Mendocino County Family Lawyers

Divorce, child custody, visitation, family law, alimony, and child support lawyer in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties. Our family law offices are in Santa Rosa, Ukiah, and Petaluma. Check out client testimonials on our website www.winecountryfamilylaw.com

I have been practicing law since 1990. I practice in two primary areas: family law and criminal defense. In criminal cases, I have successfully defended people charged with the highest level felonies on down to traffic infractions. I leave no stone unturned. In family law, I have handled complex multi-million dollar property issues, child custody and support, spousal support, domestic violence cases, and practically every matter facing those seeking the help of the family courts. I have trained with the Northern California Mediation Center, Divorce Mediation, and Gary Friedman of The Center for Understanding in Conflict & The Center for Mediation in...

I provide consultations and legal coaching (limited-scope services) to individuals throughout all counties of California in the areas of consumer law, family law, distressed mortgages and Chapter 7 bankruptcy. My legal fees are fixed so there are no surprises. My fees are simply based on the time needed by my clients--no more, no less. I also assist California-based clients with document-preparation primarily in the areas of family law and estate planning. The difference between my document preparation services and the services provided on the internet--is that the documents are personally reviewed and approved by me, a California licensed attorney. ...

My work history has been focused in the area of family law and judgment enforcement for family law cases.

Prior to becoming an attorney in 2004, I obtained my paralegal certificate in 1979, established American Process & Courier Service in 1991. I have a broad range of experience including family law, civil litigation, probate, bankruptcy and estate planning.

I now focus on assisting self-represented litigants with document preparation services in family law and uncontested probate matters as well as enforcement of judgments.

Julie S. Levy and Zachary A. Carroll have practiced law since 2008 in solo practices. In 2009, they began sharing an office and collaborating on certain cases. This duo has turned their collaboration into Levy Carroll Law and as strong litigators, they provide a strong and determined focus for fair outcomes in their client's cases. Choose Levy Carroll Law for their strong, honest, caring representation for bankruptcy, divorce, custody, guardianship, or personal injury. Look no further as you have found a team that has your best interests at heart

Angeles “Susi” Carrion grew up in the local area before serving in the U.S. Army. After completing her military service, Ms. Carrion became a Court Clerk in the North Las Vegas Municipal Court. Later, she became a State Certified Spanish Court Interpreter in Nevada, where she interpreted both criminal and civil cases. Ms. Carrion has also interpreted for various law enforcement agencies. Ms. Carrion is the only private attorney in Colusa County that is able to communicate directly with her Spanish speaking clients without the use of an interpreter.

Ms. Carrion attended Cal-Northern School of Law in Chico, California where she...

Ms. Bateman Smith is a strong and compassionate family law attorney. She is a strong advocate for her clients' rights in divorce cases involving Custody and Visitation, Child and Spousal Support, and division of community property. She also makes the survivor of domestic violence cases heard by the court. Partition actions are another area of law on which she advocates.

Twenty-six years with the Sonoma County Superior Court gives her a unique perspective in helping clients through each step of their case.

Ms. Bateman Smith is an active member of both the California Lawyers Association (CLA), Sonoma County Bar...

Gillian is the Attorney Mediator and owner of Finding Common Ground Mediation & Law Services. Gillian is an experienced attorney and mediator specializing in family law matters. She has 23 years of experience and has helped hundreds of people resolve their legal disputes without going to court. Getting a divorce or creating a parenting plan for 2 households is difficult. At Finding Common Ground, Gillian helps educate her clients about the law, while empowering them to reach their own agreements with a structured mediation process that promotes productive communication. Clients who mediate maintain control, create tailored agreements that suit...

I have been certified by the California State Bar as a specialist in family law. I excel in helping individuals navigate some of the most difficult and painful experiences of their lives. I handle all issues related to divorce, legal separation, and parentage actions, including matters related to child custody, child support, spousal support, and complex property division. I also help clients wanting assistance with pre-marital and post-marital agreements. Additionally, I serve as a consulting attorney for clients in mediation and those seeking a second opinion. I am also a divorce mediator who specializes in educating parties about the law while...

Lorilee DeSantis is an attorney whose passion for helping families protect their loved ones and their assets shines through to all who work with her. Lorilee’s clients often comment that her ability to deeply listen and understand their concerns makes it very easy for them to talk to her about difficult subjects. Her clients also appreciate that Lorilee explains complex legal concepts in ways that are easy to digest so that clients fully understand their legal options. Lorilee’s dedication to helping people with family-oriented legal issues stems from personal experiences. When Lorilee was growing up, she saw...

Business and International Experience
Wayne started in Auckland New Zealand, graduating after completing a challenging combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in just 4 years, achieving top marks at his law school at Auckland University made up of 11,000 students where he was elected Student President in a landslide victory in his last year. Then recruited by a leading Merchant Bank, MARAC Corporation, Wayne moved to Citibank before becoming the founding Company Secretary for New Zealand's first publicly listed Investment Bank, founding Company Secretary for NZ’s first publicly listed Venture Capital company and a Director of a...

As a mother of four children, Nikki Farris understands the pressure of being responsible and taking care of family. When you fall into debt, it's not only you but those who depend on your that are in danger of financial ruin. If you cannot handle the debt, Attorney Nikki Farris can help you file for bankruptcy and find debt relief through various means. Nikki is experienced in bankruptcy law, as well as estate planning and business law. As a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Nikki is held accountable to high standards of legal service for her...

Attorney Gary D. Sparks is an accomplished lawyer who has successfully provided legal services and representation to families, husbands, wives, parents, military service members, and same sex partners for nearly two decades. Gary was a regular guest for several years on the former Ronn Owens Program on KGO-AM 810 in San Francisco, and has been interviewed by local and national publications in addition to publishing several of his own legal guides.

Gary graduated first in his class from John F. Kennedy University School of Law, where he was awarded magna cum laude honors for excellence in academic achievement and received...

Michael D. Raysor was born and raised in rural Shasta County, California. He is the son of a forester and a horticulturalist. He maintains a large vegetable garden and a small orchard with the goal of becoming self sufficient.

Mr. Raysor is a graduate of West Valley High School and Shasta College. In 2000, he moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Economics and History. In 2008, Mr. Raysor graduated from Golden Gate School of Law in San Francisco, where he earned a joint Juris...

"Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you." Erin Farley brings over 24 years of legal experience to the firm. She is well-respected in the community for her work and was voted in 2013 and 2015 as the Best Attorney in Petaluma by the Argus-Courier's People's Choice Awards. Ms. Farley's work focuses on dissolutions, child support, child custody, spousal support, post-judgment support, comprehensive property division, and prenuptial agreements. Ms. Farley brings experience, insight, and compassion to what is likely the most emotionally difficult of court proceedings. Ms. Farley is a member of the...

Jameson Sheehan earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico, and a Master’s Degree and his Juris Doctorate from Cal Northern School of Law. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 2019.

Jameson’s legal education and experience spans over a decade; his more than 10 years as a paralegal in various aspects of trusts, estates, business transactions, real estate transactions, contract litigation, workers’ compensation, and general civil litigation has given him a wide breadth of knowledge and experience to the benefit of his clients.

Rhoda Chandler is a Super Lawyers "Rising Star" and a Certified Family Law Specialist as designated by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Chandler is a native Californian, born and raised in Los Angeles, where she graduated from California State University Los Angeles. Prior to obtaining her law degree Ms. Chandler was an executive with one of California's largest Fortune 500, New York Stock Exchanged, retail grocery companies and brings that extensive business and management experience to the practice of law. Ms. Chandler obtained her Juris Doctorate at Creighton University School of Law where she was a member...

Mr. Tabayoyon is an experienced trial attorney that focuses on personal injury and family law matters, including federal and state trial litigation.

Matthew Crider formed Crider Law Group so he could help individuals and business owners by providing creative solutions and be their trusted advisor and legal counselor. Matthew provides services in the areas of estate planning, family law, and business advisory services. Matthew’s estate planning practice focuses on personalized estate planning and administration for individuals, couples and families, and includes wills, revocable living trusts, family business entity planning, and co-tenancy arrangements. His family law practice focuses on assisting families in a dissolution matters, including divorce, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, and parental rights. ...

Robin M. Birnbaum practices exclusively family law, having done so since 2010. Robin’s experience as a mediator, litigator and Minor’s Counsel gives her a unique perspective into the practice of family law and she is able to offer creative and strategic solutions to address the most challenging and complex family law matters, including child custody, domestic violence and support.

Robin is a Certified Family Law Specialist, having been certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization in July 2016. Robin is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California, Family Law Section...

For 22 years, I have devoted my career as a lawyer to helping parties resolve their conflicts efficiently, effectively and respectfully. I believe the quality of a mediated resolution, and of the mediation process, to be as important to the parties as the fact of resolution.

Because your family is the most important part of who you are, family law issues can create tremendous stress and upset in your life. With compassion and care, Kristine Fowler Cirby will be candid in reviewing the unique aspects of your case, clearly spelling out your options, and giving you realistic advice on how best to move forward.

For more than 28 years Kris has dedicated her life to helping families find the best resolution to their legal matters. She has worked with many different kinds of families with many different types of problems. Her experience has given...

I've always had a passion for law and justice. As such, I gave up a business career in my mid thirties to obtain a law degree. I graduated from law school in 2001. While in school, I received multiple awards and honors, including top 5% of my class in the first year, as well as a merit scholarship. I received special training in trial work, earning certificates in litigation, public interest law, and mediation. My law practice began in commercial litigation, where I had certain aptitudes and strengths due to my business background....

30 years of practice experience in Divorce Law; 12 years of Real Property practice prior to that; Real Estate Broker 20 years. Corporate background; business valuations; division of property. Years of trial experience, but love collaborative law and am a highly trained mediator. Highly skilled with custody of children at once heartbreaking and often cruel. Serious trial experience with false sexual abuse allegations; true sexual abuse allegations. Empathic, concerned, and compassionate, yet can draw boundaries because every minute I am engaged in your case; you will receive an hourly bill. Trial lawyer Trained Child Counsel Mediator Collaborative Law Practitioner

Anne M. Whatley has been practicing family law for over 20 years, and has experience in all aspects, including divorce, custody, support, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, domestic violence, and any other family law issue.

For 26 years, I have chosen to focus on family law and only family law. This means I have depth--there is nothing in family law I have not seen, done, researched, figured out and accomplished.

I am now at the fortunate time in my career where I choose to maintain a relatively small caseload. What does this mean for you? It means your calls, texts and e-mails are answered within minutes or hours--not days. When you call, you will talk to me, not a staff member who will take a message, and no--you will not be charged...

I joined the Law Offices of Russo & Prince in January of 2006. Throughout his time at Russo & Prince, I have focused my practice entirely on family law, including family law litigation. I obtained my undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, and my Juris Doctorate at the University of San Francisco, School of Law. I am happy to say that I practice exclusively in the area of family law. My practice includes dissolution of marriage (divorce), annulment, and legal separation, as well as spousal support (alimony), child custody, visitation, child support, division of assets and debts...

Anthony Proffitt is an attorney located in Fairfield California. His practice areas are criminal defense and family law matters, including divorce, custody, visitation, and restraining orders. He has experience in debt collections and judgment enforcement as well. As a paralegal in the early 2000's, Anthony worked in a law firm located in Napa California that specialized in three strike laws and family matters. As a paralegal he opened his own business while working for the law firm and started assisting clients with affordable document preparation and filing for their legal matters. The attorney he worked for eventually became a judge...

I joined the Rich, Fuidge, Bordsen & Galyean, Inc. in 2017 as an associate attorney. Prior to joining the firm, I started a property management and real estate sales business with my wife. I am also a California Real Estate Broker.

"The only minority is the individual and Justice is the only measure of equality among individuals."

Mediator and Collaborative Process Attorney assisting couples in the divorce and legal separation process.

My goal is to make a positive difference for clients and their children who are surrounded with negative events and sometimes traumatic circumstances.

My private family law practice has been in Santa Rosa for 30 years. I have served as Co-President of the Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire (CCRE), an organization of attorneys, mental health providers, and financial specialists committed to out-of-court resolution.

My experience on the Family Law Committee for the Sonoma County Bar Association has given me great insight. As...