Finding the right attorney can be one of the most important decisions you make during a divorce. Family law cases can involve property division, financial support, child custody, retirement accounts, business interests, and other issues that require careful legal attention. For anyone searching for the best 20 divorce attorneys in california, having a list of experienced professionals can make the initial research process easier.
California has family law attorneys practicing in major legal markets throughout the state. The attorneys below represent a selection of professionals with experience or recognition in family law. They should be researched individually rather than treated as a definitive ranking.
20 Divorce Attorneys to Consider in California
1. Jennifer Crum
Jennifer Crum practices family law and mediation in San Mateo. Her experience includes complex and high-asset marital dissolutions, making her worth researching for clients with significant financial issues.
2. Belinda Hanson
Belinda Hanson is a San Mateo family law attorney with extensive professional experience. She has received long-standing recognition in the field and may be an option for individuals seeking established family law counsel.
3. Kimberly A. Madigan
Kimberly A. Madigan handles family law matters in San Mateo and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Her background can be particularly relevant to clients dealing with complicated divorce disputes.
4. Victoria K. Lewis
Victoria K. Lewis has experience in family law negotiation, litigation, trials, and appeals. Her broad legal background may benefit clients whose divorce involves contested issues.
5. Monica Mazzei
Monica Mazzei practices family law in San Francisco and has experience with sophisticated and high-net-worth family law matters. She may be worth considering when financial issues are a major part of the divorce.
6. Sarah Van Voorhis
Sarah Van Voorhis has practiced family law exclusively for many years. Her practice includes divorce, domestic partnerships, custody, and support matters.
7. Lorie S. Nachlis
Lorie S. Nachlis has decades of family law experience involving divorce, custody, support, property, and mediation. Her broad experience can be useful when several legal issues need to be addressed together.
8. Yau Lee
Yau Lee focuses on family law matters including divorce, custody, support, property, and mediation. She is another Bay Area attorney clients can research when comparing family law representation.
9. David Shebby
David Shebby is a Los Angeles family law attorney with extensive trial experience. His practice also includes mediation and arbitration, providing experience with multiple dispute-resolution methods.
10. Kristen K. Hirashima
Kristen K. Hirashima practices family law and mediation in Los Angeles. Her professional recognition makes her another attorney worth investigating during the selection process.
11. Larry A. Ginsberg
Larry A. Ginsberg is a Los Angeles family law attorney with significant experience in the field. His background makes him a potential choice for clients seeking established Southern California representation.
12. Patrick DeCarolis, Jr.
Patrick DeCarolis, Jr. practices family law in Los Angeles, including divorce and child custody matters. His experience may be relevant to parents dealing with both financial and parenting concerns.
13. Samantha Klein
Samantha Klein focuses on family law and mediation in Los Angeles. Clients interested in negotiated solutions may find her mediation background particularly relevant.
14. Marnie Smith
Marnie Smith practices family law and mediation in San Diego. She is an attorney to research for individuals seeking family law representation in the San Diego area.
15. Christine De Santis
Christine De Santis handles dissolution, custody, support, property, debt, paternity, and mediation matters. Her broad practice may be appropriate for divorces involving several connected legal questions.
16. Rachel R. James
Rachel R. James practices family law in San Diego. Prospective clients can compare her background with other attorneys based on the particular circumstances of their divorce.
17. Nicole M. Martinez
Nicole M. Martinez is a San Diego family law attorney with professional recognition. She provides another potential option for clients researching divorce lawyers in Southern California.
18. Mark E. Minyard
Mark E. Minyard is a Newport Beach family law attorney with decades of experience. His professional background may be particularly relevant to clients handling complex divorce matters in Orange County.
19. Jonathan T. Little
Jonathan T. Little practices family law in Newport Beach and handles divorce-related matters. His local experience may be useful for clients whose cases are being handled in Orange County.
20. Debra R. Schoenberg
Debra R. Schoenberg is a Bay Area family law attorney with professional recognition. She is another name worth researching for individuals seeking experienced Northern California divorce representation.
How to Narrow Down Your Choices
A list of attorneys is only the first step. Before hiring anyone, investigate their current professional status and experience. The State Bar of California provides California attorney license information that can help consumers verify licensing status and review disciplinary or administrative history.
You should also look for an attorney whose experience corresponds to the issues in your case. A divorce involving a family business or substantial investments may require different experience from a case where child custody is the primary concern.
Understand What Your Divorce May Involve
California divorce cases can require spouses to address property, debts, children, and financial support. The official California divorce information explains the basic stages of the process and the decisions spouses may need to make.
Understanding the process before meeting with an attorney can help you identify the questions that matter most. It can also help you distinguish between routine paperwork and issues that may require more specialized legal advice.
Consider Settlement Before Litigation
Some divorcing couples can resolve their disagreements through negotiation or mediation. Others may require court intervention when important issues remain disputed.
California Courts provides information about divorce agreements and court decisions, including different ways spouses may resolve their outstanding issues.
When interviewing an attorney, ask whether they typically pursue negotiation first or prepare cases for litigation from the beginning. There is no single approach that works for every divorce, so your lawyer's strategy should fit the circumstances.
Review Property and Financial Experience
Financial matters deserve careful consideration during divorce. Real estate, investments, retirement accounts, businesses, debts, and other assets can create disagreements about ownership and division.
California Courts offers property and debt information for divorce, which can help you understand why financial disclosure and property decisions are important. If your finances are complicated, ask prospective attorneys about their experience with similar cases.
Don't Overlook Child Custody
When children are involved, custody and parenting arrangements may become some of the most sensitive parts of the case. Parents may need to address legal custody, physical custody, parenting time, and child support.
Before selecting a lawyer, ask about their experience with custody disputes and temporary court orders. California Courts also provides information about requesting court orders concerning custody, support, and other family law issues.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Divorce Attorney
A consultation gives you an opportunity to determine whether an attorney is a practical fit. Consider asking:
How much of your practice is devoted to family law?
Have you handled cases similar to mine?
How do you approach negotiation and mediation?
How often do you take cases to trial?
Who will handle my case on a day-to-day basis?
What costs should I expect beyond the initial retainer?
How frequently will I receive updates?
What potential challenges do you see in my case?
The goal is to find an attorney whose experience, communication style, and strategy match your needs.
Conclusion
Researching the best 20 divorce attorneys in california can provide a useful starting point, but there is no universal attorney who is right for every divorce. Your decision should take into account the complexity of your case, the attorney's family law experience, communication style, dispute-resolution approach, location, and fees.
Take time to verify credentials, compare several attorneys, and ask detailed questions during consultations. A well-informed decision can help you enter the divorce process with realistic expectations and a clearer understanding of the legal choices ahead.
