Practice Areas

Litigation and Appeals
McGaughey & Spirito offers our clients top-notch courtroom skills and extensive experience. We have tried cases in virtually every area of law and have a proven track record of litigating complex cases.
Terence McGaughey leads our business litigation practice and regularly tries cases involving personal injury, breach of contract, and fnancial/business disputes. We have represented our clients before both state and federal district courts, and the California Court of Appeals.

Family Law
Our firm handles a full range of family law matters for mothers, fathers, and grandparents in divorce, spousal support, child custody and visitation, child support, marital settlement agreements, marital property division, adoptions and paternity proceedings. Partner Joseph Spirito is a recognized expert in the field of Collaborative family Law. Collaborative Family Law is a new way of handling family law matters, including divorces. It is a method whereby the attorneys for both parties to a family law dispute agree to assist in resolving conflict using cooperation and problem-solving strategies rather than adversarial approaches and litigation. Negotiations between the two parties and their attorneys are interest-based rather than positional. more >

Business and Commercial Law
We regularly advise and represent small businesses, corporations, Limited Liability Corporations, partnerships, joint ventures and shareholders. Our specialties include business formation and dissolutions, business successons, and UCC filings.

Real Estate Law
The residential real estate practice at McGaughey & Spirito includes the representation of sellers, buyers, builders, and developers in all types of residential real estate transactions. We also represent both contractors and homeowners in mechanics lien cases.

Probate and Estate Administration
Avoid unnecessary estate taxes and family conflicts that might diminish your hard earned assets. Through proper legal planning, your estate can be maximized for the benefit of yourself and loved ones. Our lawyers are fully qualified and prepared to meet your estate planning needs and family or business objectives. The firm's services include:

• Wills
• Trusts
• Estate Tax Planning
• Powers of Attorney
• Health Care Proxies
• Living Wills
• Guardianships
• Succession Planning for Businesses
• Probate and Estate Administration
• Conservatorships

Personal Injury - Plaintiff and Defendant
McGaughey & Spirito's attorneys have extensive litigation experience both in defending and prosecuting personal injury and product liability cases. Plaintiffs and defendants alike can count on our comprehensive, aggressive representation of their interests. The firm's services include:

• Negotiation of Claims
• Accidents of All Kinds, Including Motor Vehicle, Motorcycle, Bicycle, Slip and Fall, Construction and Work Site.
• Labor Law
• Medical Malpractice
• Negligence of All Kinds
• Premises Liability of All Kinds
• Product Liability of All Kinds
• Subrogation Issues
• Wrongful Death

Contracts
Our business lawyers draft, negotiate, and review all types of contracts. We draft, interpret, or enforce contracts involving business agreements, employment contracts, leases and real estate contracts.