Best Lawyers in California, United States for Family Law

Steven K. Yoda is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Steven K., who practices law in Woodland Hills, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jacqueline A. Whisnant, born in Burbank, California in 1960, has been an Orange County resident since 1985. She and her husband, Bruce Whisnant, have two children. Ms. Whisnant graduated from California State University, Northridge (B.A., 1984) and Loyola Law School of Los Angeles (J.D., 1987). While in law school, she was a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Honors Program and held the position of judicial extern for the Honorable Allan E. Broussard of the California Sta...

With over 17 years of experience practicing family law throughout California, Marc H. Garelick is a preeminent highly rated Orange County family law litigation attorney recognized for representing high-asset and high-income clients in complex and high-conflict family law matters. He has extensive expertise in divorce, child custody, move-away cases, child and spousal support, visitation, paternity, and domestic violence cases, as well as sophisticated cash flow and compensation structures in ...

Michael Bonetto is a San Francisco, California family law attorney with Moradi Neufer LLP . He has been practicing family law since his admission to the California Bar in 2007 and focuses his work exclusively on this area of law. Michael represents clients in a wide range of family law matters, including divorce , spousal and child support , complex property division , business valuation, separate property tracing, child custody and visitation , and the prosecution and defense of domestic vio...

Nicole M. Martinez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Nicole M., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicole M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Leslie is a partner in the family law team at Withers. Her practice focuses on handling all aspects of family law, concentrating in the area of complex financial issues and custody disputes. While Leslie is adept at litigating cases, she prefers to utilize her experience to achieve settlement whenever possible. Leslie is also experienced at negotiating and drafting cohabitation, prenuptial, and postnuptial agreements. Leslie has been recognized as a Best Lawyer by US News and World Report sin...

Peter M. Walzer is the founding partner of the Southern California law firm Walzer & Melcher LLP focused exclusively on family law. He is the current president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is a past president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a former chair of the executive committee of the State Bar Family Law Section. Mr. Walzer has been a Certified Family Law Specialist for 23 years and is a former president o...

Joseph P. Crawford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Joseph P., who practices law in San Mateo, California, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Business owners, celebrities and trust beneficiaries across California turn to Christopher C. Melcher for his assistance protecting their most valuable assets. With deep experience in complex family law litigation and premarital agreements, Mr. Melcher helps his clients achieve successful outcomes despite extremely challenging circumstances. He understands the need to keep sensitive family matters private for his noteworthy clients and is dedicated to handling family law matters in a discrete...

Janet Dockstader is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Janet, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janet is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Courtney Shepard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Courtney, who practices law in Newport, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Courtney is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrea Fugate Balian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Andrea Fugate, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea Fugate is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeff M. Sturman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Jeff M., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeff M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brandon R. Blevans devotes his entire practice to the strategic and individually tailored representation of clients in family law matters, particularly those involving significant financial issues such as business ownership, complex compensation structures, family limited partnerships, equity compensation, and venture capital interests. Brandon’s experience has been both state and nationally recognized: He is a certified specialist in Family Law, certified by the California State Board ...

John Benedict Phillips—known as Ben Phillips for all his life—received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and his Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law. Mr. Phillips is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell—the highest rating attainable for legal ability and professional ethics. Mr. Phillips practices exclusively fam...

Louise Sackley is a Family Law attorney with Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP in San Francisco, California. She represents clients in a wide range of family law matters , including divorce , legal separation , child custody , parenting plans, child and spousal support , parentage actions, and premarital and postmarital agreements . Louise began her legal career in the United Kingdom, first serving as a court clerk and later working as a paralegal in the capital markets and structured finance group...