Debra Jean Kay

Debra Jean Kay

4.3
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 39 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Westlake Village, CA
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Support, Child Custody, Family

2801 Townsgate Road, Suite 360, Westlake Village, CA

About Debra

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 40%

We understand that divorce can be emotional, and the financial burden that you may be facing can be severe. Many people do not know where to turn or who to trust to ensure that their case reaches a positive resolution.

40%
Child Custody 20%

Child custody disputes are one of the most contested areas in family law. At this stage of a divorce process, even the most civil of cases can turn ugly.

20%
Child Support 20%

Once child custody has been determined, you may be required to establish terms for a child support agreement. In determining the cost of child support that a non-custodial parent may need to pay, the court follows guidelines set forth by the state.

20%
Family 20%

Family law concerns need to be addressed immediately by a trusted family lawyer. We are committed to protecting the rights of our clients and helping them reach favorable resolutions in a short amount of time.

20%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in District of Columbia for 6 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 2020

Good Standing

No misconduct found

Licensed in California for 39 years

State: California

Acquired: 1986

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Debra J. Kay Attorney at Law

2801 Townsgate Road, Suite 360, Westlake Village, CA, 91361

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Debra Jean Kay's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.3 /5.0

16 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (16) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 7 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Jodi | February 01, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Ms. Kay is awesome!

Ms. Kay represented me in a two year long divorce case. My case was complicated and time consuming. It was also a very emotional experience. The emotional support I received from Ms. Kay and her staff throughout my ordeal was above and beyond. The preparation and attention to detail provided by M...s. Kay and paralegal Ms. Larissey was above excellent and clearly influenced the positive outcomes in my case. I would highly recommend Ms. Kay without reservation. She will give your case the attention and legal expertise you deserve.

Posted by Jay | December 06, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Debra Kay, Best Attorney in Ventura County!!!

I like most pragmatic people thought that I could work through my divorce all on my own without involving attorneys', however I quickly learned, that was a mistake. Right away on my first consultation with Debra, I felt that she completely understood the dynamic nature of my unusual divorce case, I ...instantly felt relieved that she seemed so supportive of me after hearing me out. In addition I also appreciated that she wasn't critical of past legal blunders on my part, or for wasting almost two years trying to mediate my own divorce. Ultimately I hired her because she helped me see how to reach my legal goals with her help. Dealing with her support staff has been very pleasant and I feel fortunate to have their talents on my team. My work schedule makes it very hard for me to be available during office hours and take calls but her staff have been flexible, understanding and willing to work with me to meet my needs. Moreover they keep my totally up to speed with all the changes in my case. Its been occasionally challenging to navigate through legal forms and other needed/required paperwork asked of me from the opposing counsel or the court, but thankfully Pamela (Debra's Paralegal) has been there for me every time I've needed her, she is my resource and guide to meet those dead lines and to connect ideas for my next court appointment. I've had several legal victories in court since I've worked with Debra on my side, thanks to her ability at keeping my focus and my head all together before court, when my emotions and fears are at their worst. I greatly appreciate her emotional intelligence and legal knowledge, which is why I wanted to share my working experience about Debra Kay and her incredible legal team.

Posted by anonymous | November 16, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Family

Excellent attorney

Throughout a very contentious divorce, my ex hired and fired 5 different lawyers. I had the opportunity to compare and contrast the style and capabilities of each of them. At every turn, I was glad to have Debra and her team in my court. My situation was complicated, involving custody of several c...hildren, distribution of assets, and spousal and child support. Debra proved that she is skilled in all aspects of family law. She dealt with the other side firmly, effectively and ethically. She understands the human side of divorce, particularly on the children. Debra was always a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend to anyone considering divorce to consult with Debra.

Posted by anonymous | November 10, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Look no further than Debra Kay if you need legal help

I sought Ms. Kay's help for child custody and support issues because I was looking for a straightforward attorney who could lay out a clear plan to help resolve my problems and get the results I was looking for, and I got exactly that. I couldn't be more pleased with Ms. Kay's representation of me. ... Despite the games, delays, and unethical behavior from opposing counsel to prevent me from getting a fair resolution, Ms. Kay was able to cut through all of that with the Judge and get exactly what I asked of from the court through vast knowledge of our legal system and sticking to the facts. It's clear Ms. Kay knows the Ventura courts and personnel well which was an enormous help with my case. She clearly had a rapport with the Judge in my case. She is extremely knowledgeable, easy to talk to, thinks quickly on her feet in court, and is always available for questions. I am so happy I hired her to help me. When you meet with her, you will feel at ease knowing you are getting great help. In court, you will feel confident she is on your side. She is excellent at explaining your position in court, so you will be happy to be in court with her, unless you are sitting on the opposite side, as my ex-spouse had to find out the hard way. Last but not least, she will do all she can to resolve your issues quickly outside of court to save time and money, but if the opposing counsel will not cooperate or is making unreasonable demands, they will find out as I did that it is a mistake to do so. If you want a real attorney with exactly the results you are expecting, be completely honest with her about your situation and she will take care of the rest. If you're going against her, best of luck to you.

Posted by anonymous | November 09, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Experienced and Respected FAMILY Law Specialist

I have been a client and have referred a number of clients to Debra Kay. As an attorney myself, I respect Debra Kay's technical and courtroom experience and knowledge. Ms. Kay was very successful in my dissolution. I appreciate her skills and an emphasis on details. Ms. Kay's staff was courteous ...and very helpful.

See All Client Reviews

Debra Jean Kay's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Debra
Jeffrey Dean Johnsen headshot
Jeffrey Johnsen

Family lawyer | Oct 15

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer.She works very hard to get what her clients want. She is tenacious yet fair in measured way."

Richard Ian Ross headshot
Richard Ross

Family lawyer | Oct 13

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. She is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Graig Barker Larsen headshot
Graig Larsen

Family lawyer | Oct 08

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. Debra is a knowledgeable, well-prepared, aggressive, and efficient attorney with a solid record of performance and results in the representation of her clients. She has practiced in Ventura and Los Angeles counties and has a thorough knowledge of the courts and processes in both. She is held in high regard in the local family law legal community,"

View All Endorsements
Richard Ian Ross headshot
Richard Ross

Family lawyer

Jeffrey Steven Graff headshot
Jeffrey Graff

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2015

Client's Choice, Avvo

2013

Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California

2008

Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California

2003

Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California

1998

Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California

1993

Certified Specialist - Family Law, State Bar of California

Work Experience

1986 - Present

Certified Family Law Specialist, Debra J. Kay, Attorney At Law

Associations

2013 - Present

Ventura County Family Law Bar Association

Board Member

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member

Ventura County Bar Association

Member

East County Bar Association

Member

Education

1986

Pepperdine University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1979

University of Pennsylvania

BS - Bachelor of Science

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution