Brawley Family Lawyers

Angela has extensive experience as an attorney and mediator. She has worked with couples going through divorce and mediating for almost 30 years. She was certified by the State Bar of California as a family law specialist for the first time in 2001, and as a High Conflict Divorce Coach by the first such program in the US. While her formal experience and knowledge are extensive, those aspects of her professional persona are surpassed in importance by her innate ability to help people through difficult times. Angela is the founder of The Law Office of Angela Zinn and Heather Cutlip, where she...

Mr. Storey first became acquainted with the criminal justice system as a deputy sheriff in 1970. He completed his education through Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego while working as a deputy and sergeant at the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office. He transferred from the Sheriff’s Office to the District Attorneys Office after receiving his Juris Doctor. Mr. Storey is a second generation resident of Imperial County. His law enforcement experience and time with the District Attorneys Office influenced him to run for political office which resulted in his election as Imperial County District Attorney where he served until 1987. Mr....

I’m Scott Levin, a dedicated family law attorney and mediator based in San Diego, California. As the only family law attorney in the greater San Diego area who is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I focus exclusively on mediation, helping clients achieve fair, amicable resolutions without the high costs of litigation. My approach is backed by extensive experience and education: I hold a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. With a deep background in finance, law, and dispute resolution, I’m equipped...

I was born and raised in Southern Calif with my beautiful Latino family (6 brothers & 2 sisters & parents) that taught me to love, respect and make the best of it, even with beans and tortillas at times. My migrant parents came from Texas in 1953 who later became a Gardener and a Professional House Keeper for the rich and beautiful Jewish families. They taught me and my brothers to love and respect our country. After obtaining High Honors at Indio High School, I attended UCLA and then went to Law School at Univ of West Los Ángeles...

Carrie Block, the managing partner at Holstrom, Block & Parke's Orange County office, brings over 25 years of family law expertise from premier firms. Specializing in high-asset family divorces, collaborative divorce, and mediation in Orange County, she guides clients with compassion to achieve favorable legal outcomes. Carrie, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) expert, efficiently handles complexities related to 401(k)s, pensions, and benefits in divorce cases without external experts, streamlining negotiations early in the process. Her practice spans divorce, custody, child and spousal support, paternity, and premarital rights. Carrie prioritizes accessibility, aiding clients through the challenging transition of divorce for a...

Stephen V. Smith is a dedicated and skilled Divorce and Family Law attorney. He exclusively represents men and women going through difficult divorces and complex family issues. When possible, Stephen uses a non-adversarial approach, involving mediation and settlement. Because emotions run high in this area of the law, Stephen is also prepared to proceed to court to resolve cases. In addition to over 18 years advocating for clients, Stephen has personal experience with divorce. More than 20 years ago, before becoming an attorney, he represented himself in his own divorce and contentious custody battle. During this difficult time Stephen realized what...

Although our whole firm prides itself on being "warriors in court," I believe that I have a calling to spread the word to folks that there are alternatives to going to court. There are alternatives like mediation, collaborative law and cooperative law. People in our firm, and myself, had to take extra training, often at substantial expense and in other states, to be able to offer those alternative dispute methods for our clients. Now I have hobbies of "spreading the word" about those alternatives. I appear on TV, often with other members of our firm....

For nearly 30 years, San Diego family law attorney Roy M. Doppelt, Esq. has been providing clients in Southern California with comprehensive legal services. He is currently an active member of the California and San Diego Bar Associations, and he is admitted to practice law in both California and Illinois state courts, as well as the Federal District Court for the Southern District of California.

Roy was raised in Chicago and attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He relocated to California to attend the California Western School of Law, where he obtained his J.D. in 1988, graduating with honors....

Dayn Holstrom, leading a distinguished family law firm in Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino, boasts a team of highly skilled attorneys committed to guiding clients with expertise and determination. His academic prowess at Western State University College of Law includes receiving the American Jurisprudence Award 17 times, serving as Editor in Chief of the Law Review, and graduating as Valedictorian with summa cum laude honors. Admitted to the bar in 1990, Dayn founded the Law Office of Dayn Holstrom, evolving into the renowned Holstrom, Block & Parke firm in 2008. Widely respected in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino...

Edward Castro is a seasoned family law practitioner with an unwavering commitment to the field throughout his career. In 2021, he joined Holstrom, Block & Parke as a Partner, overseeing the San Diego County office. Initially focusing on domestic violence prevention, he collaborated with SDVLP and later directed FLAP, a courthouse-based family law clinic. At the YWCA Legal Advocacy Program, he served for six years as a senior staff attorney, handling diverse family law matters, emphasizing cases involving domestic violence. In 2010, Mr. Castro joined BLSAPC, where he became a partner in 2014. Specializing in high net-worth cases, he addressed complex...

Xinia L. Williams, a dedicated attorney at Holstrom, Block, and Parke, brings a wealth of legal experience and a compassionate approach to her clients. Before joining the firm, Xinia delved into a diverse range of Family Law cases, fearlessly tackling challenges in divorce, child custody, guardianships, unlawful detainers, bankruptcy, criminal cases/DUIs, and more. This varied background has shaped her into the compassionate, professional, and selfless attorney she is today. In the realm of Family Law, Xinia stands out for her real-world understanding, stemming from her role as a mother of two young children. She believes in being not just a legal advocate...

Sandy L. Meade has over 20 years of experience practicing law in California. Through open communication and a commitment toward the empowerment of her clients, Sandy has earned an outstanding reputation among both colleagues and clients for her professional and compassionate approach to family law.

MS. SICKLER joined Beatrice L. Snider, APC in 1985 and is the managing partner of the firm. Ms. Sickler obtained her Juris Doctorate from Hastings College of the Law in 1976 and her Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1973. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sickler was engaged in the general practice of law, including obtaining substantial civil and criminal trial experience. Ms. Sickler was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1976 and became a Certified Specialist in Family Law in 1991. She is a member of the State Bar of...

Ms. Snider was one of eight women in a class of 423 when she graduated from California Western School of Law in 1973 with a Juris Doctorate.
The family law act of 1975, coupled with her desire to help clients in need, solidified her decision to specialize in Family Law. In 1980, Ms. Snider was one of twelve in the first class of attorneys to be board certified as a Certified Family Law Specialist in the State of California. Ms. Snider is a member of the State Bar of California, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, San Diego Family Law Bar...

The mission of the attorneys at The Sullivan Law Firm, APC, is to counsel clients in finding common sense solutions to complex family and bankruptcy legal problems by providing a full spectrum of legal services. Attorney Michelle Sullivan, CLS-F, is a specialist in counseling clients regarding divorce, mediation, collaboration, adoptions, prenuptual agreements, and other legal issues. Located in Rancho Bernardo, a neighborhood of north San Diego, our family law and bankruptcy practice especially caters to residents of San Diego and North County.

Full time mediator with offices in New York City and Southern California.
Palm Springs Office concentrates primarily on divorce, custodial arrangements and disputes related to real estate and probate, as well as family-owned business and vacation homes. New York City Office concentrates on corporate, commercial and finance matters

Extensive training in alternative dispute resolution techniques, including at the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution in London (CEDR), the American Arbitration Association.
(AAA),and the International Mediation Institute (IMI)., Among other panels, he mediates disputes as a member of the mediation panels of CPR,...

Michael Fischer is a licensed California attorney licensed to practice in both state and federal court. Mr. Fischer has handled hundreds of contested and uncontested family law matters. He is known for his ability to guide his clients through the tumultuous processes of family court in an aggressive yet compassionate manner. Mr. Fischer graduated Cum Laude from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensellaer Indiana with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing and a minor in Political Science. For twenty-two years he oversaw the growth of his photography studio and photo processing laboratory in Soldotna, Alaska as well as owning and...

Mr. Happ is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) and is licensed to practice in both the State of California and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Upon being sworn in to practice law, Mr. Happ immediately opened Happ Law Group P.C. Since its founding, Happ Law Group P.C. has been a firm exclusively devoted to representing individuals involved in family law disputes. Mr. Happ has prepared pleadings and discovery, negotiated settlements and litigated contested hearings/trials involving all aspects of family law, including, but not limited to, custody/visitation, child and spousal support, property characterization and division, enforcement...

Board Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 35 years of litigation experience. Attorney Scott represents clients in a wide variety of family law matters. This includes military cases, complex cases in contested matters of divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, paternity, representation of families of professional baseball and football players, business evaluation and division. Mr. Scott is skilled and experienced with the treatment of professional practices and separately held businesses in divorce.

Mr. Scott also has more than 35 years of litigation experience in the following family law areas of practice:

Domestic Violence
Post Judgment Family Law
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Grandparent Visitation Rights
Legal...

Mr. Mesnik has dedicated 100% of his practice to family law cases such as divorce, child custody and support, domestic partnership dissolution, post judgment enforcement, and modifications of support and custody. Mr. Mesnik appears in all San Diego County Family Courts including North County in Vista, California, East County in El Cajon, Downtown Central Court, Dontown Family Court, Madge Bradley Building, and Southbay in Chula Vista. Mr. Mesnik has appeared in front of each Family Court judge in San Diego County and is knowledgeable of each judicial officer currently on the bench. Throughout Mr. Mesnik's years of practice he has...

Admitted to the State Bar of California in 1993. Certified as a Family Law Specialist in 2002. Divorce, Property Division, Support, Custody and Visitation. Specializing in Move Away and Interstate Custody cases.
US Navy Veteran

MS. HEISKALA joined the firm as a supervising attorney after spending 24 years as a sole practitioner in her own firm primarily devoted to family law. Ms. Heiskala obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western State School of Law (now Thomas Jefferson School of Law) in 1976. She was admitted to the State Bar of California and the Federal District Court for the Southern District in 1976, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeal in 1986 and became a Certified Specialist in Family Law in 1988. Ms. Heiskala is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Family Law Section...

I successfully represented clients in cases ranging from divorce to fraud investigations, for the last 30 years. As an economist, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)*, and California State Attorney, I can analyze cases from various angles so that I can determine reasonable resolutions to disputes and provide successful representation for all my clients. In addition to that, I can also communicate with you in Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish, in order to suit your needs.

My practice focuses on Family Law, Fraud Law and Worker's Comp (rated #6 in Rancho Mirage; rated top 10% of 1.5 million lawyers in MartinDale-Hubbell). I...

James F. Sexton first worked as an attorney for the insurance companies he now opposes. Having worked this side of personal injury and worker’s compensation cases, James understands the goals, motivation, and tactics employed by the insurance companies and the lawyers who protect their interests. He uses that knowledge to better serve and protect his clients’ interests. As CEO of a company and owner of his own law firm, James Sexton’s success reflects the positive experiences his clients have had and continue to have at The Sexton Law Firm. His expertise is extensive and includes California bankruptcy law, California...

Attorney Brian Michaels is a 23 year veteran of the California Criminal And Family Law Courts. Attorney Michaels spent the first 8 years of his career as a big city Prosecutor where he cut his teeth in the trial courts of Los Angeles where he earned accolades as a Top Prosecutor. Attorney Michaels worked for the Los Angeles Police Department during the height of the infamous Rampart Scandal as a Civil Defense Attorney. Michaels is unique among Attorneys in Southern California as very few have any Prosecutorial experience and most set out on their own straight out of Law School....

Ethical family law and divorce attorney, handling high conflict divorces, but also amicable & simple situations. Divorce mediation and collaborative divorce is available through our mediation practice at http://www.DesertFamilyMediationServices.com. Mr. Arnold is a Certified Family Law Specialist.

Put over 50 years of Family Law experience to work for you. I am a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. I have extensive trial and divorce mediation experience which assists clients in getting their cases resolved with fewer court appearances, saving them money in legal fees. I have sat as a temporary judge in family law for over twenty years which has given me the experience of evaluating cases in my practice from a judge's point of view....

An understanding lawyer with compassion. Listens to his clients concerns and develops a plan to best meet them. My practice focuses on typical family needs. Family law, child custody, landlord tenant law and estate planning (wills and trusts).

I am an experienced Family Law Attorney serving Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert and the entire Coachella Valley.

The preservation of the family unit can be achieved, even after a divorce. My parents divorced when I was young, but remained friends throughout my life to this day. I believe, when children are involved, the best interest of the children are paramount. I strive to be fair and foster an equitable settlement. However, when the other side is being less than forthcoming, a more aggressive approach is often needed.

Whether you need a lawyer to provide an...

A’ja began her career in the entertainment industry with TV Guide and Lions Gate but soon found her true passion in law. She joined a leading Los Angeles litigation firm, focusing on family law, civil rights, personal injury, and criminal defense. A’ja has been a compassionate advocate for fathers' rights and has represented high-profile clients, including the Estate of Michael Jackson, Keyshawn Johnson, DMX, Keyshia Cole, Freddie Gibbs, Faith Evans, and Christopher Wallace Jr. (the late Notorious B.I.G.'s son). Her achievements include a $1 million wrongful termination verdict, multiple six-figure settlements, a not-guilty verdict in a murder trial, and successfully handling...

MS. BASHAR obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona in Management Information Systems in 1987 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona College of Law in May 1990. She joined the firm after 7 years as a sole practitioner focusing on civil litigation, business and family law. Prior to opening her own office, Ms. Bashar was an associate attorney in a civil litigation firm where she represented financial institutions as well as individuals with personal injury, fraud and contract matters. She has also worked as a Volunteer Attorney with the Family Law...

Dahann Bowers was born in Panama and immigrated to Southern California at a young age. She is fluent in Spanish. She attended California State University San Marcos where she double majored in Political Science and Spanish. Dahann then attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. During law school, Dahann interned with the Department of Child Support Services where she gained insight into child support issues and parental rights. She began working at different family law firms and was exposed to the complexities of family law. At the end of 2022, Dahann took the step to go out on...

Navy Veteran, Certified Family Law Specialist, Experienced. I take the time to explain the law to you. Property Division. Child Custody, Child and spousal support, Domestic Violence,
Dept. of Child Support Services.

The only San Diego State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist who was also a Former Federal and County of San Diego Prosecutor with Over 20 Years of Experience!

Genevieve Suzuki, a dedicated advocate for family unity, brings over twelve years of experience as a family law attorney in San Diego. With a strong belief in minimizing conflict within families, Suzuki prioritizes empathetic representation, guiding clients towards amicable resolutions. Her journey into family law began with a childhood aspiration to support families during their most challenging moments. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and a Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law, Genevieve seamlessly merged her passion for storytelling with her legal expertise. Before entering the legal field, Genevieve flourished as a...

A lawyer who understands the concerns you have and the situations you are going through, may be hard to find. As someone who has been through a divorce and heavily involved in the criminal justice system, attorney Heath L. Baker may understand your concerns regarding your family law, criminal law, and personal injury cases, more than you would expect. Mr. Baker understands what it is like to face emotionally difficult situations, which go beyond “winning” a case. Mr. Baker retired from the Riverside Police Department after obtaining years of experience with the courts, investigations, and the judicial process, seeing both sides of...

Michael Perez serves as an Associate Attorney at Envision Family Law. Previously, he worked as an Associate Attorney at a prestigious Beverly Hills family law firm, where he handled domestic violence restraining orders, support matters, and dissolution cases involving complex property distribution. Michael holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from UCLA and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. During law school, he was actively involved in the Public Interest Law Foundation, dedicated to supporting underrepresented individuals in the legal system. He also participated in the Street Law Teaching Practicum, collaborating with Judith Schwartz-Behar, esq. from the Harriett...

Education
Ms. Blair graduated from the Menlo College, Atherton, California where she was a magna cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. Ms. Blair then received her juris doctor degree from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, San Diego, California and was admitted to the California and Federal bars in 2002.

Professional Associations
Family Law Section, California Bar Association
San Diego North County Bar Association