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Best Divorce Lawyers in San Diego

2024

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Providers

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Website
2794 Gateway Rd Suite C-5, Carlsbad, CA 92009
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Thomas Nares - Principal38 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
Avvo
4.3 / 5 (13)
Google
4.6 / 5 (10)
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (7)

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.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
4918 N Harbor Dr Ste 204, San Diego, CA 92106
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michelle Paul - Principal10 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 (16)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

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

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 NamesExperience
Tryon Cricket - Attorney17 yrs
Jennifer Lee - Attorney8 yrs
Leslie Ryland - Senior Attorney35 yrs
Sarah Schaffer - Principal22 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.
4.1
Google
3.9 / 5 (11)
Avvo
5.0 / 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
JWB Family Law logo

JWB Family Law

Website
1620 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Child Custody

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Carmen Ramos - Senior Associate Attorney31 yrs
Anne Howard - Senior Associate24 yrs
Jessica Pederson - Associate Attorney9 yrs
Jane Brooks - Owner19 yrs

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
7730 Herschel Avenue Suite N, La Jolla, CA 92037

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 NamesExperience
Amelia Mattis - Managing Attorney10 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.
4.2
Google
4.8 / 5 (38)
Yelp
2.3 / 5 (9)
Facebook
3.0 / 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
3111 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Uncontested
  • Contested

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Todd Hipper - Managing Attorney20 yrs
Michael Steiner - Associate15 yrs
Richard Kolek - Associate30 yrs
Zephyr Hill - Managing Attorney23 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.
4.2
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (50)

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.
2.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
9655 Granite Ridge Dr Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92123
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

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.

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
Google
4.9 / 5 (15)
Yelp
3.4 / 5 (5)

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
8880 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Child Support
  • Child Custody

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Steven Prager - Partner12 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 (25)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (25)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (8)

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

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.

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
4225 Executive Square, La Jolla, CA 92037
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Brian Victor - Principal14 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 (9)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (1)

Website
12636 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130

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 NamesExperience
Peggy Moore - Founding Partner44 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.
3.8
Google
4.1 / 5 (34)
Yelp
3.1 / 5 (27)
Facebook
4.0 / 5 (12)

(+2 additional sources)

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
8880 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody

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.

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.
4.5
Avvo
4.5 / 5 (31)
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (10)

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
16644 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127

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 NamesExperience
Jaime Cage - Founding Partner12 yrs
Mehry Mohseni - Senior Associate9 yrs
Michele Lowenstein - Senior Associate43 yrs
Shannon Miles - Founding Partner17 yrs
Jamie Learakos - Senior Associate11 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
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (25)
Facebook
4.8 / 5 (17)
FindLaw
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
350 Tenth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Divorce

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Elyse Butler - Principal16 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.
4.7
Avvo
4.5 / 5 (17)
FindLaw
5.0 / 5 (6)
Google
5.0 / 5 (5)

(+2 additional sources)

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
8787 Complex Drive, San Diego, CA 92123
  • Asset Distribution
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support
  • Mediation

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Matthew Mesnik - Founder/Managing Attorney15 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
Yelp
4.5 / 5 (51)
Avvo
4.8 / 5 (35)
Google
4.7 / 5 (29)

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
7676 hazard center drive Suite 625, San Diego, CA 92108
  • Spousal Support
  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody
  • Child Support

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
David Wilkinson - Partner21 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.
4.3
Yelp
4.0 / 5 (39)
Google
4.9 / 5 (21)
Avvo
3.5 / 5 (4)

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
225 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Child Custody

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Stephen Smith - Principal19 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
Google
4.6 / 5 (23)
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)
Facebook
1.0 / 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
501 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  • Uncontested

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.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kymeshia Murphy - 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.
4.6
Yelp
5.0 / 5 (3)
Google
3.5 / 5 (2)
Avvo
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 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.