California Family Law Attorneys

The State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization grants this certification only to attorneys who exceed standard licensing requirements.

In order to become a certified family law specialist, and maintain my specialization:
(1) I passed an additional bar examination focused solely on family law;
(2) I dedicate 100% of my practice to family law;
(3) I receive training (“continuing education”) in family law every year;
(4) The State Bar reviewed my past cases to verify that I have “broad-based and comprehensive experience in family law”; and,
(5) I received favorable evaluations by other attorneys and judges familiar with my work in family law.

Unlike many attorneys who practice multiple areas of law, I focus exclusively on family law matters. This specialization allows me to stay current on the latest developments and provide focused expertise to my clients.

Before practicing family law, I was an engineer and intellectual property attorney. That background is particularly useful when representing technology professionals with complex compensation structures such as stock options, RSUs, and startup equity.

Yes. We have been recognized by the Doyle’s Guide, Super Lawyers, Expertise.com, and Yelp, among others. Most importantly, we are recognized by our clients. You can read what they have to say on our reviews page.

Family law is all we do. That includes divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, domestic violence restraining orders, and post-judgment modifications. We are particularly well-equipped to handle high-net-worth matters involving complex assets such as stock options, RSUs, cryptocurrency, business interests, and real estate portfolios.

Our physical offices are in Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita, and Arcadia, and most of our clients are in Orange County and Los Angeles. We also make regular appearances in San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Because California courts now allow remote appearances, we can represent clients anywhere in the state. Many of our remote clients are technology professionals in Silicon Valley dealing with restricted stock units (RSUs), stock options, or startup equity.

You will always know who your attorney is. We recommend the best fit based on the specifics of your case, including the case type, the judge, opposing counsel, the particular strengths of the attorney, and your own preferences. If you want a specific attorney, that is who will handle your case. Our paralegal team supports every matter, and we delegate tasks to the appropriate team member at the appropriate rate, which helps keep your overall costs down.

We answer the phone. We tell you the truth about your case, even when it is not what you want to hear. We explain what is happening at every step. We fight when it matters, settle when it makes sense, and never manufacture conflict to run up fees. You are a person, not a file number. We treat you like one.

We prioritize communication. Clients can expect a response within one business day, and often sooner. You will have direct phone numbers, email, and access to our team through instant messaging. If something is urgent, we treat it that way. You will not be left wondering what is happening with your case.

There are two steps: complete an intake form and book a consultation. Both are available on our website and can be done in either order. During the consultation, we will review your situation, explain your options, and determine whether our firm is a good fit. If you are unsure where to start, call us during business hours at (949) 432-6529 (949-4-FAM-LAW) and we will walk you through it.

We offer several consultation options at different price points, including complimentary case screenings and paid consultations by phone, video, or in person. If a consultation is marked as “Credited to Account,” the fee is applied toward your first invoice if you retain us. Visit our appointments page for current availability and pricing.

Yes. We offer consultation-only arrangements where we provide legal guidance and strategy without serving as your attorney of record. This is common for clients who are representing themselves or who already have an attorney but want a second opinion. The retainer for consultation-only arrangements is typically $2,500.

Yes, and it is more common than you might think. A substitution of attorney is a routine court filing, and we handle the transition. During your consultation, we will review where your case stands so we can pick up where your previous attorney left off.

The initial deposit to establish a client trust account (commonly referred to as a “retainer”) varies depending on our role, the scope of representation, and the complexity of your case. The retainer is not a flat fee. It funds the work performed on your case, and we bill against it as work is completed. For full-scope representation where we serve as your attorney of record, the retainer is typically $7,500. For cases involving domestic violence or multiple overlapping matters, it is typically $10,000. For consultation-only arrangements where we do not serve as attorney of record, the retainer is typically $2,500.

Our rates vary by team member based on their level of experience and role. Your fee agreement will list every rate clearly, from legal assistant to principal attorney. We provide this information during your consultation so there are no surprises.

Yes, but only for the actual time spent. We track time carefully and bill in small increments, so a quick call or email is reflected accurately on your invoice. Not every communication results in a charge. Discussions about the details of an invoice or a particular charge, for example, are typically not billed.

No. We maintain consistent rates across all clients. However, we are mindful of cost and structure our staffing so that work is handled by the appropriate team member at the appropriate rate. We also accept credit cards and offer third-party financing.

Yes. We accept all major credit cards through LawPay at no additional fee. For clients who prefer to pay over time, we also offer financing through Affirm.

It depends. A 2019 study by Martindale-Nolo Research put the average cost of a California divorce at $4,500 to $26,000, depending on the number of contested issues and whether the case went to trial. Those numbers are from 2019 and, in our experience, low. The true cost depends on how contested custody is, the complexity of the assets, the length of the marriage, and how willing both sides are to work toward a resolution. Unlike other areas of law, family law cases can continue for years after the initial judgment, with custody and support subject to modification. During your consultation, we can give you a better sense of what to expect.

For a relatively straightforward prenuptial agreement, you would likely be looking at $3,500 to $5,500. That number can shift depending on factors we cannot predict at the outset: who the other party’s attorney is, how well their draft is written if they draft first, and how many rounds of revisions it takes to reach a final agreement. We offer two billing structures. A flat fee will be on the higher end because we have to account for those unknowns up front. A retainer allows us to bill for actual time, which often comes in lower, but the final amount is not guaranteed. Our prenuptial agreements are handled by a Certified Family Law Specialist. We can only represent one party, and your fiancé(e) will need their own attorney. One thing worth keeping in mind: prenups are not challenged today. They are challenged years from now during a divorce. That is why not many attorneys do them, and fewer do them well. Our pricing reflects the level of care required to make sure it holds up when it matters.