-review rated AV Preeminent*
• One of 40 attorneys recognized nationwide for excellence in their field, N.Y. Times Power Lawyer, Lawyers of Distinction, 2022
• Recognized for excellence and leadership in the legal profession, Fortune Magazine Top Professional, Marquis Who's Who, 2024
• 2024-2025 award, recognized for excellence in the practice of law., Top Lawyer, Marquis Who's Who, 2024
• Marquis Who's Who selectee for excellence in the field of law, Professional Women in the Law, Marquis Who's Who, 2023
• Recognized for excellence in the legal profession, Top Lawyer, Marquis Who's Who, 2022
• Recognized for excellence and leadership in the legal profession, Wall Street Journal Top Professional: Distinguished Leaders, Marquis Who's Who, 2022
• Marquis Who's Who selectee for Top Lawyer for 2021-2022, Who's Who Top Professional, Marquis Who's Who, 2021
• One of 40 attorneys recognized nationwide for excellence in their field, N.Y. Times Power Lawyer, Lawyers of Distinction, 2021
• One of 40 attorneys recognized nationwide for excellence in their field, N.Y. Times Power Lawyer, Lawyers of Distinction, 2023
• Lawyers of Distinction, Lawyers of Distinction, 2020
• Top Contributor Award, Avvo.com, 2019
• Client's Choice Award, Avvo.com, 2010
• Top 10 2021 Family Law Firm, Best of the Best Attorneys, 2021
• Presented to Carla L. Hartley, Esq., Trademark Women of Distinction, Honors Edition, Trademark Women of Distinction, 2017
• Selected by nomination, Recognizing Excellence in Family Law, Lawyers of Distinction, 2019
• California Top Lawyer, The Legal Network, 2015
• Presented to Carla L. Hartley, Esq., Recognizing Excellence in Family and Divorce Law, Lawyers of Distinction, 2018
• Selected as a Top 100 Family Law Attorney in California by American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 100 Family Law Attorneys in California, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2019
• Selection as one of ten best family law attorneys in California by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, Ten Best Family Law Attorneys in California, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2018
• California Top Lawyer, The LEGAL NETWORK, 2013
• Top 100 Family Law Attorneys in California, American Society of Legal Advocates, 2018
• California Top Lawyer, The Legal Network, 2016
• California Top Lawyer, The LEGAL NETWORK, 2017
• High Honors, Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Santa Barbara, California, 2006
• Honors, Trademark Women of Distinction, 2017
• Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2017
• United States Marine Corps, with decorations, U.S. Marine Corps
• California Top Lawyer, The LEGAL NETWORK, 2014
• Top 10% of Attorneys in America, Lawyers of Distinction, 2018
• Top 100 Lawyers, The National Advocate, 2016

Educational Background

• University of Mexico - B.A., English, 1993

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Family, Author, My Mothers in Law, Citations, 2010

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Los Angeles District Meeting - Social Media as Evidence (Speaker), 2015
• Reconciliation in the City - Reconciling the church with the courts (Speaker), 2011
• Central Coast Direct - Evidence and Investigators in Family Law (Speaker), 2014
• Growing Through Divorce - Family Law Strategies and Christian Principles (Speaker), 2014
• Law Day 2010 - How changes to Domestic Partnership Laws have affected the rights of our Senior Citizens (Speaker), 2010

• Adoption
• Family Law
• Guardianship/Conservatorship
• Military Divorce