Find Lawyers in California, United States for Family Law

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Lauren received a B.A. in Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007 and a J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2010. EXPERIENCE Lauren started her career as an attorney as associate at McGaughey & Spirito, and she became a partner with the firm in 2019. She litigates diverse family law matters, including complex custody and financial issues. Lauren is also highly adept at settling intricate and difficult cases. She completed collaborative law...

Robert A. Benavente was raised in Orange County and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma. Mr. Benavente received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Whittier Law School in 2000, where he was a member of Law Review, a Dean's List honoree, and the recipient of several merit scholarships. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist, which is a level of achievement reserved for those attorneys who have the requisite level of trial experience and have passed a special examinatio...

Brandon R. Blevans devotes his entire practice to the strategic and individually tailored representation of clients in family law matters, particularly those involving significant financial issues such as business ownership, complex compensation structures, family limited partnerships, equity compensation, and venture capital interests. Brandon’s experience has been both state and nationally recognized: He is a certified specialist in Family Law, certified by the California State Board ...

Robert E. Blevans received his Juris Doctor in 1977, and was admitted to the practice of law in California that year. He has been a Certified Specialist in Family Law for over 35 years, having been certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization in 1983. After practicing law for 18 years in Los Angeles, Robert moved to the heart of the wine country, Napa, California. Robert is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past President of the Northern C...

In her representation of Silicon Valley’s high earners or their spouses, Jennifer Crum draws upon nearly 20 years of experience untangling complex assets acquired in the unique tech economy.Jennifer combines her mastery of high-asset marital dissolutions with compassion for the emotional and personal transition her clients are experiencing. She is among an elite group of California attorneys recognized as a Certified Family Law Specialist. Jennifer is highly experienced in divorces invo...

This firm is devoted exclusively to the practice of family law. Mr. Cruse and his three support staff handle complex family law cases and child custody disputes. Mr. Cruse is in his 35th year of the practice of law. His clients are business professionals, business owners, military officers, those with professional practices and the financially independent. Mr. Cruse is a recognized expert in electronic discovery.

Judi Curtin was born in New York City, New York in 1951, and has been an Orange County resident since 1979, following her graduation from law school and admission to the California Bar Association in 1978. She is married and has three children (Jessica is a lawyer, Jordan is a clinical social worker, Jillian is a second-year student at NYU and has her black belt in Shaolin Kempo). Judi is a Certified Family Law Specialist, admitted to the US Supreme Court, and has been rated AV by Martindale ...

Christine De Santis is a Partner at HFM and is certified as a legal specialist in family law by the State Bar of California. Ms. De Santis specializes in handling dissolution of marriage and paternity cases, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support, and division of assets and debts, and mediations. She also handles step-parent adoptions and child support cases through the San Diego County Department of Child Support Services. Ms. De Santis has been named a San Diego Sup...

Leslie Evans is an associate attorney with Phillips, Whisnant, Gazin, Gorczyca & Curtin. Mrs. Evans’ practice focuses on all aspects of family law, including dissolution of marriage, child custody, spousal and child support, division of property, and other related issues involving family law matters. Mrs. Evans attended Vassar College and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History. Following grad...

Certified Family Law Specialist – The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Partner, Chair of the Family Law Mediation Practice HIGHLY CREDENTIALED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST Hildy L. Fentin has built a local and national reputation for excellence, integrity and professionalism, with over 35 years of experience handling complex Family Law matters. She graduated from Rutgers School of Law in 1980 and then gained admittance to the...

Mr. Gazin graduated from San Jose State University with honors in 1971, earning a BA degree in Political Science. He attended the University of Santa Clara School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1974. Mr. Gazin was admitted to the California State Bar in 1974, when he commenced his practice in Orange County. In Mr. Gazin’s early years of practice, he handled a broad spectrum of cases ranging from criminal defense, personal injury, business litigation and family law. Comme...

Saul Gelbart is a Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, having served its Southern California Chapter in many official capacities including President. Mr. Gelbart is also a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a Founding Fellow in the Orange County Bar Association's Society of Fellows, and a member of the Orange County Bar Association. Among his distinctio...

Gary S. Gorczyca was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951, and has been an Orange County resident since 1960. He and his wife, Patti, have two sons. Mr. Gorczyca graduated from the University of California, Irvine (B.A., 1973) and Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1976). He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1976 and has practiced law in Orange County ever since. Mr. Gorczyca is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability an...

Ms. Takesh Hallin has been practicing exclusively family law since being admitted to the bar in 1996. She was selected as a Southern California Rising Star for 2006 through 2009 by Los Angeles Magazine and a Super Lawyer for years 2010 through 2013, Super Lawyers edition, through peer nomination, and independent research and review process. Ms. Takesh Hallin has lectured on various family law related topics, including at Continuing Legal Education seminars, and has served as Mediator for the ...

Mr. Herbert handles a wide variety of divorce cases, from the very simple to the very complex. He seeks to resolve matters in a cost effective and amicable manner to avoid incurring legal fees that diminish the value of the marital estate. However, he remains prepared to go to trial if necessary. His trial experience includes litigating the issues of support, property division, custody, visitation and virtually every other type of issue arising in family law. Mr. Herbert understands, and is s...

Born in Los Angeles, California, Erin graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara (B.A. in Psychology 1997) and Loyola Law School (J.D. 2003). EXPERIENCE Erin joined McGaughey & Spirito’s team of Redondo Beach family lawyers in 2003. She handles primarily litigated cases, including cases involving complex custody issues, financial issues, or business interests. Erin is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of Calif...

Business owners, celebrities and trust beneficiaries across California turn to Christopher C. Melcher for his assistance protecting their most valuable assets. With deep experience in complex family law litigation and premarital agreements, Mr. Melcher helps his clients achieve successful outcomes despite extremely challenging circumstances. He understands the need to keep sensitive family matters private for his noteworthy clients and is dedicated to handling family law matters in a discrete...

Michael A. Morris was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina in 1953. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A., 1976) and Western State University (J.D., 1979). He was admitted to the California Bar in 1982 and has been named a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Mr. Morris was named Best Lawyers in America - "Orange County Family Lawyer of the Ye...

Vanessa Soto Nellis is a Certified Family Law Specialist, as designated by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Nellis represents clients in all aspects of divorce, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and family law mediation.

Kathleen Carothers Paone, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been an Orange County resident since 1980. She and her husband, Tim Paone, have 3 adult children. Ms. Paone graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, (cum laude, 1977) and received her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University (J.D., 1980). While in law school, she was a member of the St. Thomas More Law Honor Society. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 1980 (and the Northern, Central and Southern Fe...

James (Jim) Parke has practiced law in California for nearly 41 years. Jim graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1975 and from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1978. An esteemed expert in all areas of family law, Jim has also served as an adjunct professor of Family Law at Trinity Law School. He has spoken on several family law-related topics throughout Southern California, and regularly contributes to divorce recovery workshops. He has also written several articles r...

John Benedict Phillips—known as Ben Phillips for all his life—received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and his Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law. Mr. Phillips is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell—the highest rating attainable for legal ability and professional ethics. Mr. Phillips practices exclusively fam...

Claudia Ribet is one of only four attorneys in California recognized by the State Bar as a certified specialist in both appellate law and family law. This dual qualification gives Claudia deep insight into effective presentation of complex arguments in high-stakes family law appeals. She wins most of the California family law appeals she litigates. Some of Claudia’s published family law appellate victories are listed below, and Claudia has served as counsel in many more unpublished fami...

Robert A. Roth is widely regarded as one of the leading family law appellate specialists in California. He has over 30 years’ experience as an appellate practitioner and more than 25 published (and scores of unpublished) appellate opinions to his name. Robert has won twice in the California Supreme Court, and notably represented the successful respondent in In re Marriage of Ostler and Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33, a seminal case that established the method California courts use every...

Leslie Ryland is a seasoned attorney who has spent the last three decades representing clients in all types of family law matters, with a special focus on custody issues. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist, a special designation from the State Bar of California reserved for attorneys who have “demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.&...

Jennifer Saslaw’s practice focuses on complex family law litigation and as a consulting attorney to clients in mediation. As a graduate of Stanford Law School and a former corporate attorney at Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe, Jennifer’s background enables her to understand complex business issues and find creative solutions to the problems that often arise in dividing marital assets. She has expertise in working with employees and entrepreneurs of technology companies of all ...

Sarah T. Schaffer, CFLS is a family law attorney and mediator, holding the prestigious Certified Family Law Specialist designation from the State Bar of California. Schaffer Family Law Group, APC is a full-service Mediation, Divorce, and Family Law firm dedicated to delivering practical & effective results to high net-worth clients. Ms. Schaffer builds her practice on a thorough knowledge of the law, excellent research skills, superior presentation to the court, and most of all calm, comp...

Jason M. Schwartz is a Partner at Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP, and exclusively practices family law. Jason has been with the firm since he was admitted to the State Bar of California in summer 2001. Jason earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University College of Law in December 2000, and his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of North Texas, where he majored in political science with a double minor in criminal justice and journalism. Jason has b...

Attorney Brian Seastrom is the President of the Seastrom Tuttle & Murphy law firm in Irvine, California. Board certified as a Family Law Specialist by The State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization and possessing more than 21 years of legal experience, Mr. Seastrom focuses his practice solely on family law. He represents the rights and interests of clients throughout Orange County and in high net-worth complex family law litigation. Throughout the course of his career, Mr. Se...

Lonnie K. Seide was born in Huntington, New York in 1959. He graduated from Northeastern University (B.S., with honors, 1982) and St. John’s University (J.D., 1985). He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar (1985), the New York Bar (1986), the U.S. Tax Court (1989), the U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York (1990), the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (1990), the U.S. Supreme Court (1991) and the California Bar (1992). Mr. Seide has been named a Certified ...

Lynn Soodik is a Shareholder at Lewitt Hackman who represents high net worth individuals in divorce and other family law matters. Ms. Soodik's expertise has garnered her several television appearances on CNN, Larry King , 20/20 , and Entertainment Tonight ; and she has been interviewed for major print publications, including the Los Angeles Times , People Magazine , BuzzFeed New s, and more.

Born in Westpoint, New York, Joe graduated from University of California at Irvine (B.A., Cum laude 1979) and Loyola Law School (J.D., 1982). EXPERIENCE Joe has been in private practice in the Los Angeles area since 1982. From 1982 until 1990 he practiced at Tremaine, Shenk, Stroud & Robbins, becoming partner in 1987. He formed McGaughey & Spirito in 1990. Joe has continually maintained an AV rating in the Martindale-Hubbell legal publication and is listed in the Bar Register of Preem...

Born in Great Neck, NY, Jordon moved west to southern California in 1981. He graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 1994 and from the Whittier School of Law in 2000. Jordon is a Certified Specialist in Family Law, as per the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. During law school, Jordon was a member of the Moot Court Honors Board and also served as its Chief Justice in 2000. He was placed on the Dean's List for achievement in academics as well. Upon his graduation, Jordon rec...

Anne Cochran is one of the leading family law attorneys serving high net worth clients throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. She is known for her thorough, diligent, and compassionate work on behalf of her clients. She enjoys an exceptional reputation with both her clients and colleagues, and she is considered to be a formidable legal opponent, both across the negotiating table and in the courtroom. Anne is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of C...

Paula J. Swensen, who was born in Orange, New Jersey in 1955, has been an Orange County resident since 2000 after relocating to California from New England. Ms. Swensen lives in Trabuco Canyon and has three children. She is an avid sports fan, supporting any and all teams from the Boston area. Ms. Swensen graduated from the University of New Hampshire (B.S., Behavioral Science, highest honors, 1996) and Franklin Pierce Law Center (J.D., 1999; M.A., Intellectual Property). Between her second a...

Gretchen M. Wallacker is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has practiced family law exclusively for three decades. In that time, she has helped countless families transition out of their marriages, settling a full spectrum of complex family law matters that involve child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division, including division of high net worth estates. Drawing on her geographical focus in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Silicon Valley, Gretchen und...

Peter M. Walzer is the founding partner of the Southern California law firm Walzer & Melcher LLP focused exclusively on family law. He is the current president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a former chair of the executive committee of the State Bar Family Law Section. Mr. Walzer has been a Certified Family Law Specialist for 23 years and is a former president o...