Douglas Xavier Arenivar operates a bilingual family law and criminal defense practice in Whittier, California, serving clients across Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties in both English and Spanish.
Introduction
Family law and criminal defense are two practice areas that regularly intersect in Southern California. A client facing a DUI charge may simultaneously be involved in a custody dispute. A domestic violence allegation carries both criminal consequences and immediate implications for custody and restraining order proceedings. The Law Office of Douglas Xavier Arenivar handles both sides of that intersection, allowing clients with overlapping legal needs to work with a single attorney who understands how each proceeding affects the other.
The firm is based in Whittier, California, a city in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County with a large Spanish-speaking population. Douglas Arenivar’s fluency in Spanish is not incidental to the firm’s location. It reflects a deliberate commitment to serving clients who are more comfortable conducting their legal affairs in Spanish, ensuring they fully understand their rights, their options, and what is happening in their case at every stage.
Family law is the firm’s primary concentration. Divorce, custody, support, property division, and domestic violence matters make up the core of the practice, supplemented by criminal defense and immigration work for clients who need those services.
Practice Areas
Family Law
Family law is the primary focus of the firm. The range of matters handled is comprehensive.
Divorce proceedings in California are governed by community property rules, which means all marital property acquired during the marriage is subject to equal division unless specific exceptions apply. Douglas Arenivar handles divorce matters from initial filing through final judgment, including cases that involve complex asset structures.
Custody and visitation disputes require the court to assess what arrangement serves the best interests of the child. California courts examine factors including each parent’s relationship with the child, stability of each home, and the ability of each parent to facilitate the child’s relationship with the other parent. The firm represents parents in both initial custody determinations and contested modifications.
Child support and spousal support calculations in California follow specific statutory formulas, but the facts that feed those formulas are subject to dispute. Income figures, timeshare arrangements, and special circumstances all affect the final number. The firm handles support establishment, enforcement, and modification.
Property division addresses both the identification of community versus separate property and the valuation and allocation of each asset. Business interests, retirement accounts, and real estate each present distinct division questions.
Domestic violence representation and restraining orders are handled with the urgency those matters require. A domestic violence restraining order can be obtained on a temporary basis before the other party appears in court, and the firm assists clients seeking protection.
Paternity actions establish legal parenthood for unmarried parents. Post-judgment modifications are available when circumstances change materially after a court order has been entered.
Criminal Defense
The firm’s criminal defense practice covers DUI charges involving both alcohol and drugs, misdemeanors, and felonies. Southern California DUI cases trigger both criminal court proceedings and separate DMV administrative proceedings regarding driving privileges, and both require prompt attention.
Personal Injury
Personal injury claims are handled for clients injured due to another party’s negligence in the Southern California counties the firm serves.
Immigration
Immigration matters are part of the firm’s practice, serving Southern California’s immigrant community alongside the firm’s family and criminal work.
Attorney Profiles
Douglas Xavier Arenivar
Douglas Xavier Arenivar is the founding attorney of the firm and handles its matters across family law, criminal defense, personal injury, and immigration. He is fully bilingual in English and Spanish, and conducts client consultations and representation in both languages. His practice serves clients across four Southern California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside.
Location and Service Area
Office Address:
6528 Greenleaf Ave Suite 121
Whittier, CA 90601
Phone: (562) 696-0504
Website: arenivarlaw.com
The firm serves clients throughout Southern California, with coverage across Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County. The Whittier location provides central access to the San Gabriel Valley and is within reasonable distance of the courts in each of those counties.
Client Focus
The firm’s client base includes Spanish-speaking individuals and families who need legal representation in a language they understand fully. Legal proceedings are consequential, and a client who does not understand what their attorney is saying, or who must struggle through proceedings conducted in a second language, is at a disadvantage. The firm eliminates that disadvantage.
Beyond language, the firm’s dual focus on family law and criminal defense serves clients whose situations span both areas. Domestic violence cases, custody disputes involving criminal allegations, and DUI cases where custody arrangements are at stake all benefit from an attorney who handles both practice areas rather than referring the client out for half of their legal problems.
The four-county service area reflects the geographic reach necessary to represent Southern California clients whose lives, work, and family members span a large region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the firm primarily handle family law cases?
Yes. Family law is the primary practice area, covering divorce, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, domestic violence, restraining orders, paternity, and post-judgment modifications. Criminal defense, personal injury, and immigration are also part of the practice.
Can I conduct my entire case in Spanish?
Yes. Douglas Arenivar is fluent in Spanish and provides full legal services in both English and Spanish. Consultations, correspondence, and representation in proceedings are available in either language.
Does the firm handle both the criminal and family law aspects of a domestic violence case?
The firm handles both family law matters, including domestic violence restraining orders, and criminal defense matters. Clients with overlapping criminal and family proceedings can work with one attorney who understands both tracks.
What counties does the firm serve?
The firm represents clients in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County.
Can the firm help with post-judgment modifications after a divorce or custody order is already in place?
Yes. Post-judgment modifications are handled for clients whose circumstances have changed materially since the original court order was entered, whether involving custody arrangements, support amounts, or other terms.
Closing
For Southern California residents facing family law proceedings, criminal charges, or the intersection of both, the Law Office of Douglas Xavier Arenivar offers bilingual representation across a four-county region from its Whittier base. The firm can be reached at (562) 696-0504. Additional information is available at arenivarlaw.com.