Expertise.com Homepage

2024

Last updated:

Best Family Lawyers in Santa Maria, CA

Our Recommended Top 8

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 Santa Maria Family Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

71Reviewed

45Curated

8Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

937 E. Main Street, #208, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (33)
Yelp
2.5 (7)

Why choose this provider?

Tammi L. Faulks is a lawyer who provides services to residents in and around the Santa Maria area. She guides and represents clients in various family law matters, such as conservatorship, domestic partnership dissolution, domestic violence restraining orders, guardianship, and paternity. She also works with individuals who are facing a divorce and assists them with resolving disputes involving alimony, child support, and property division. Faulks brings more than 20 years of experience in the legal field.

  • Divorce

144 E. Carrillo Street, Santa Maria, CA 93101

Why choose this provider?

Law Offices of Donald L. Briggs handles clients' cases in Santa Maria. It helps individuals resolve family law cases relating to divorce, child support, and custody. The firm also guides clients in navigating their legal procedures for their adoption matters. The firm's founding attorney, Donald L. Briggs, has been practicing law for over 40 years. Donald previously handled criminal cases and served as Trial Counsel for over 20 jury trials prior to practicing family law.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

8320 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422

Expertise.com Rating

Why choose this provider?

805 Law Group is a multi-practice firm working for people in and around Santa Maria. For over 20 years, it has been providing legal counsel in various aspects of family law. The team handles contested and uncontested divorce cases and helps clients resolve asset division, child support and custody, and visitation and parenting time issues. It also drafts and reviews prenuptial agreements and restraining orders. In addition, 805 Law Group litigates criminal, personal injury, and probate lawsuits.

  • Alimony
  • Adoption
  • Child Custody

2432 Railway Avenue, Suite H, Los Olivos, CA 93441

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Renee M. Fairbanks represents families and individuals in Santa Maria. It advocates for the rights of couples dealing with legal separation cases. The firm helps clients file divorce lawsuits and resolve issues through mediation. It takes on matters involving property division, child support and custody, and spousal maintenance or alimony. It also reviews and prepares premarital and marital settlement agreements. Founder Renee Fairbanks is board-certified in family law by the State Bar of California.

  • Divorce

956 Walnut Street Suite 201, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Evan Braunstein advocates for the rights of people in and around Santa Maria. It handles marriage dissolution cases and helps couples file legal separation, divorce, and annulment lawsuits. The firm reviews and drafts domestic violence restraining orders and premarital agreements, as well as takes on matters involving property division and valuation, spousal maintenance, and child custody and support. Its principal partner, Evan Braunstein, is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

  • Domestic Violence
  • Child Custody

1016 E. Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.5 (81)
Yelp
3.0 (28)

Why choose this provider?

Comstock & Wagner aims to resolve family law issues in Santa Maria. The practice takes on divorce processes and resolves disputes regarding child custody and support. It irons out wrinkles relating to the division of marital assets and the apportionment of alimony obligations. The firm also creates prenuptial agreements and seeks restraining orders against abusive partners. Partner Marie Comstock co-founded the office in 2011 and has represented minors as an appointed counsel by the Superior Court of California.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

426 Barcellus Ave Suite 304, Santa Maria, CA 93454

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.3 (18)
Yelp
5.0 (4)

Why choose this provider?

Egan Law is a team of attorneys providing advice to people in Santa Maria about family law and estate planning. It represents clients in divorce litigation and settlement, partnering with corporate counsel in high-net-worth cases involving businesses, farmlands, and family trusts. The firm also formulates strategies for winning child custody and support battles. Jude Egan, its namesake, is a certified family law specialist. The firm has teamed up with mediator Edwin Weaver, who holds master’s degrees in dispute resolution and social work.

  • Child Custody
  • Divorce

2415 Professional Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (10)
Yelp
5.0 (6)

Why choose this provider?

Fernandez Family Law works with clients in Santa Maria. It handles prenuptial agreements, high-asset and complex divorce, and domestic violence cases. Its lawyers negotiate with opposing parties to help individuals assert their rights on child custody, support, and marital properties. They also assist in filing penalty requests against partners violating court orders. The firm alleviates relational and financial impacts on people by settling domestic cases through mediation. Its founder, Cameron Fernandez, has been representing families for over 12 years.

  • Domestic Violence
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Child Custody

Compare our Top Family Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Tammi L. Faulks
937 E. Main Street, #208, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Law Offices of Donald L. Briggs
144 E. Carrillo Street, Santa Maria, CA 93101
805 Family Law
8320 Morro Rd, Atascadero, CA 93422
Law Office of Renee M. Fairbanks
2432 Railway Avenue, Suite H, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Law Offices of Evan Braunstein
956 Walnut Street Suite 201, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Comstock & Wagner
1016 E. Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Egan Law
426 Barcellus Ave Suite 304, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Fernandez Family Law
2415 Professional Parkway, Santa Maria, CA 93455

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 kinds of cases do family lawyers handle?

    Family lawyers handle all types of family-related issues, including divorce, child support and spousal support, custody, adoption, paternity and guardianship. Family attorneys can also handle prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and divide marital assets based on the policies outlined in these documents. Domestic violence cases are also within the purview of family law attorneys.

  • Is family court different from district court?

    In most states, family court is a division of the district court rather than a separate court system. Family law judges primarily preside over family disputes, such as divorce and custody hearings. Most states require family law judges to receive special training on how to best address family law matters.

  • How long do custody cases last in family court?

    The duration of custody cases can differ based on the circumstances surrounding the claim. A case in which parents agree to split custody can be quick, while lawsuits in which both parents or guardians are fighting for full custody can take much longer. Most child custody cases last three to 10 days, but this can vary under more challenging circumstances.

  • Why is there no jury in family court?

    There are no juries in family court cases because the concept of innocence or guilt does not apply. While there may be some cases in which additional opinions could be helpful, most cases are based on the letter of the law versus individual circumstances. Some states, including Texas, permit jury trials for family court cases, but this is uncommon.

  • What are the most common cases in family court?

    Family law covers a variety of different cases pertaining to familial relations. The most common cases in family court include:

    • Divorce cases, including settling issues of alimony, property distribution, and child care
    • Child custody and the determination of paternity
    • Domestic violence protection orders
    • Name changes, including modifications due to adoption or personal preference
    • Guardianship, including who will handle the care of a child or adult should current caretakers be unable to do so
    • Adoptions and the termination of parental rights
    • Juvenile matters, including child abuse and neglect, foster placements, and criminal conduct
    • Emancipation, which is the process of declaring a minor as independent from their parents
    • Approval of underage marriages

  • Do family lawyers handle mediation?

    Mediation can be a valuable part of a divorce case, counseling spouses to work through areas of disagreement in a fair, calm, and unbiased manner. Most, but not all, family lawyers handle mediation. Anyone who believes they may need intervention services is encouraged to ask about an attorney’s experience with resolving disputes, to ensure that support is available if necessary.