Best Lawyers in California, United States for Family Law

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...

Gary S. Gorczyca was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951, and has been an Orange County resident since 1960. He and his wife, Patti, have two sons. Mr. Gorczyca graduated from the University of California, Irvine (B.A., 1973) and Loyola University School of Law (J.D., 1976). He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1976 and has practiced law in Orange County ever since. Mr. Gorczyca is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating available for legal ability an...

Mary Martinelli, C.F.L.S.* leads the Family Law Practice Team at Murphy Austin. She is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 35 years of experience representing clients statewide in complex family law matters. Mary’s practice focuses on dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, domestic violence, writs, appeals, and corporate consulting...

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.

Lynn Soodik is a Shareholder at Lewitt Hackman who represents high net worth individuals in divorce and other family law matters. Ms. Soodik's expertise has garnered her several television appearances on CNN, Larry King , 20/20 , and Entertainment Tonight ; and she has been interviewed for major print publications, including the Los Angeles Times , People Magazine , BuzzFeed New s, and more.

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

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.

Christine De Santis is a Partner at HFM and is certified as a legal specialist in family law by the State Bar of California. Ms. De Santis specializes in handling dissolution of marriage and paternity cases, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support, and division of assets and debts, and mediations. She also handles step-parent adoptions and child support cases through the San Diego County Department of Child Support Services. Ms. De Santis has been named a San Diego Sup...

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...

Shane R. Ford is a family law attorney with The Ford Firm PC in Oakland, California. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in the area of Family Law since 2019, based on peer-review evaluations from attorneys practicing in the same geographic region and legal field. Mr. Ford represents clients in a wide range of family law matters and is actively involved in organizations connected to the practice of family law throughout California. His professional involvement includes service on the Board...

Jason M. Schwartz is a Partner at Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP, and exclusively practices family law. Jason has been with the firm since he was admitted to the State Bar of California in summer 2001. Jason earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Western State University College of Law in December 2000, and his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of North Texas, where he majored in political science with a double minor in criminal justice and journalism. Jason has b...

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.

In 2023, Mark E. Minyard received the Orange County Bar Association's Franklin G. West Award, the OCBA's highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law. In 2023, Mark was selected by the Daily Journal as the only Orange County lawyer listed as a Top 20 Family Law attorney in the State of California. In 2024, Mark E. Minyard was appointed to the Orange County Collaborative Courts Foundation. The foundation provides sup...

Kelly Pope, C.F.L.S.* is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist and an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on representing clients in family law matters. Kelly has a depth of experience representing clients in complex family law disputes involving property and business valuation, support, custody, domestic violence, and premarital and postmarital agreements. She represents clients who own technical, professional, industrial, and agricu...

Michelle Ralph received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Irvine, majoring in Social Ecology, with a minor in Psychology. She then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Western State College of Law, graduating summa cum laude and Valedictorian of her graduating class. While at Western State College of Law, Michelle clerked for Justice Edward Wallin at the Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three. Before joining Minyard Morris, Michelle practiced civil litigatio...

Anne B. Davies is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Anne B., who practices law in Oakland, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.