Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Divorce Lawyers in Encinitas

Our Recommended Top 9

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Encinitas Divorce Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

40

Reviewed

27

Curated

9

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
8880 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Contested

Why choose this provider?

Shana J. Black is a divorce lawyer that represents residents in Encinitas. She provides legal counsel for clients facing issues regarding child custody & visitation, spousal support, guardianship, adoption, and child support. Furthermore, she helps clients in the process of obtaining restraining orders. Black was admitted to the bar in 2000 and was a recipient of multiple awards, including the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services. Because of her assertive representation, clients refer to her as a "pit bull in heels."

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Shana Black - Principal24 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.6
Google
4.4 / 5 (69)
Avvo
4.7 / 5 (56)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (33)

(+1 additional source)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
320 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas, CA 92024
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Mediation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Renkin & Associates is a family law firm that has represented clients in legal separations, annulments, and divorces since 1991. In particular, its attorneys have handled marriage dissolutions for high-net-worth clients, professionals, and active and retired military officers living in Encinitas. The firm negotiates and mediates between both parties regarding contentious issues such as property division, spousal and child support, and child custody and visitation right. For cases involving domestic violence, its attorneys can obtain or defend against restraining orders.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Richard Renkin - Owner37 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.9
Yelp
3.5 / 5 (3)
Facebook
4.0 / 5 (1)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
445 Marine View Avenue, Del Mar, CA 92014
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Why choose this provider?

Braunstein Law provides legal assistance to individuals who are going through divorce proceedings in Encinitas and the surrounding areas. The firm concentrates its practice on family law and divorce matters, handling all the necessary documentation and petitions. In addition, it provides counsel regarding various issues, including child support, alimony, and property division. Principal attorney Alana Braunstein is also experienced in business and corporate law. In her free time, she volunteers with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers and the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Alana Braunstein - Principal12 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.5
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (5)
Yelp
3.7 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
527 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas, CA 92024
  • Alimony
  • Mediation

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of William R. Fuhrman comprises a team of divorce attorneys that provides legal representation in Encinitas and the surrounding metro areas. The firm helps clients navigate divorce proceedings and resolve issues with child custody and visitation, child support and alimony, and marital debt and property division. Founder William Fuhrman has been practicing for more than 47 years. His other practice areas include business litigation and transaction, criminal and juvenile delinquency, real estate law, and civil law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
William Fuhrman - Partner50 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Avvo
4.8 / 5 (44)

Website
10731 Treena Street, San Diego, CA 92131
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Alimony
  • Contested

Why choose this provider?

The Edmunds Law Firm offers legal services in the Encinitas metro and the surrounding communities. It provides representation in various family law matters, including contested and uncontested divorce cases. It also assists military personnel in filing a divorce. The firm also helps clients resolve alimony, child support and custody, and domestic partnership issues. Principal Alan Edmunds has been practicing law for more than 40 years. He is a former judge pro tem of the San Diego Superior Court.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Alan Edmunds48 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Avvo
4.8 / 5 (138)
Yelp
1.5 / 5 (41)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
505 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, CA 92075
  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Why choose this provider?

Ratzer Dobis is a law firm that focuses on family law and divorce cases, serving Encinitas and the neighboring metro areas. Principal lawyers Jim Ratzer and Morgan Dobis are both recognized by the State Bar of California as certified family law specialists. They deal with a wide range of cases, including complex and contested divorce, high-asset property division matters, child custody issues, and spouses who try to conceal their assets. Additionally, the firm assists with drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity claims, and child relocation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
James Ratzer - Partner34 yrs
Morgan Dobis - Partner12 yrs
Jim Ratzer - Partner34 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (10)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (6)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2888 Loker Avenue East, Carlsbad, CA 92010
  • Contested

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Annette Hall Neville is a client-centric law firm that focuses on helping the residents of Encinitas and the surrounding areas in matters associated with divorce and family law. It helps clients obtain equitable resolutions for child support and alimony issues, custody and visitation, property division, and prenuptial agreement settlements. Principal attorney Annette Hall Neville founded the practice in 2005. She is a family law specialist board-certified by the State Bar of California.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Carrie Nolan - Associate Attorney12 yrs
Annette Neville - Managing Attorney/Principal21 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (6)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (5)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
2755 Jefferson Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008
  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Why choose this provider?

Fleischer & Ravreby Attorneys At Law is a law firm that has been representing clients in Encinitas and throughout Southern California since 1978. This firm offers its legal expertise to clients in various types of divorce cases, such as military divorce, high-conflict child custody, high-asset divorce, San Diego or California divorce mediation, and marriage settlement agreements. For more than four decades, its team of lawyers utilizes an approach responsive to the client's situation to elicit a favorable outcome, may it be through mediation or litigation.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Myra Fleischer - Founder27 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
3.3
Yelp
1.8 / 5 (11)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (9)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
11622 El Camino Real, San Diego, CA 92130
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Alimony
  • Post Decree Modification

Why choose this provider?

Hassett Family Law is a firm that serves clients in Encinitas and its surrounding areas. It provides legal counsel and consultation in family law cases such as divorce, spousal support, child custody and support, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Assistance regarding domestic violence and restraining orders is also offered. Lisa Hassett, the firm's founder and principal attorney, has been practicing law for over 20 years. She has extensive experience in seeking revisions and enforcing existing support and parenting orders.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Lisa Hassett - Attorney and Principal25 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (2)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Encinitas, California?

    To reach the San Diego County Sheriff, call (858) 565-5200, or the San Diego County Sheriff's Department North Coastal Station at (760) 966-3500.

  • How much is it going to cost to hire a divorce attorney in Encinitas?

    It depends on the skill level of the Encinitas attorney you are looking to hire, but the average hourly rate of an experienced one ranges from $300 to $400. However, the services you need, the location, and the length of time that the case is going to take may still change that. Additionally, some attorneys require a retainer fee of $1,000 to $5,000.

  • How do you prove the other party's fault when filing for divorce in Encinitas?

    There is no need to. Encinitas is in a no-fault divorce state and does not require divorcing couples to prove that the other party was responsible for the marriage failing. All you have to do is start the process by filing all the necessary paperwork and paying the fee. (You can apply for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.)

  • After a divorce and getting court-ordered to provide child support, do you have to pay a larger amount over time in Encinitas?

    It depends on whether or not there are significant positive changes in the income of both or either parent. After all, the parents cannot be forced to pay an amount they are unable to meet. Court-ordered child support payments in Encinitas are not permanent and can be modified. An exception to this is if either parent remarries. In this case, their income will not be factored in when recalculating child support.

  • Is there eligibility that a spouse must meet in order to file for divorce in Encinitas?

    Yes, there is. First of all, both or either of the spouses must have lived in Encinitas for at least 3 months before filing for divorce and at least 6 months in California. Lastly, the divorce must be filed on any of the following grounds:

    • Irresolvable issues
    • Insanity, which can be proven by bringing in psychiatric professionals to testify
  • How do you modify a child support court order after a divorce in Encinitas?

    It is important to hire an Encinitas attorney for matters such as this as they would know if it is the right time to request a modification. They can also help with filing for the motion itself to make it legally binding, whether this is to raise or lower the amount, especially since this is time-sensitive.

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