Best Lawyers Near You in Calabasas, California for Family Law

With nearly 200,000 licensed attorneys across a state known for its massive industries, progressive laws and regional differences, finding the right legal help in California can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re facing a business dispute in Silicon Valley or a custody battle in San Diego, it’s critical to find a lawyer in California who not only understands the law but understands how it works where you live.

That’s where Best Lawyers comes in. Our platform is more than just a directory. Every lawyer listed has been thoroughly vetted through a rigorous peer-review process, so you can search with confidence no matter what practice area you need.

Using the Best Lawyers Directory in California

The Best Lawyers directory makes it easy to find top-rated legal talent across California’s many regions and industries. You can search by:

  • Practice area (e.g., environmental law, immigration, tech and IP, family law)
  • Location (city or county)
  • Lawyer name (if you’re researching someone specifically)

Each listed attorney has been recognized in the most recent edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a distinction earned through extensive peer feedback and professional evaluation. That means every name you see has already earned the respect of their colleagues—and likely their adversaries, too.

If you need to find a lawyer in California without wasting time on unverified referrals or endless Google results, start here. Our listings provide clear, up-to-date profiles that help you narrow down your options quickly.

California-Specific Legal Needs and Practice Areas

California law can be tricky. You need someone who knows the ropes. The state is a national leader in tech innovation, environmental regulation and entertainment law—and its legal landscape reflects that. Attorneys here must stay up to date not only with federal law but with fast-evolving state statutes, administrative rulings and court precedents.

Some of the most common practice areas where Californians seek legal help include:

  • Real estate law, especially in high-cost markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Orange County
  • Family law, including divorce, child custody and support disputes, all governed by California’s unique family code
  • Tech and IP law, a major concern for startups and established firms alike in the Bay Area and beyond
  • Entertainment and media law, vital for clients in Los Angeles and surrounding creative hubs
  • Environmental and land use law, which is especially important in light of California’s extensive regulations on development, conservation and climate compliance

California also has strict state bar licensing rules, making it essential to choose an attorney who is not just experienced in the area of law you need, but also well-versed in local procedures and precedent. That’s why using a trusted directory like Best Lawyers—where every listing has local context and professional vetting—can make the difference.

How to Find a Good Lawyer in California

Finding a good lawyer in California feels daunting. With so many billboards and online ads, don’t feel bad if you don’t know where to turn. The best results come from approaching your search with intention. Here are key things to consider:

  • Know your legal issue. Attorneys often specialize. Make sure you’re looking within the right practice area.
  • Check credentials. Always confirm that a lawyer is licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of California.
  • Evaluate experience. Ask about similar cases the attorney has handled, especially in your city or county.
  • Ask the right questions. When interviewing lawyers, consider asking:
    • What is your experience with this specific type of case?
    • How do you communicate with clients during the process?
    • What outcomes have you achieved in similar matters?
  • Read peer and client feedback. While reviews can be helpful, peer recognition carries additional weight. Lawyers know the strengths—and weaknesses—of their colleagues better than anyone else.

Choosing the right legal partner isn’t just about skill. It’s about trust, communication and shared expectations. That’s why using a curated directory that highlights attorneys recommended by their peers can help you filter out guesswork.

Why Peer Recognition Matters in Your Search

The Best Lawyers selection process is rooted in peer recognition—a factor that sets us apart from other platforms. Here’s how it works:

  • Nominations come from fellow lawyers, clients and others familiar with a nominee’s work.
  • Peer review follows, in which top attorneys confidentially assess the legal skill and professionalism of their peers.
  • Analysis and vetting ensure lawyers meet strict ethical and professional standards before being listed.

This isn’t pay-to-play. Lawyers cannot buy their way into the directory and inclusion is never guaranteed. That’s why so many legal professionals and clients trust Best Lawyers as a reliable source of information.

In a field where reputation is everything, recognition from fellow attorneys carries exceptional value. It tells you a lawyer is respected not just by clients, but by those who face them in court or collaborate with them on deals.

Start Your Search with Confidence

Whether you’re seeking representation for a business dispute, criminal matter, estate plan or high-asset divorce, California’s legal market offers no shortage of options. But knowing how to find a lawyer in California—one who brings both credibility and local expertise—is the key to moving forward with clarity.

At Best Lawyers, we make it easier to connect with attorneys who have already earned the respect of their peers. You can explore by practice area, browse by city or search for a specific lawyer using our intuitive filters. No matter where you are in the Golden State, trusted legal help is just a click away.

Find a lawyer in California today and move forward with confidence—backed by a directory built on excellence and trust.

Practice Area Overview

Family law is the broad practice area dedicated to marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, domestic violence, reproductive rights and many other matters regarding familial relationships. The most common family law issue involves divorce, which includes all the related concerns that arise from it, such as the division of marital property, child custody, support and alimony.

While many family law attorneys eventually develop a specialty, such as adoption law or domestic partnership law, many practicing attorneys usually hold experience in more than one area. Additionally, family law attorneys can draft and negotiate contracts, pleadings and other legal documents, all while possessing the interpersonal skills to adapt to and manage each case's unique, emotional history.

The following subspecialities are a sampling of the types of legal issues that family law lawyers will address:

  • Divorce
  • Child Custody
  • Marital Settlement Agreements
  • Family Businesses
  • Alimony
  • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Domestic Relations
  • Child Support
  • Family Based
  • Adoption
  • Paternity
  • Family Law Mediation
  • Partnership Disputes
  • Child Abuse
  • Family Law Appeals
  • Family
  • Domestic
  • Juvenile Matters
  • Guardianships
  • Collaborative Family Law

Marriage

Family lawyers interact with many aspects of marriage and the marriage relationship. The legal definition of marriage varies from state to state, but generally it is a contract between two people that is recognized by the state and gives both parties certain legal rights and responsibilities. Some of the key rights and responsibilities that come with marriage include property rights, inheritance rights and the responsibility to support one another financially.

Prenuptial Arrangements

Prenuptial arrangements, or the arrangements that are made before a marriage regarding the topic of a future separation, are handled by family attorneys. These agreements are legally binding contracts.

Divorce

Another major area of family law is divorce. Divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage, and it can be a complicated and emotionally difficult process for all parties involved. For a divorce to occur, one of the parties must file a petition with the court, and the court will then decide on issues such as property division, alimony, and child custody.

Child Custody and Support

Child custody and support is another important aspect of family law. When parents divorce, the court will often make a determination as to which parent will have primary physical custody of the children, as well as how much financial child support will be required from the parent without custody. Child custody and support issues can also arise in situations where the parents were never married.

Adoption

Adoption is another important area of family law. Adoption is the legal process of becoming a parent to a child who is not biologically related to you. The laws surrounding adoption vary from state to state, but generally, adopting parents must meet certain qualifications and go through a rigorous process before the adoption is finalized.

Domestic Violence

Family law also encompasses issues related to domestic violence. Domestic violence refers to any type of abuse that occurs within a domestic relationship, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Individuals who are victims of domestic violence can seek legal protection through restraining orders and other legal remedies.

Hiring a Lawyer: Best Lawyers in America for Family Law

The Best Lawyers’ family lawyer directory has an extensive list of experienced family law attorneys who work with marriage, divorce, adoption, and all other specialties within family court.

When searching for a family attorney, it is important to consider the following factors:

  • Experience and Specialization: While some of the best family lawyers will have experience representing clients in a variety of legal issues, not all attorneys have the same level of expertise or experience in the field of family law. It is important to find an attorney who specializes in this area of law and has a proven track record of success in handling similar cases.
  • Communication: A good attorney should be able to clearly explain the legal process and your options to you and be responsive to your questions and concerns.
  • Availability: Family law matters can be time-sensitive, and it is important to find an attorney who is available and responsive to your needs.
  • Professionalism and Ethics: Look for an attorney who is a member of a professional organization, such as the state bar association, and who adheres to a strict code of ethics.
  • Cost: It is also important to consider the cost of hiring an attorney. Make sure to ask about the attorney's fee structure and any additional expenses you may incur. There will generally not be a lawyer cost for initial consultations, but not all law firms have the same structure.

Family Law Legal Guide 2025

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Our Methodology


Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

The Process

Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.