Free Consultation: (619) 515-9900Tap to Call This Lawyer
Andy Cook

Andy Cook

Law Offices of Andy Cook
  • Divorce, Family Law, Domestic Violence
  • California
Badges
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Biography

Andy Cook is here to help you! With a great courtroom presence (he used to be a professional announcer) and strong writing skills, Andy is able to get your message across to the many family law judges in San Diego County.

Andy Cook handles family law matters exclusively. He has one associate attorney and has run his own practice in the Bankers Hill area of San Diego, located about a mile from the main San Diego Family Law Court, for over 23 years. Andy has been Certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization for over 15 years and has been rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale Hubbell's Peer Review program. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego County Bar Association from 2013-2016.

Andy is a member of the California Association of Certified Family Law Specialists; the California Lawyers Association (and its Family Law section); the San Diego County Bar Association (and its Family Law section); and the San Diego County Family Law Bar Association.

Andy is a graduate of the University of Vermont and California Western School of Law.

He lives in the Carmel Valley section of San Diego.

He is married with two children.

Practice Areas
Divorce
Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
Family Law
Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights , Victims Rights
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
California
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
9th Circuit
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
U.S. Supreme Court
Placeholder image for jurisdictions.
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Owner
Law Offices of Andy Cook
- Current
Exclusive Family Law practice in the Bankers Hill area of San Diego.
Education
California Western School of Law
J.D. (1993) | Traynor Moot Court (co-champions brief writing and second place oral argument) and National Moot Court Competitions
Honors: First Year Honors Instructor
Placeholder image for education.
University of Vermont
B.A. (1984) | Major in History
Placeholder image for education.
Awards
Best of the Bar, 2017
San Diego Business Journal
Best of the Bar, 2016
San Diego Business Journal
Awarded in the Category of Family Law
Professional Associations
California Lawyers Association
Member
- Current
Activities: Member of Family Law section
Placeholder image for professional associations.
California Western School of Law Council of Visitors
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Tom Homann LGBT Law Association
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Lawyers Club (San Diego)
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
(California) Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
State Bar of California  # 171354
Member
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
San Diego County Bar Association
Member at Large
- Current
Placeholder image for professional associations.
San Diego County Bar Association
Member, Board of Directors
-
Placeholder image for professional associations.
California Western School of Law Alumni Association, Board of Directors
Member
-
Placeholder image for professional associations.
Speaking Engagements
Speaker, Divorce Cases from Start to Finish for Paralegals, San Diego
National Business Institute
Speaker, Periodic Meeting, San Diego
San Diego Chapter, California Society of Certified Public Accountants
Panelist, What Family Law Judges Want You to Know, San Diego
National Business Institute
Panelist, Roadmap Through Divorce Proceedings, San Diego
National Business Institute
Panelist, Handling Military Issues in Family Law, San Diego
Halfmoon Seminars
Faculty Member, Advanced Family Law, San Diego
National Business Institute
Moderator, What Family Law Judges Want You to Know, San Diego
National Business Institute
Co-presenter of Case Law and Statutory Update, 28th Winter Seminar of the Certified Family Law Specialists of the San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego
San Diego County Bar Association
Moderator, Judges' Orientation Program - Family Law, San Diego
San Diego County Bar Association
Moderator, As Family Court Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Litigating Divorce, San Diego
National Business Institute
Moderator, As Family Court Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make in Litigating Divorce, San Diego
National Business Institute
Certifications
Family Law Specialist
State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Legal Answers
64 Questions Answered
Q. Child support over 18
A: I need to know what court is in charge of this case, i.e., that is, is it in California, where I practice, or Texas, where your question indicates you are from (Houston) and where I am not licensed to practice.

Under California law, child support ends when the child turns 18, unless the child is a full-time high school student (and some other factors also apply). If the child is "barely" going to school, it doesn't sound like he's a full-time student.

There are exceptions under this California law. One would be if you owe past support; you have to pay that no matter how much time has gone by. Second would be if you, in a previous court hearing or court filing, agreed to pay child support longer than what would otherwise be the law in California. Third, and this probably does not apply, would be if your son is incapacitated and cannot work and is likely to end up being supported by the government. ... Read More
Q. Hello. I need help filing for supervised visitation for son’s father who is a drug user. Is it a long process?
A: No, it shouldn't be. It sounds like an emergency, so the Court should hear you on an emergency basis, which usually means within two business days or less, provided you have proof of the use; or other evidence -- like declaration(s) from eyewitnesses who saw the drug use; an admission from the father that he is using illegal drugs, a declaration from you that you recently saw the drugs and have knowledge what the drugs in question look like (and where you found the drugs); or other admissible evidence. You may or may not have to tell the father that you are going to court on an emergency basis.

I am assuming that you are the other parent not a third-party.

If you are asking for supervised visitation, the court will have to decide whether the visitation is professionally supervised or may be supervised by a mutual acquaintance and who that acquaintance should be; and if it is professionally supervised, who should pay for it.

But even if the court awards you supervised visitation for the father, there will have to be a follow-up hearing where the court has more time to listen to both sides of the story.
... Read More
Q. Does visitation order start after serving the other party with the court order?
A: It depends whether the judge said at the hearing that the order is "effective forthwith". If so, it doesn't matter when the written order is filed or served. If the judge was silent on this issue, the order is effective upon service of the Order.
View More Answers
Contact & Map
1901 1st Ave
2FL
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619) 515-9900
Fax: (619) 515-9898