I am first and foremost a trial attorney. I value and work towards settlement but if a jury or a bench trial is needed, this is where twenty-five years of training and hard work is put in play. My commitment to public service is deeply rooted in my immigrant background.
My father was a civil engineer who was recruited to work in an engineering firm in New York City. He had a solid life in the Philippines and a young family. But an opportunity arose—one he could not decline. His work took him to Indianapolis, Albuquerque and Los Angeles, California. Through hard work, my parents were afforded the opportunities to send their three children to good schools.
I dabbled in finance working with Shearson & Lehman the summer before attending UCLA. In college, I worked with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and witnessed attorneys, present a case from picking jurors to closing arguments.
Public service piqued my interest, so I attended the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. While there, I broadened my international studies of criminal and business law at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands.
After Hastings, I worked for Judge Dickran Tevrizian at the United States Ninth District in Los Angeles, researching and drafting judicial orders and gained valuable experience in federal civil and criminal practice. Afterwards, I joined the City of Los Angeles, Mayor’s Office, as an Appeals Analyst for the Office of the Economic Development evaluating business applicants for MBE/WBE/DBE certification.
Missing the courtroom, I went back and joined the District Attorney’s Office but now as an attorney, prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases from arraignment to trial. My work with the Department of Child Support and Services fostered my interest in children’s issues, where I established and enforced child support orders.
As an attorney, working with families is a priority, litigating all issues in a dissolution matter which may involve restraining orders, asset division, domestic and international custody orders, child and spousal support. As the managing partner of my firm, I have the ability to pick and choose the cases I take in the criminal and family law area, and most are complex. I have a team of professionals from forensic accountants, private investigators, jury selection advisors, real estate consultants, and dynamic attorneys and staff that provide efficient and effective legal representation.
My background and training in law is diverse, exciting and comprehensive. I am lucky to be immersed in the legal world while managing a personal life surrounded by family and friends. I am a California girl with a deep love for the island mentality. Philippines after all, is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands. Traveling the world is my idea of a lucky life combined with work that is always challenging and relevant.
2
Practice Areas
31 years
31 years
Always
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withState: California
Acquired: 1995
No misconduct found
1230 Rosecrans Avenue Suite 300, 3rd Floor, Manhattan Beach, CA, 90266
9701 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 1000, 10th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA, 90212
41 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 10 reviews | Family
Posted by Client | February 09, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Family
Carina Castaneda is a phenomenal attorney
Carina is absolutely amazing. She has been a guiding light through a difficult process. She is thorough, knowledgeable, attentive, and supportive. She is quick to respond to questions and takes the time to clarify processes and timelines. Carina gave me the direction and assurance I needed to move fo...
Thank you for your kind words. Domestic violence restraining orders are complex and it is a very frightening situation for many, especially the children involved. I am grateful for your full confidence and following my guidance throughout the process.
Posted by anonymous | September 12, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Family
5 years too long (got all that I requested)
I would recommend Carina as the father of my son had gotten away with paying little to nothing of child support ($317) to be exact. For almost 7 years I had been fighting myself filing paper work in two different states with no success. I finally got to the point that I couldn't deal with not recei...
Thank you! Dealing with 2 states (Texas and Florida) along with California now took a lot of courage. You were determined and rightfully so. Keep in mind, while it is frustrating to not get the payments on time or even at all, it is accruing at a 10% interest rate, non-dischargeable, and cannot be waived by the court (only you). So good luck and best wishes. Carina
Posted by anonymous | July 05, 2021 | Family
What's a Mother to Do?
What's a mother to do when a deadbeat dad doesn't pay the custodial parent what is rightfully due to their child under a court order support agreement? Call Carina Castaneda! Carina walked me through the process of opening a claim to enforce collection through the County of Los Angeles Department o...
Thank you for the review. Department of Child Support Services can assist custodial parents in establishing and enforcing current child supports as well as arrears. Good luck and I hope you collect all the monies owed plus the 10% legal interest rate! Carina
Posted by SR | August 27, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Family
Thorough and comprehensive work
The family law judgment and orders were vague. The work Carina did was complex, well-planned and executed to get to an outcome that should have been better defined by the courts the first time the orders were made. Carina has the experience with family law post judgment issues related to support and ...
Hello SR: As you know, I had to "undo" prior court orders and make sense of numerous orders that date back many years. Thank you for your commitment to the case since it took many hearings and your unequivocal trust in my abilities. Always interesting to go outside the LA County jurisdiction. I am very happy that the result you wanted was exactly what the court ordered!
Posted by Ela | September 18, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Family
She gave me life
Yes, she really gave me my life back. Carina helped me with a overseas move away case, helped me bring light to a prior custody agreement I’ve signed being ignorant on California family’s law. Being already away, comunicating in my poor English, she totally understood my entire situation. I recomm...
Thank you very much Ela for your very kind words. Your move away case like most custody cases are always legally and emotionally challenging especially for the client. I wish you and your daughter happiness and good health. Your review is a very unique one, since it involves a move away from the United States to Europe added a "twist" to an already complicated scenario. Be well and keep in touch. Carina
"I am an immigration attorney, and Carina worked with one of my clients on a sentence reduction that was crucial for my client's immigration case. She was professional, persistent, and patient. I highly recommend her for similar cases!"
"I endorse this lawyer.This attorney has a strong reputation, is a zealous advocate for her clients and is a credit to the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Castaneda is an outstanding attonrey with an exceptional reputation. She is a strong and zealous advocate for her clients and a credit to the legal profession. I highly endorse her."
"I endorse this lawyer. She is very knowledgeable about her field having been a deputy district attorney. I have referred numerous criminal cases to her and have only heard glowing reviews."
"Carina is one of the best family and criminal defense attorneys I know. Her combination of genuine care for her clients and tenacity in court is respected by both judges and attorneys alike. I endorse Ms. Castaneda without any reservations."
Immigration lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
Family lawyer
Employment and labor lawyer
Personal injury lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
Criminal defense lawyer
2019
Client's Choice, Avvo
2009
100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States, Filipina Women's Network
2006 - Present
Managing Partner, The Law Offices of Carina Castaneda
1996 - 2006
Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
1995 - 1996
Small Business Enterprise/MBE/WBE Certification Analyst, City of Los Angeles (Mayor's Office) Office of Contract Compliance
1994 - 1994
Judicial Extern, The Honorable Dickran Tevrizian
2003 - 2004
Philippine American Bar Association of Los AngelesBoard Member
2002 - 2003
Philippine American Bar Association of Los AngelesBoard Member
1994
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
International Law
1989
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2012
2006
English
Tagalog
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Is it too late to submit a reply including evidence/exhibits? Would a supplemental declaration be better?
28 Apr 2018
Can we leave child 11 years old to stay alone during 4:00 pm - 6/7:00 pm?
28 Apr 2018
Can a defendant have character witnessess for a probation violation hearing?
09 Sep 2016
Automatic Temporary Restraining Order
22 Mar 2024
What is Family Court Services Mediation?
22 Nov 2023
California Courts Have Decided Cases Under California’s Coercive Control Law
10 Oct 2023