Calipatria Family Lawyers

Mr. Storey first became acquainted with the criminal justice system as a deputy sheriff in 1970. He completed his education through Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego while working as a deputy and sergeant at the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office. He transferred from the Sheriff’s Office to the District Attorneys Office after receiving his Juris Doctor. Mr. Storey is a second generation resident of Imperial County. His law enforcement experience and time with the District Attorneys Office influenced him to run for political office which resulted in his election as Imperial County District Attorney where he served until 1987. Mr....

William Fitch, otherwise known as "Bill" is a senior attorney at Family Law Matters. Having a civil trial background for nearly two decades before joining the firm, Bill brings a unique knowledge of the law with him. He has tried hundreds, if not thousands, of cases over the years; and has conducted many jury trials. He also has extensive experience in discovery and law and motion issues. Bill's easy-going nature makes him easy to talk to, but do not underestimate his trial skills. Bill would always rather settle a case than try one one, because he recognizes the benefits to...

Scott Levin is a California family law attorney mediator in San Diego. As the only family law attorney in the greater San Diego area with the designation of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ who is entirely committed to resolving disputes in mediation, Mr. Levin is a skilled experienced California divorce mediator. After obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the prestigious University of Virginia School of Law and previously graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, Mr. Levin helps clients negotiate equitable settlements with his finance, legal and dispute resolution expertise. Many know him as the...

I began my legal career as a juvenile dependency attorney. I spent nearly five years working full-time for dependency parents and children. That experience taught me how to be a strong and compassionate advocate, both in the courtroom and out. When Child Protective Services are involved, it is crucial to have a skilled dependency attorney working for you. The same goes for a family law case where you finances and valuable time with your children are at risk. Whether it's a juvenile dependency case or a family law matter, you deserve the time and attention necessary to ease your fears about the...

Our tagline, "When you want your case done right the first time," evolved as a result of continued client feedback expressing frustrations with past dealings with the process. Divorce is a difficult process. We are mindful of the emotional aspect as well as the costs involved with each case. Andrew P. Johnson, APC makes every effort to apply the right resources to each task so that we can keep costs at a minimum while still accomplishing your goals.

I am a licensed California Attorney and Certified Family Law Specialist with an office located in Vista directly across from...

“Integrity Matters”
As a young woman, Gina experienced the pain and uncertainty of a protracted custody battle over her first child. It was this experience that caused her to become a lawyer. Her daughter is now happily married and attending medical school. Gina married her second husband in 1992. They have a teenaged son together, who still lives at home.

Gina was licensed to practice law in the state of California in 1997. Since then, she has amassed vast legal knowledge and courtroom experience. Her practice has always been limited exclusively to family law. Over the years, she has learned to listen....

Scottie Leming is one of our senior attorneys. She graduated from Western State University College of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1995. Scottie is an extremely experienced family law attorney and represented victims of domestic violence for twelve years before joining our firm.

Since 1995, Scottie has helped thousands of clients with great success. She understands the legal issues and uncertainties surrounding divorce, child custody and support are personal issues. She knows how to provide emotional support and clearly communicate with her clients. Scottie is well known and greatly respected within our legal community. She is...

I was born and raised in Southern Calif with my beautiful Latino family (6 brothers & 2 sisters & parents) that taught me to love, respect and make the best of it, even with beans and tortillas at times. My migrant parents came from Texas in 1953 who later became a Gardener and a Professional House Keeper for the rich and beautiful Jewish families. They taught me and my brothers to love and respect our country. After obtaining High Honors at Indio High School, I attended UCLA and then went to Law School at Univ of West Los Ángeles...

Michele B. Brown is an attorney licensed in the State of California and the United States District Court for the Southern District. She is a Certified Specialist in Family Law and the head of the Procopio Family Law Group. Ms. Brown has been practicing family law for approximately 25 years. She handles complex family law matters, including dissolution of marriage actions with business valuations, income analysis and financial litigation, custody, move-away and psychological evaluations, as well as pre-marital agreements, post-marital agreements, post judgment matters and enforcement actions. Ms. Brown cares deeply about the law and her clients....

Kristie Lee Bergamo has presided as a temporary judge in both Orange and Los Angeles Counties. She also has an extensive history serving as minor's counsel, and has taught classes to help other attorneys become certified as minor's counsel. Kristie joined Family Law Matters in August of 2018. She attended Willamette University Law School in Salem, Oregon, and was licensed to practice law in 2002. Since then, she has focused on the practice of family law. Prior to joining Family Law Matters, Kristie was a sole practitioner and earned a reputation as a fierce advocate of her clients. Kristie has...

Beshoy F. Shehata is the managing partner. He goes by “B.” B graduated from California Western School of Law and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2017. B is passionate about his career choice and loves helping his clients.

B was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. He migrated to the United States with his family in 2000. He has six siblings. He always wanted to become an attorney to help those going through tough times. He understands how difficult it is to go through a divorce or a custody battle. He understands the stress and uncertainty that accompanies...

Mr. Bourne is a former San Diego criminal prosecutor who prosecuted various criminal offenses and also worked in the domestic violence unit (Family Justice Center) of the San Diego City Attorney's Office. After working for the San Diego City Attorney's office, Mr. Bourne joined a civil litigation firm where he gained extensive experience in various matters including corporate and partnership law and marital dissolution. This experience includes pre-trial discovery, valuation of community and corporate assets, and various legal motion and pleading work.

Mr. Bourne also devotes substantial time as conflict counsel. He represents indigent defendants who cannot afford an attorney...

Stephen V. Smith is a dedicated and skilled Divorce and Family Law attorney. He exclusively represents men and women going through difficult divorces and complex family issues. When possible, Stephen uses a non-adversarial approach, involving mediation and settlement. Because emotions run high in this area of the law, Stephen is also prepared to proceed to court to resolve cases. In addition to over 18 years advocating for clients, Stephen has personal experience with divorce. More than 20 years ago, before becoming an attorney, he represented himself in his own divorce and contentious custody battle. During this difficult time Stephen realized what...

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...

Attorney Heather Cullen is a Certified Family Law Specialist and practices exclusively Family Law. Attorney Cullen is a native Southern Californian who graduated Cum Laude with a dual bachelor's degree in Philosophy & Law and Society from the University of California, Riverside. Attorney Cullen then earned her Juris Doctor Degree from The University of California at Davis School of Law. Attorney Cullen is currently an active member of the State Bar of California. She is licensed to practice law in the State of California and the U.S. District Court Central District of California. Attorney Cullen is also an active member of the...

Carrie Block, the managing partner at Holstrom, Block & Parke's Orange County office, brings over 25 years of family law expertise from premier firms. Specializing in high-asset family divorces, collaborative divorce, and mediation in Orange County, she guides clients with compassion to achieve favorable legal outcomes. Carrie, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) expert, efficiently handles complexities related to 401(k)s, pensions, and benefits in divorce cases without external experts, streamlining negotiations early in the process. Her practice spans divorce, custody, child and spousal support, paternity, and premarital rights. Carrie prioritizes accessibility, aiding clients through the challenging transition of divorce for a...

Alexandria Jaquay is an Attorney at Cullen Family Law Group. Attorney Jaquay is currently an active member of the State Bar of California and practices exclusively Family Law. Attorney Jaquay is a Southern California native. She attended and completed law school while being a full-time paralegal and mother of two. Attorney Jaquay graduated in the top 1% of her class while excelling at legal writing and research. Attorney Jaquay has been with Cullen Family Law Group since 2002, and she has worked on family law matters ranging from a simple separation resolution to a contested divorce, including high asset division...

Ms. Snider was one of eight women in a class of 423 when she graduated from California Western School of Law in 1973 with a Juris Doctorate.
The family law act of 1975, coupled with her desire to help clients in need, solidified her decision to specialize in Family Law. In 1980, Ms. Snider was one of twelve in the first class of attorneys to be board certified as a Certified Family Law Specialist in the State of California. Ms. Snider is a member of the State Bar of California, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, San Diego Family Law Bar...

Attorney Kevin A. Polis is a member of the State Bar of California, the San Diego Family Law Bar Association, North County Bar Association, and is Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Kevin Polis has dedicated his career exclusively to the practice of divorce & family law. Because of this, he is certified by the State Bar of California as a Divorce & Family Law Specialist, a title that few attorneys in our area have, and one that shows a commitment to the practice of the law and delivering...

Born in Bakersfield, California and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Mr. Blado is a graduate of California Western School of Law. While at California Western, Mr. Blado studied Family Law and Community Property. During his third year of law school, Matthew was selected to serve as the judicial extern for the Honorable Nancy C. Oesterle.

While attending California Western, Mr. Blado was a founding member of the California Western School of Law Community Law Project which provided free legal assistance to poor and indigent members of the community. It was during this period that Mr. Blado was first exposed to the...

Although our whole firm prides itself on being "warriors in court," I believe that I have a calling to spread the word to folks that there are alternatives to going to court. There are alternatives like mediation, collaborative law and cooperative law. People in our firm, and myself, had to take extra training, often at substantial expense and in other states, to be able to offer those alternative dispute methods for our clients. Now I have hobbies of "spreading the word" about those alternatives. I appear on TV, often with other members of our firm....

MS. SICKLER joined Beatrice L. Snider, APC in 1985 and is the managing partner of the firm. Ms. Sickler obtained her Juris Doctorate from Hastings College of the Law in 1976 and her Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1973. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sickler was engaged in the general practice of law, including obtaining substantial civil and criminal trial experience. Ms. Sickler was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1976 and became a Certified Specialist in Family Law in 1991. She is a member of the State Bar of...

Attorney Brian Michaels is a 23 year veteran of the California Criminal And Family Law Courts. Attorney Michaels spent the first 8 years of his career as a big city Prosecutor where he cut his teeth in the trial courts of Los Angeles where he earned accolades as a Top Prosecutor. Attorney Michaels worked for the Los Angeles Police Department during the height of the infamous Rampart Scandal as a Civil Defense Attorney. Michaels is unique among Attorneys in Southern California as very few have any Prosecutorial experience and most set out on their own straight out of Law School....

Colleen Dillon Robinson has been licensed to practice law since 2009. Collen attended college at the University of Madison, Wisconsin. She graduated from California Western School of Law in 2009. Thereafter, she spent the first nine years of her legal career practicing in San Diego County before jointing Family Law Matters in 2018. Colleen is empathetic and a go-getter. She loves working at Family Law Matters because everyone is so positive and it allows her to help people through the most difficult times of their lives.

Colleen grew up as the third youngest of four children. Even so, her...

Family Law Attorney Michael Spiekerman is a highly qualified attorney whose practice is exclusively devoted to dissolution of marriage and domestic partnerships, and all manner of family law related issues. He has represented clients with both complex and simple disputes involving the division of community property assets, the allocation of marital and non-marital debt, obtaining and terminating spousal support awards, setting and modifying child support orders, custody, parenting issues, and much more.

Michael recognizes that the circumstance of ending a marriage or any once intimate relationship is an extremely traumatic experience. In order for people to actually be supported...

MS. HEISKALA joined the firm as a supervising attorney after spending 24 years as a sole practitioner in her own firm primarily devoted to family law. Ms. Heiskala obtained her Juris Doctorate from Western State School of Law (now Thomas Jefferson School of Law) in 1976. She was admitted to the State Bar of California and the Federal District Court for the Southern District in 1976, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeal in 1986 and became a Certified Specialist in Family Law in 1988. Ms. Heiskala is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, the Family Law Section...

Joseph V. Camarata prides himself on providing more personalized, experienced representation to clients facing criminal charges and family law matters. Mr. Camarata is a former prosecutor with substantial trial experience. When you discuss your case with him, he provides only his honest assessments and carefully explores your options in detail with you. He is aggressive in seeking the best possible outcome yet compassionate when guiding you through the legal system. Mr. Camarata is highly respected by the legal community for his ethics and for his impressive results.
With over 15 years of legal experience, Attorney Joseph V. Camarata has spent the...

Mr. Happ is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) and is licensed to practice in both the State of California and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Upon being sworn in to practice law, Mr. Happ immediately opened Happ Law Group P.C. Since its founding, Happ Law Group P.C. has been a firm exclusively devoted to representing individuals involved in family law disputes. Mr. Happ has prepared pleadings and discovery, negotiated settlements and litigated contested hearings/trials involving all aspects of family law, including, but not limited to, custody/visitation, child and spousal support, property characterization and division, enforcement...

Meet Melissa Wheeler Hoff, a distinguished Newport Beach divorce attorney driven by a fascination with family law's intricate blend of psychological, emotional, and financial complexities. Specializing in high-asset divorce and high-conflict custody disputes, Melissa guides clients through every phase of marital dissolution, from mediation to post-judgment matters like enforcement and modifications. Her unique strength lies in connecting with clients, easing the discomfort of divorce litigation with mindfulness and empathy. Melissa firmly believes in dissolving marriages without destroying families, a philosophy encapsulated in her words: "You can dissolve your marriage without destroying your family if you are willing to take the high...

Edward Castro is a seasoned family law practitioner with an unwavering commitment to the field throughout his career. In 2021, he joined Holstrom, Block & Parke as a Partner, overseeing the San Diego County office. Initially focusing on domestic violence prevention, he collaborated with SDVLP and later directed FLAP, a courthouse-based family law clinic. At the YWCA Legal Advocacy Program, he served for six years as a senior staff attorney, handling diverse family law matters, emphasizing cases involving domestic violence. In 2010, Mr. Castro joined BLSAPC, where he became a partner in 2014. Specializing in high net-worth cases, he addressed complex...

As the founder of the Law Offices of Michael D. Iverson, APC, Attorney Michael D. Iverson provides knowledgeable and compassionate representation to his clients in family law, estate planning, and business and civil litigation matters. He has been named a 10 Best Attorney: Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys™ in 2017 and 2018. Before entering law school, Mr. Iverson amassed extensive experience in varied fields. He worked as a dental technician, earned a paralegal certificate, climbed the ladder as a paralegal at a large personal injury firm in Salt Lake City, and obtained a real estate...

Ms. Hoefler is a University of Arizona alumnus, where she attended on a full-tuition academic scholarship and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Policy with dual concentrations in Criminal Justice Administration and Environmental Policy as well as a minor in Business. She was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Prelaw Fraternity, the Criminal Justice Association, and served as a teaching assistant for two courses titled “Women and Youth in the Justice System” and “Crime and Public Policy.” Her first experience with family law came while volunteering as an undergraduate intern for Southern Arizona...

B. Robert Farzad is the managing partner of Farzad & Ochoa Family Law Attorneys, LLP. Farzad & Ochoa is a premier divorce and family law firm with offices in Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego. The firm represents husbands and wives in complex or high conflict cases, including those that include complex financial and/or child custody issues. Mr. Farzad is a respected divorce attorney. He has presented seminars for the Orange County Bar Association and Continuing Education for the Bar (CEB). His work is featured in Orange County Lawyer Magazine, The Huffington Post, Yahoo Parenting and more. B. Robert Farzad is a...

Certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law, Ms. Bickford practices exclusively in the area of family law helping clients with divorce and separation in San Diego. Ms. Bickford is a graduate of California Western School of Law where she received honorable recognition for outstanding achievement in the areas of community property, taxation and civil procedure, as well as a West Publishing Award in recognition of her overall outstanding scholastic accomplishment. Ms. Bickford received her Bachelor of Science from Miami University, with a dual major in Systems Analysis and Mathematics. San Diego divorce attorney Nancy...

The only San Diego State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist who was also a Former Federal and County of San Diego Prosecutor with Over 20 Years of Experience!

Ashley L. Dudley is a Partner at The Curran Law Firm APC. Her law practice focuses on family law and criminal defense - primarily high conflict child custody cases, child and spousal support, domestic violence restraining orders, high value asset division, and DUI defense. Her goal is to provide quality legal services not only to those who can afford it, but to all those who need an advocate to navigate the legal system on their behalf. She offers affordable payment plans to those who may not typically be able to afford an attorney.

Her first and foremost priority is to figure...

Sandy L. Meade has over 20 years of experience practicing law in California. Through open communication and a commitment toward the empowerment of her clients, Sandy has earned an outstanding reputation among both colleagues and clients for her professional and compassionate approach to family law.

I successfully represented clients in cases ranging from divorce to fraud investigations, for the last 30 years. As an economist, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)*, and California State Attorney, I can analyze cases from various angles so that I can determine reasonable resolutions to disputes and provide successful representation for all my clients. In addition to that, I can also communicate with you in Greek, French, Italian, and Spanish, in order to suit your needs.

My practice focuses on Family Law, Fraud Law and Worker's Comp (rated #6 in Rancho Mirage; rated top 10% of 1.5 million lawyers in MartinDale-Hubbell). I...