The F.M. Zavala Law Firm, Inc.

I recently hired attorney Francisco M Zavala to represent me in my contested divorce and custody case in Chatsworth Court. My wife assaulted me in front of our children. I hired attorney Zavala to request a domestic violence restraining order. I was concerned that the courts would not believe me, as a male, could be the victim of domestic violence. However, attorney Zavala did an incredible job.

He subpoenaed arrest reports, 911 call recordings, and even had the officer who responded to the initial call testify in court My wife hired a lawyer who tried portraying me as the abuser. However, attorney Zavala did such an amazing job during his direct examination and presentation of our evidence that the judge did not believe anything my wife testified to.

Attorney Zavala destroyed the credibility of my wife in his closing argument. In the end, the judge saw that my wife was the abuser, and granted my request for a domestic violence, restraining order with sole legal custody and sole physical custody to me. I am willing to work things out with my wife and allow her visitation. However, I also believe that a victim of domestic violence should not have to tolerate physical abuse, and I hope that one day soon to be ex-wife can get better through counseling. I highly recommend Attorney Zavala.

I hired Francisco as my attorney to help me through the legal process going into litigation. He handled everything professionally and has been extremely reliable with communicating efficiently. He has been wonderful working with and I would definitely be using him again for any legal work.

Attorney Zavala came through when I needed him the most. My ex falsely accused me of domestic violence. My ex and I were never married but we have a 3-year-old daughter that I love with all my heart. When I decided to end our relationship, my ex threw my cell phone to the ground, shattering it. She then became violent and came after me trying to punch me.

I locked myself in our bathroom so she would not hit me. After kicking the door for several minutes, she finally stopped and left. After my ex left our home, I packed some of my belongings and went to stay with a friend. A few hours later an L.A. County sheriff deputy called my cell phone and informed me he needed to speak with me in person. After I met with him at the sheriff station, he handcuffed me and arrested me for domestic violence.

I knew not to answer any questions so I sat in jail for two days. The prosecutor declined to file charges so I was released. However, upon being released, I was served with a request for a domestic violence restraining order that my ex had filed in Chatsworth court. My ex was given temporary full custody of our daughter based on her false accusations that I choked her.

I was ordered to move out of our family home and I was not allowed to see our daughter. I was so shocked that this was happening, I was scared and broken. I found attorney Zavala. Attorney Zavala brought witnesses to court, presented text messages as evidence and cross examined my ex so well that at one point the Judge looked at my ex in disbelief of her testimony.

Attorney Zavala is an expert at cross examination, without his trial skills, my ex would have gotten away with her lies and I would have lost custody of our daughter and would have a permanent domestic violence restraining order on my record. After a lengthy hearing, the Judge denied my ex's request for a permanent domestic violence restraining order and returned our daughter to me. The Judge did not believe a single allegation my ex had falsely made. Thank you attorney Zavala.