California Family Lawyers

James B. Preston has been in practice since January 1973, after graduating from the University of California, San Francisco, in 1972, earning the designation of Order of the Coif honor society. Initially practicing in the field of criminal law as the chief felony trial attorney in the Public Defender’s Office. In 1977 he opened his private practice, ultimately specializing in Family Law, becoming a State of California State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist in 1985. He served as the Chairman of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Section, the largest group of Family...

I am one of a handful of Certified Family Law Specialists, as certified by the California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization, in the Stanislaus and San Joaquin area. Family law is my favorite area of the law as I greatly enjoy the ability to help people navigate through the court process. I know that I go to court every day but that my clients don't. I understand that this process can be overwhelming and often, emotionally driven. My job is to be certain that my clients understand best case scenarios and worst case scenarios so...

Michele Elizabeth Hales has been assisting clients with Family Law matters since her admittance to the California Bar in 1992. In addition to a successful litigation practice, she also offers Alternative Dispute Resolution services, such as Mediation, Collaboration and Unbundled Family Law Assistance. She is dedicated to providing experienced, skilled and knowledgeable representation, and pursuing the best possible outcomes for your family law needs. Michele received her B.A. from the University of California Davis in 1989. She earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1992. Michele is a member of the State Bar of California, Santa Clara...

CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST At the Law Office of Dianne Drew Butler C.F.L.S., we have worked closely with men and women across the Central Valley in California since 1986. We know that the legal process can be complicated and take great care to carefully explain the law and process to you so that you have a realistic idea of what to expect. We will help you understand your rights and options so that you can make good decisions that are in your best interests. Our Credentials We offer clients extensive experience and knowledge in family law matters, having focused our practice exclusively...

Deborah Brown enjoys helping clients through a difficult period in their lives She strives to minimize the disruption and strife associated with family law issues, but can also be tough when necessary. Her approach is tailored to each client’s unique situation and the client’s goals. She believes in custom, not cookie cutter solutions.
Deborah offers a variety of limited-scope options as well as full representation to address family issues including divorce, spousal support, child custody and child support, parentage, adoptions and guardianships. She has handled domestic violence issues, in criminal as well as family court, and DUIs and other misdemeanors....

CERTIFICATIONS:
Certified Family Law Specialist
State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

BAR ADMISSIONS:
California, 1989
U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1989
U.S. District Court Eastern District of California, 1989
U.S. District Court Northern District of California, 1989
U.S. District Court Southern District of California, 1989
EDUCATION:
University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, California, J.D.

Extensive experience in all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support and property division, paternity issues and guardianships.

Ahluwalia Law Professional Corporation is a general practice law firm located in San Jose, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Striving to achieve meaningful, long-lasting relationships with our clients, we offer affordable, efficient and personalized service. Attorney Madan Ahluwalia, Managing Attorney, has been providing his clients with legal representation since 1995.

The Law Office of David A. Martin & Associates is a full service law firm specializing in family law disputes. This firm has been serving the greater Sacramento Valley and surrounding communities since 1995. Attorney David A. Martin has built a reputation on personally and successfully representing individual clients on thousands of divorce and child custody matters. Mr. Martin and his professional staff of paralegals and attorneys are here to help you with your legal needs. From the very beginning, the goal of the firm has been to provide conscientious, aggressive, and diligent legal representation to our clients on all...

-- Over 16 years experience in Family Law -- Certified Family Law Specialist -- Good Listener & Idea Generator -- Can Think Outside the Box to Help You Get Great Results -- Friendly Style Facilitates Settlements

Morgan Montoya graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in psychology with an emphasis in early childhood development. While an undergraduate, Ms. Montoya volunteered with several different volunteer programs centered around youth. She was also an active member in the Prytanean Women’s Honor Society, the oldest collegiate women's honor society in the United States.
Ms. Montoya went on to attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, California where she graduated with a certification in family law and a member of the Pro Bono Honor Society. During law school, Ms. Montoya had the opportunity...

Mr. Mastro was born in Oakland, grew up around the East Bay, and has spent his life living throughout the Bay Area, from San Francisco to San Jose. Mr. Mastro graduated from the Santa Clara University School of Law in May 2006. He then passed the California State Bar Examination in July 2006 on his first attempt. Thereafter, Mr. Mastro became a Deputy Public Defender in San Joaquin County, representing clients in all manner of criminal cases, in a high-volume capacity. In 2009, Joe decided to return home to open his own law firm. Since then...

Danella Rugile is a skilled family law attorney in San Jose and one of the founding partners at F & R Law Group. She dedicates her career to ensure that families in the community receive the representation they need during a divorce. Prior to starting work as a lawyer, she served as a Parent Facilitator at the Redwood City Child Development Centers. This experience gave her insight and a connection to the people she would serve as an attorney and pushed her to pursue her law degree in divorce law. She obtained her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School...

Before starting my family law practice, I worked for 5 years at a non-profit, where I successfully litigated in court on behalf of survivors of domestic violence and their children. I obtained Temporary and Permanent Restraining Orders, Child Visitation and Custody Orders, as well as Child Support. Since 2007, I have offered amicable, uncontested divorce and separation options for those who want to stay out of court, including high conflict and complex cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness. I provide services as a Mediator (neutral third party), Collaborative Divorce attorney (using a team approach),...

I graduated from the University of Iowa in 1972. My first year out of law school, two friends from Perry and I opened a bar and music center in Iowa City called the C.O.D. Steam Laundry. After a year I moved to California where I traveled the West Coast as a craft vendor and follower of the Grateful Dead band. In 1990, I decided to settle down in Santa Barbara and joined the California State Bar, practicing family law. My interest in family law grew to the point where I wanted to become a specialist in family...

Ms. Szeto-Wong completed her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. She obtained her law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and has been litigating civil rights, family law, and employment cases in state and federal court since 2012. Ms. Szeto-Wong has a successful track record including favorable verdicts and awards in the millions of dollars. She is bilingual in English and Cantonese.

Nydia Loya is an Associate in the Law Offices of Korol and Velen. Ms. Loya was admitted to the California State Bar in December, 2004. She is admitted to practice before all of the Courts of the State of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Ms. Loya graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Political Science and Psychology in 2001, and earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 2004. Prior to joining Korol and...

Richard Ewaniszyk was first admitted to practice law in 1982 and has lived in the High Desert since 1986, where he raised his family. Over the course of his career, he has successfully represented hundreds of clients each year who have suffered serious and catastrophic personal injuries. Many of these cases involve debilitating spinal injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Other major injuries include severe burns, limb fractures, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, and complex regional pain syndrome. In order to prove liability and establish comprehensive damages—such as medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, lost household services, and pain and suffering—Mr. Ewaniszyk...

Jeffrey L. Hoffer is a widely recognized Divorce and Family Law Attorney who represents clients with cases in the Ventura and Los Angeles County court systems. For more information on Jeffrey L. Hoffer, go to his website, http://805divorceattorney.com. Jeffrey focuses his efforts on achieving outstanding results for his clients in child custody, support, and all matters of family law. Over the past several years, he has obtained excellent results for fathers seeking more favorable child custody orders and has successfully obtained and/or modified support orders resulting in millions of dollars in savings. In...

Visit our website: www.BFLEISHMANLAW.com for contact information and to schedule a consultation. Ms. Fleishman is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has practiced Family Law exclusively since 1976. Ms. Fleishman has been certified by the California State Bar as a Family Law Specialist since 1981. Ms. Fleishman practiced in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area (Century City and Beverly Hills) for 12 years before moving to Westlake Village in 1988. In her previous career, Ms Fleishman was a High School Teacher in the subjects of History and...

Attorney Debra Kay has been a Certified Specialist in family law since 1993, and has been practicing law throughout courts in Ventura and Los Angeles since 1987. Ms. Kay earned her Bachelor of Sciences degree in Engineering cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Juris Doctorate degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. In 1986, Attorney Kay was admitted to both the State Bar of California and to the United States District Court Central District of California. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Ventura County Bar Association, the East County Bar Association,...

Clients choose the Law Offices of Leon F. Bennett for our award-winning, comprehensive and highly personalized approach to family law matters with a proven track record of successful and satisfying results. Imagine a bright future, a happy home, and security and stability for your family. This isn’t just a dream, but what you and your children deserve.

We work with expert accountants, estate planners, educators, therapists and other highly regarded specialists to help our clients achieve their goals. We have an industry-leading reputation of being the strongest advocates for our clients to obtain satisfying closure while maintaining the highest degree of...

Kristina Kell is a seasoned Family Law and Divorce Attorney with over a decade of experience serving clients in Malibu, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles, Ventura County and surrounding areas. Ms. Kell has a long and prestigious record of guiding clients through the often emotional and complex landscape of divorce, child custody, support, and other family law matters. As a Los Angeles native, she has extensive knowledge of the local legal system in Southern California and is licensed to practice in all California state courts. An active member of the California State Bar, Ms. Kell is also involved with...

The Law Offices of Paul D. Spear is an experienced, personal service law firm dedicated to taking on your difficult and stressful legal issues, enabling you to focus on the more meaningful things in your life. We understand your needs and will work hard to resolve your situation through the most effective means available. Paul will meet with you personally and will work side by side with you throughout your representation. We maintain a close relationship with you on every case and provide compassionate guidance and advice with legal experience.

Paul D. Spear is a Certified Family Law Specialist....

Attorney Caitlin Rodriguez was born and raised in Ventura County and attended California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI) where she obtained a Bachelors Degree, with honors, in History. After graduating from CSUCI, Ms. Rodriguez attended California Western School of Law in San Diego, CA. During her law school career, Ms. Rodriguez was a member of the Pro Bono Honor Society, and was awarded the Academic Achievement Scholarship and the Diversity Scholarship. In addition, she interned with the San Diego County Alternate Public Defender's Office, the Community Law Project (a San Diego based organization that provides free legal advice to low-income...

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....

Since 2011, attorney Marcus Morales has represented the interests of clients in Santa Barbara facing family lawsuits. He has fought for and obtained favorable results in lawsuits with issues related to divorce, such as spousal support, child custody, child support, property division, business valuation, and more. Marcus Morales believes in helping his clients forge new paths toward new possibilities, and ensuring any children involved with your case find the safest environment to call home. When you’ve reached a difficult place in your life, Marcus Morales wants to help you find a way out. Immediately speaking with an attorney about your...

Admitted to the California Bar in December 1996, I started as a solo practitioner in Westlake Village. Later, I began enjoying work on key areas of dissolution, custody, parentage plus cohabitation issues, prenuptial contracts, surrogacy, adoptions and division of retirement plans. I moved to the office I have now in Thousand Oaks (Newbury Park) in 2005. I was raised by divorced parents and have been my own client in a divorce case. I realize why clients become depressed and arrive at the court with devotional books and best friends. I, just as virtually all family...

My approach is simple – to provide value to your case. I am committed to providing client-centered representation and finding ways to benefit the client. I strive to return phone calls and emails within 24 hours. I am committed to keeping clients informed every step of the way. I work hard to bring your case to a timely and cost-effective resolution.

Shelley M. Kennedy is a family law attorney and private mediator with Lawhon Law & Mediation, P.C.

Shelley's mediation practice includes high-asset dissolution of marriage matters including division of property, preparation of complex financial models, calculations for various settlement options, as well as determination of support. In addition to Shelley’s experience in financially complex matters, her practice also includes mediation for couples with smaller estates.

Shelley serves as a Settlement Conference Master for the San Francisco Unified Family Law Courts and as a volunteer attorney for the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Pro Bono Family Law Project.

Shelley has participated in over 200...

Attorney Stratte's passion is family law. She brings significant experience with trials, highly contested dissolutions with custody, division of high value assets, and alternative dispute resolution to assist her clients with compassionate resolution of these deeply personal legal issues. In addition, she has many recent wins at long cause trials in property division, domestic violence restraining orders, custody, contempt of court and fee awards, among other successes. Attorney Stratte received her Bachelor of the Arts from the University of California Berkeley in Women's Studies, located in Berkeley, California. Thereafter, she received her professional doctorate in law from Southwestern Law School located...

Amy Laughlin has been achieving exceptional results for clients since 1992. After graduating with honors from The University of Michigan Law School, Amy joined the San Francisco office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. While there, she counseled individuals and corporations in a wide range of complex financial matters. In 2013, Amy opened her own practice where she focuses primarily on divorce, business and entertainment law.

Lisa R. Murray has practiced law since 1987, and family law since 1989, assisting families through the difficult divorce process. Ms. Murray assists her clients in reaching amicable and equitable settlement by offering services as a mediator, Collaborative Practice lawyer, consulting attorney for clients in mediation, and negotiating settlements. Ms. Murray has served her community as a court-appointed child advocate representing children in divorce cases, and Judge Pro Tempore. Ms. Murray's focus on consensual dispute resolution, such as mediation and Collaborative Practice was borne from her experience of the destructive manner in which litigation separates parents' and...

My family law practice is entirely limited to mediation and coaching. After witnessing the financial destruction and emotional distress that accompanies a litigated divorce, I decided to devote my career to helping couples separate constructively, peacefully and with dignity. Not only does a mediated divorce typically cost tens of thousands less than a drawn-out courtroom battle, but it also maximizes the likelihood that the parties will enjoy a civil relationship after the legal work is done. This is critically important when children are involved. I handle the entire divorce process for my clients, from our initial meeting to drafting...

We are a small law office offering family law and divorce related services to the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. We provide individuals and families with the help they need to resolve family law issues surrounding dissolution of marriages or domestic partnerships (divorce), adoption and surrogacy, prenuptial agreements, child custody, spousal support (alimony), and offer counsel and legal services to couples contemplating marriage or domestic partnership. We pride ourselves in being able to offer resposive and personalized service at affordable rates. By eliminating the crippling overhead and high management salaries that are common among larger Bay Area law firms,...