Merced Family Lawyers

Yanna Sukhodrev is a partner at Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist. She focuses her practice exclusively on family law and has successfully handled a variety of matters, both before private judges and in the public courthouse, including high-earner child support issues, date of separation disputes, restraining orders, breach of fiduciary duty claims, reimbursement claims, valuation of stock options, valuation of businesses and complex challenges to the validity of pre-nuptial agreements and marital settlement agreements. She regularly handles challenging custody disputes, and has experience litigating international move away cases. She works closely with...

Traci is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 2000 and was admitted to the bar in December of that year. During her tenure at Santa Clara, she was the Sr. Technical Editor of the Computer Technology Law Journal and received a Certificate of Excellence in Legal Research and Writing. After graduation, Traci was recruited by a top corporate law firm. She worked at Gray Cary (now DLA Piper) from 2000 - 2002 as a securities and corporate transactional attorney. She was involved in...

Experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. Skilled in trial advocacy, representing clients with business disputes, labor and employment law and family Law. Samira received her undergraduate degree with honors from University of California at Berkeley and obtained a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Santa Clara University School of Law, with a specialization in intellectual property. Samira practices in Federal Court, State Court and the Appellate Court.

Mr. Lederman is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association's Family Law Section and served as Section President in 2008. He is also a past State Bar Family Law Section Legislation Chair and is the 2017 Family Law Section Chair. He frequently speaks and writes on family law issues.

Andrew Marcellino is a seasoned lawyer who has represented many clients throughout Santa Clara County in the trial and mediation process. He fights for his clients in the courtroom, but emphasizes negotiation and mediation as alternatives whenever possible. He does this to save his clients time, money and emotional stress, and to help them retain control over their legal results.

We assist family law clients in matters of domestic violence, divorce, custody and visitation, child support, restraining orders, property division, modifications of court orders, paternity matters, and other issues related to family law. We also provide experienced representation in criminal...

Indy Colbath is a licensed California attorney who has focused the entirety of her legal career on family law issues, including: divorce, annulment, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, and domestic violence restraining orders. Indy has a breadth of courtroom experience she relies upon when assessing her clients’ family law matters, as well as strong relationships with the local legal community and bench. Indy has effectively represented her clients in an array of complex family law litigation, many of which involving high net worth individuals. Even though Indy has a passion for courtroom advocacy, she understands that every...

Magdalena Chattopadhya practices all areas of family law, providing comprehensive legal representation for matters related to divorce, separation, child custody/support, paternity, retraining orders, and more. As a Certified Family Law Specialist, she is hands-on with her clients from the initial consultation all the way to negotiations, trials, and even appeals when necessary. Ms. Chattopadhya focuses on the big picture – the long-term impact of a case on her clients’ lives. As a certified mediator, she strives to help parties move forward from a conflict in an amicable and dignified manner. She is dedicated to pursuing the best possible result, no...

Stephen W. Penn is a Certified Family Law Specialist who has been in private practice since 1991. He received a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Los Angeles and his law degree from Glendale College of Law. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University and Master of Arts from John F. Kennedy University in Counseling Psychology.

Prior to commencing his legal career, Mr. Penn served as Vice Chancellor of the West Valley-Mission Community College District and Director of Finance and Chief Business Officer of California State University...

Mr. Krepelka specializes in all aspects of family law matters, such as property division, characterization, allocation, and valuation; reimbursement claims; spousal support; child support; breaches of fiduciary duty; business valuations; real property valuations and claims; post-judgment matters; enforcement of California orders, out-of-state orders, and international orders; contempt actions; all aspects of child custody and visitation; domestic violence issues; and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. He is seasoned in working closely with experts such as forensic CPAs, real estate appraisers, and child custody evaluators. He is a skilled litigator, handling numerous contested Family Law Trials of varying lengths. Travis Isaiah Krepelka obtained a...

Elizabeth is a Family Law Attorney with experience in Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and surrounding Bay Area Counties. In 1995, Elizabeth was sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster children in Santa Cruz County, and a State Certified Domestic Violence Advocate. She advocated for victims of domestic violence for seven years in Santa Cruz county prior to becoming a licensed attorney. In 2005, Elizabeth completed two specialized courses in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine School of Law. Elizabeth also completed the training to practice Collaborative Divorce with the Collaborative Divorce Group of Silicon Valley. Elizabeth...

Susan Dent is a recently admitted member of the California Bar, joining Lonich and Patton from a C.F.L.S. litigation firm in Newport Beach, CA. Ms. Dent was an active member of the law school community at Santa Clara University, serving as both an associate and editor for the Santa Clara Law Review, an Executive Board member for Honors Moot Court Internal, and as the president of Santa Clara Law's Criminal Law Society. Ms. Dent also served as a research assistant for SCU's Center for Global Law and Policy. Thoughout law school, Ms. Dent clerked for Hon. Jerome...

I want to be your attorney. My philosophy is that people have problems and my office is here to help them. We all have been there, in need of some kind of help and it really does not matter how you ended up needing help, the main thing is helping with your problem. I graduated with Honors from Golden Gate University with a BS in Accounting and Graduated 10th in my class at Lincoln Law School. Prior to going to Law School, I started working for a landscaping company in high school, and a roofing company after graduation. I joined...

Welcome to the Law Office of James Chau. You deserve the highest quality legal representation at affordable prices for your San Jose / Santa Clara County Divorce and Family Law needs. Please call the office today to speak with an attorney.

I'm a litigator and trial lawyer with 10+ years of experience as lead trial counsel, both in jury trials and bench trials in civil litigation, personal injury, family law, and employment law. My appellate experience consists of briefing and arguing before the Appellate Division of the Santa Clara Superior Court and the Sixth District Court of Appeal. Prior to becoming an attorney, I worked full time as a Software Engineer while attending law school in the evening. During law school, I was a member of the Honorable William A. Ingram American Inn of Court, received an award for Academic Excellence in Evidence,...

Gina Azzolino is a Partner at MTSA and a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California. She has practiced family law exclusively since 2005.

Ms. Azzolino has significant experience in all areas of family law, including child custody and visitation, child support (including high-earner disputes), spousal support, domestic violence and restraining orders, date of separation disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, set-aside of premarital agreements, property division, reimbursement claims, business valuations and other complex financial issues. Ms. Azzolino works closely and regularly with forensic accountants on complicated financial issues as well as with mental health professionals...

Gillett Law has served clients throughout California for over a decade.  Mr. Gillett and his staff understand that any legal issue, whether it be a family issue, a problem at school, a brush with the law or a chance to grow your business, can be a difficult time in one’s life.  That is why the firm takes every effort to understand who you are, where you are coming from and what actions need to be taken to serve your interest.   Mr. Gillett has a broad caseload and resume to match.  Throughout his practice he has been committed to...

Mahal is a family law attorney based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her practice in 2014, having spent the previous fourteen years as a law clerk, educator, and paralegal specialist for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Her law practice integrates her passion for civil rights and her love for community. Mahal was born in Vallejo, and after a series of family tragedies enrolled herself in the tenth grade at Oakland Technical High School. She was legally emancipated as a minor the following spring. These childhood experiences inspired her to become an attorney and...

Renee Ross is certified in Family Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and is a highly skilled and insightful attorney. She represents family law clients throughout Pleasanton and the surrounding areas. She has more than a decade of experience and handles a broad range of cases including divorce, child custody and support, high net worth divorce, and same-sex family law issues. Attorney Ross can also provide counsel for adoptions, domestic partnership issues, complex property divisions, and other family law cases. She is passionate about providing personalized legal solutions for her clients, guiding them with skill...

Michelle Tidalgo, a founding partner of Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist, is an experienced trial lawyer who practices family law exclusively, focusing on diverse financial issues including business valuation, property division and child and spousal support. Ms. Tidalgo also represents clients in difficult custody disputes. Before the founding of Morgan Duffy-Smith & Tidalgo LLP in 2008, she spent part of her career practicing civil litigation and handling cases involving claims of unfair competition, breach of contract, fraud, trade secret misappropriation and employment law with a management orientation. Ms. Tidalgo began to practice family...

Julia Lemon became an associate at Lonich and Patton, LLP in November 2007. Julia is well versed in Estate Planning and Business Law, however she has a a special interest in Family Law matters. Julia began her relationship with the firm as a second year law clerk in 2005. Julia was raised in San Jose and attended Presentation High School. Thereafter, she attended the University of California at Davis where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In 2004, Julia graduated with honors and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, earning a Bachelor's Degree with a major in...

A Bay Area native, Chelsea has always been committed to making a difference in the local community. Family law has provided her the avenue to help families in transition, while maintaining civility and focus on issues that truly matter. Chelsea graduated Cum Laude and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida, which she attended on a volleyball scholarship. She returned to the Bay Area for law school and graduated with her Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2015. While in law school, Chelsea used her classroom knowledge to help families while working...

Christopher W. Dietrich is the principal attorney of Dietrich Family Law practicing in the areas of Family Law (including Divorce, Legal Separation, Annulments, Child Custody and Domestic Violence Proceedings), Estate Planning, Probate, and Estate Administration. Prior to establishing Dietrich Family Law Mr. Dietrich directed the Sacramento operations of the Modesto based firm the Law Office of Thomas P. Hogan practicing in the same areas of law. He is an active member of the Sacramento County Bar Association where he has served on several committees. He also volunteers his time for Empower Yolo in Woodland to assist low...

Ethan M. Weisinger is a California State Certified Family Law Specialist working in all of the Bay Area Counties. He represents clients in all aspects of conventional family law matters, (divorce/separation, child custody, spousal/child support, etc.) as well as dissolution of same-sex marriages, including Registered Domestic Partnerships. Ethan graduated with honors from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in English and Political Science. Ethan then went on to study law at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and graduated with honors, with an emphasis in Trial Litigation in 2010. From 2010...

Our practice covers all aspects of family and matrimonial law in all of the Bay Area counties, primarily focusing on Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, and San Francisco counties. We will expertly navigate you through your family law matter, whether it involves termination of a domestic partnership, paternity, custody, visitation, domestic violence, adoption, guardianship, support, an annulment, legal separation, or post-judgment issues. Regardless which of these processes you are dealing with, we understand the strain and pressure that these matters inevitably put on clients and the necessity of providing strong representation. Therefore, we strive to make the entire process as easy...

Experienced, dedicated and affordable immigration attorney servings the Immigration community for near 20 years. Record of winning case on asylum, VAWA claim, naturalization with criminal background, waivers, and complex family based immigrant visa petitions.

The Davalos Law Firm is committed to providing the legal help you need by first examining and reviewing the case, understanding your needs and wishes surrounding the outcome and with honesty and integrity delivering the best possible results for you. We specialize in the following law areas Family, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Landlord Tenant, Real Estate and Foreclosure Defense.

Dorit L. Goikhman is a licensed attorney, with years of experience representing clients in business, real estate, and family matters. Dorit graduated Brooklyn Law School in 2012, with a certificate in business law. During law school, she served as a debate coach for underserved NY youth, and won the CALI award for future excellence in accounting. After witnessing numerous clients spend fortunes and waste years of their lives in litigation, Dorit became interested in mediation and all that it has to offer. Dorit is committed in helping parties work together to obtain a mutually acceptable solution to their disputes at a...

Quynh (“Quinn”) Chen is a bilingual attorney that has been admitted to practice in the Ninth Circuit of the United States Appellate Court. Her practice areas primarily focus on family law, entity formations, and intellectual property. Her interest is in software patents and helping underrepresented clients in her community.

As part of her interest in software patents, Ms. Chen is proficient in programming in Ruby on Rails, MEAN stack Javascript, and working with various databases. While at Golden Gate University, School of Law, she served as Vice President of Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

Member of California and Federal Bar. Managing partner, current practice involves civil litigation, personal injury litigation for plaintiffs, defense, Probate, Consumer law, Family Law. As an Attorney, I am quite proficient in pleading and practice procedure, legal research in the library, web and computer, judicial procedure and rules of evidence. I have tried over a 200 court and jury trials. I have arbitrated and mediated over 500 cases. I have had experience with Superior, Appeals and Federal courts. I am a hearing officer for the City of Stockton and County of San Joaquin and a Pro...

Gretchen Z. Boger began her law career as a Deputy District Attorney in San Joaquin County from 2007 – 2010. During her tenure with the D.A.’s office, she prosecuted 17 jury trials.

Ms. Boger has been practicing family law exclusively since January 2010. Ms. Boger joined Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri in 2013. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. During her time at McGeorge, she received a concentration in trial advocacy.

Ms. Boger demonstrates great care and compassion in handling the complex emotional and legal issues which are unique to family law matters. Ms....

Porrino Law PC operates under the guidance of principal Dominic H. Porrino, who entered law practice with the intention of protecting the assets and safety of citizens by helping them negotiate the complexities of the California legal system. The competitive spirit that prompted him to play lacrosse and rugby in his youth now drives development of strategies to protect the best interests of his clients.

Mr. Porrino, an attorney whose practice encompasses legal separation, divorce, child custody and support, estate planning and other civil matters, obtained his law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and was admitted to the...

Gina Policastri is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Call for a free 1/2 hour consultation.

Gina Policastri is a Family Law Specialist as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and partner at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, where she has worked since graduating from Santa Clara University School of Law. Gina was one of the firm’s first associates and, during her 15 year tenure, has been instrumental in growing the firm into one of the largest family law firms in California.

Gina obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Santa Clara University in 2000...

Robert (“Bobby”) Cashen is a partner at Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP. Mr. Cashen has been named a Super Lawyer’s Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in both 2018 and 2019, an award conferred upon the top 2.5% up and rising attorneys in California. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Family Law Section of the San Mateo County Bar Association and will serve as its chair in 2020.

Mr. Cashen assists clients with all aspects of family law matters. He is experienced with complex financial issues, such as business valuation and characterization, private equity,...

Jennifer is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She earned a B.A. in Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her law degree from Santa Clara University. Jennifer is a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, and member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association and is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Jennifer has lectured at multiple seminars for the Santa Clara County Bar Association, and Santa Clara University School of Law,...

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.

Amy's approach to estate planning is to focus on each client's unique needs and objectives. She strives to design a comprehensive plan for her clients that provides the maximum protection without compromise. Her broad experience enables her to provide keen insight for her clients. She is deeply commitment to her clients and the ethical standards of her profession. Amy has lived in Brentwood since 2001 with her husband and two daughters. She is a Director for the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and in her free time, enjoys yoga, reading and golf.

Rachel is an Attorney at Doyle Quane. She practices exclusively family law and specializes in high asset cases. Being admitted as an attorney in both Australia and California, Rachel can assist with both Australian and California family law matters.

David Patton is a Family Law Specialist as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, limiting his practice to family law exclusively. He heads the firm's family law practice.

Mr. Patton has 22 years experience as a trial lawyer, spending his early years focusing on insurance defense and plaintiff's personal injury cases. After co-founding Lonich & Patton in 1994, Mr. Patton developed the firm's family law practice. Since then, he has become one of Silicon Valley's top family law attorneys. Mr. Patton is a certified family law specialist. Only attorneys certified by the State Bar of California...

Sabi Mand is a zealous advocate for his clients. He works vigorously to provide effective representation and results for his clients. Sabi has worked for several Bay Area law firms handling all aspects of Family Law before starting his own practice. He has also worked as a mediator for over 15 years, and helps clients resolve their disputes amicably. Sabi has volunteered as an attorney for the Alameda County Superior Court, Family Law Division. He has very refined negotiation and interpersonal communication skills. He has been a coach and judge for the UC Hastings negotiation team. In addition, Sabi has had the...

Jessica joined Mello & Pickering LLP in January 2015. In 2011 Jessica received her undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s College of California where she majored in political science. After graduating from Saint Mary’s, she received her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2014. She was then admitted to the California State Bar in December 2014, after passing the state bar exam on her first attempt. During her law school education, Jessica gained extensive experience in family law working for the Department of Child Support Services, the San Francisco Bar Association’s family law project and a solo family...