Expertise.com

2024

Last updated:

Best Divorce Lawyers in San Diego

Our Recommended Top 18

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

664Reviewed

405Curated

18Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

2794 Gateway Rd Suite C-5, Carlsbad, CA 92009
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.3 (13)
Google
4.6 (10)
Yelp
4.5 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Thomas D. Nares, Attorney at Law, A.P.C. serves individuals and families in San Diego and nearby communities. It takes on various aspects of family law, including divorce matters. The legal practice works closely with couples to settle issues involving paternity rights, child custody and support, property division, and spousal support. Its team also handles cases related to guardianship of minors, domestic violence, and stepparent adoption. Principal attorney Thomas Nares has been practicing law for more than three decades.

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Thomas Nares - PrincipalActive38 yrs
JWB Family Law logo

JWB Family Law

1620 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

JWB Family Law is a full-service family law firm that delivers a broad range of legal solutions to clients residing in San Diego. Its team of lawyers represents clients in divorce proceedings. They also take on divorce cases that involve child custody and visitation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, support agreements, and property settlements. Over the years, the firm has catered to the needs of 700 families. In addition, JWB Family Law has been named Law Firm of the Year by the San Diego Paralegal Association.

  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Carmen Ramos - Senior Associate AttorneyActive31 yrs
Anne Howard - Senior AssociateActive24 yrs
Jessica Pederson - Associate AttorneyActive9 yrs
Jane Brooks - OwnerActive19 yrs

4918 N Harbor Dr Ste 204, San Diego, CA 92106

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (16)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Michelle Paul is a private law firm that serves the residents of San Diego and the surrounding areas. It provides legal guidance and representation for different types of divorce, including military divorce, multi-state property divorce, same-sex divorce, and late-life divorce. It also assists clients with related matters, such as property division, child custody, child support, and support modification and enforcement. Michelle Paul worked for 37 years in business before pursuing a career in law.

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Michelle Paul - PrincipalActive10 yrs

7730 Herschel Avenue Suite N, La Jolla, CA 92037
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.8 (38)
Yelp
2.3 (9)
Facebook
3.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Mattis Law provides support to former couples facing divorce in San Diego. The firm handles high-asset divorce cases involving marital estate holdings, retirement accounts, and complex trusts. It also works on gray divorces or dissolutions involving long-time marriages. Additionally, the legal team helps resolve complicated child custody issues such as international move-away and parental kidnapping. Amelia J. Mattis, the firm's owner, is skilled in the DissoMaster software. She has been included in the Top 40 Young Lawyers list of the National Alliance of Women in Law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Amelia Mattis - Managing AttorneyActive10 yrs

12520 High Bluff Drive Suite 380, San Diego, CA 92130

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
3.9 (11)
Avvo
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Schaffer Family Law Group, APC, handles divorce cases in San Diego. Sarah T. Schaffer and her team of divorce lawyers offer legal representation in matters concerning spousal support, property division, child support, premarital agreements, and marital tax issues. They also provide mediation assistance and deal with various types of divorce, including military, high-net-worth, and same-sex divorce. Their legal services cover complex assets division, hidden assets discovery, fathers' rights, and court order modifications.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Tryon Cricket - AttorneyActive17 yrs
Jennifer Lee - AttorneyActive8 yrs
Leslie Ryland - Senior AttorneyActive35 yrs
Sarah Schaffer - PrincipalActive22 yrs

350 Tenth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
Website

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.5 (17)
FindLaw
5.0 (6)
Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Butler Law, PC, is a San Diego law firm that provides legal services in family law matters. It assists clients with the legal process of uncontested and contested divorces. If there are minor children involved, the legal team helps parents settle issues regarding child custody, visitation, and support. In addition, the attorneys at the firm counsel clients on domestic violence, post-judgment modifications, and paternity issues. Elyse Butler, the firm's founding attorney, is a board-certified family law specialist.

  • Divorce

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Elyse Butler - PrincipalActive16 yrs

9655 Granite Ridge Dr Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92123

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (15)
Yelp
3.4 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Wells-Gibson Family Law offers San Diego clients legal guidance and representation in divorce proceedings and related legal matters. The firm's principal and founder, Deveney Wells-Gibson, has experience helping clients fulfill residency requirements and accomplish documents to file for annulment, legal separation, and divorce. His office assists in court proceedings for child custody, alimony, visitation rights, and child support. Wells-Gibson also provides its services to adult and minor clients seeking to change their legal names and gender through a court petition.

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

8880 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.5 (31)
Yelp
4.0 (10)

Why choose this provider?

Shana J. Black is a divorce and family law attorney in San Diego. Black lends her skills and experience to matters concerning annulment, dissolution of marriage, and legal separation. Additionally, she represents clients in child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division disputes. She also provides support with divorce mediation. Black is a recipient of several awards, including the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services. She has been practicing law since 2000.

  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Shana Black - PrincipalActive24 yrs

445 Marine View Avenue, Del Mar, CA 92014

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (5)
Yelp
3.7 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Braunstein Law is a boutique law firm that provides legal representation for divorce cases in San Diego. The firm helps clients understand the divorce process as well as the rights and options available to their specific situations. The lawyers offer assistance with legal matters encompassing custody, child support, spousal support, family law mediation, and premarital agreements. Alana Braunstein, the principal attorney, is experienced in business and corporate law in addition to family law.

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Alana Braunstein - PrincipalActive12 yrs

8787 Complex Drive, San Diego, CA 92123

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (51)
Avvo
4.8 (35)
Google
4.7 (29)

Why choose this provider?

Mesnik Law Group Inc. in San Diego provides clients with representation and advice on various legal areas. The firm can guide clients through divorces, legal separations, and annulments and assist clients in drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. They can also handle cases of domestic violence, helping clients file for restraining orders against the abuser. Founder Matthew J. Mesnik has been practicing law since 2009. He is a member of the San Diego County Family Law Bar Association.

  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Matthew Mesnik - Founder/Managing AttorneyActive15 yrs

4225 Executive Square, La Jolla, CA 92037

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (9)
Facebook
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Serving all of San Diego County, the Law Offices of Brian A. Victor helps clients with divorce and family law matters. The firm's practice areas include divorce mediation, child custody and visitation, post-judgment modifications of child and spousal support, marriage settlement agreements, and other family law motions. Brian A. Victor is a divorce lawyer who has prior work experience at Family Court Services, crafting over 4,000 child custody recommendations for Family Court judges. He also previously worked for Child Protective Services.

  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Brian Victor - PrincipalActive14 yrs

16644 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.5 (25)
Facebook
4.8 (17)
FindLaw
5.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

Cage & Miles is a divorce and family law firm in the Escondido area. The firm handles an array of dissolution of marriage matters, including high net worth divorces and military divorces. Its professional legal team adopts mediation and personalized representation to secure favorable outcomes in complex child custody and spousal support cases. The attorneys also help their clients make empowered decisions regarding property distribution, post-divorce modifications, and restraining order disputes.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jaime Cage - Founding PartnerActive12 yrs
Mehry Mohseni - Senior AssociateActive9 yrs
Michele Lowenstein - Senior AssociateActive43 yrs
Shannon Miles - Founding PartnerActive17 yrs
Jamie Learakos - Senior AssociateActive11 yrs

3111 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA 92108

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (50)

Why choose this provider?

Goldberg Jones offers legal representation to husbands and fathers in San Diego. This firm protects men's legal rights throughout the divorce process and covers other related family law matters, including child custody and support. It has a team of 25 lawyers covering family law and offers extensive knowledge on divorce, in-depth assessment of the situation, and aggressive representation. It helps clients all throughout the process, starting from filing all legal documents to responding to motions, in whatever type of divorce clients might have.

  • Uncontested
  • Contested

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Todd Hipper - Managing AttorneyActive20 yrs
Michael Steiner - AssociateActive15 yrs
Richard Kolek - AssociateActive30 yrs
Zephyr Hill - Managing AttorneyActive23 yrs

12636 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.1 (34)
Yelp
3.1 (27)
Facebook
4.0 (12)

Why choose this provider?

Moore, Schulman & Moore, APC, is a San Diego-based law firm that offers legal assistance to individuals facing family law matters, including divorce. With more than 200 years of combined experience, its legal team is equipped to handle any type of divorce, whether it goes through mediation or litigation. The firm seeks to give clients the most favorable outcome possible in divorce-related issues, such as asset and debt division, child and spousal support, and child custody and visitation. Ten of the firm's attorneys are board-certified family law specialists.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Peggy Moore - Founding PartnerActive44 yrs

8880 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (25)
Yelp
5.0 (25)
FindLaw
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

Prager Jones is a boutique law firm in San Diego working exclusively on family law matters. It applies a holistic approach to matters involving separation, divorce, child custody, and spousal support. In addition to divorce, its attorneys offer mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and assisted self-representation. Prager Jones is owned and run by family lawyers Steven Prager and Morgan Jones, who handle a limited number of cases annually to give each client personalized, dedicated attention.

  • Child Support
  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Steven Prager - PartnerActive12 yrs

7676 hazard center drive Suite 625, San Diego, CA 92108

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.0 (39)
Google
4.9 (21)
Avvo
3.5 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Wilkinson & Finkbeiner is a family law firm in San Diego that offers “the smart choice” for marital issues. The founding attorneys are both California Western School of Law alumni, and they are American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer fellows. Wilkinson & Finkbeiner gives a complimentary initial consultation, and its focus areas include prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, domestic violence and restraining orders, annulments, post-divorce modifications, property division, garnishment, child support, and adoption.

  • Spousal Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
David Wilkinson - PartnerActive21 yrs

225 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.6 (23)
Yelp
5.0 (3)
Facebook
1.0 (1)

Why choose this provider?

For more than a decade, 619 Divorce San Diego has been providing family law services to individuals and families residing in San Diego. Its practice areas include contentious divorce, high net worth divorce, property division, spousal support, child support, and child custody. Its staff is comprised of third-party mediators, negotiators, and trial attorneys. Founding attorney Stephen V. Smith is a combat veteran of the United States Navy, providing representation for numerous veterans and military members.

  • Child Custody

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Stephen Smith - PrincipalActive19 yrs

501 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
5.0 (3)
Google
3.5 (2)
Avvo
5.0 (2)

Why choose this provider?

San Diego Esquire is a law firm that offers services for matters like uncontested divorce, legal separation, and postnuptial agreement. It provides its clients with solutions concerning alimony, spousal support, and child support. The firm also provides limited mediation services. It aids clients in the uncontested divorce process by filing a petition, financial disclosures, marital settlement agreements, and obtaining a default judgment. The firm is founded and run by Kym Murphy. San Diego Esquire has been providing legal assistance for over eight years.

  • Uncontested

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Kymeshia Murphy - PrincipalActive12 yrs

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 with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

FAQs

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

    For non-emergency cases in San Diego, please call 858-565-5200.

  • What are my options in ending a marriage in San Diego?

    To end a marriage or registered domestic partnership in San Diego, interested parties can, either file for annulment, legal separation, and divorce. Opting for divorce further diversifies the field, now inclusive of uncontested and contested divorces, same-sex divorce, first-to-file cases, high net worth divorce, military divorce, and divorces over 50.

  • What are the residency requirements to file for divorce in San Diego?

    In order to qualify for a divorce, San Diego residents should have lived in California in the last 6 months, and have been living in the filing county for the last 3 months. If both parties are living separately in different counties in the last 3 months, they can file for divorce in either county.

  • How does the divorce process go in San Diego?

    The general process for divorce has three main steps. First, is the filing for a petition for dissolution which covers considerations regarding the division of property and assets, matters of child custody and support, executions of any prenuptial agreements, and the possibility of spousal support. Next comes the course of action that follows filing and response, and lastly, the finalization of the divorce.

  • What is San Diego's divorce rate?

    Being the fifth-most populated county in the United States, and the second-most in California, it sees a lot of divorce cases, with about 10.1 percent of San Diego's over-18 population divorced. Geographically, East San Diego has the highest divorce rate at 12.11, while South is only at nine percent. The La Mesa region has the highest percentage of divorcees at 13.97 percent.

  • Where are the divorce courts located in San Diego?

    There are six locations where divorce cases are handled in San Diego. These include the Central Courthouse at 220 W. Broadway, the Madge Bradley building at 1409 4th Avenue, the Family Law Court building at 1555 6th Avenue, the East County Regional Center at 250 East Main Street, the South County Regional Center at 500 3rd Avenue, and the North County Regional Center at 325 South Melrose Drive.