Kern County Family Lawyers

I started college at age 17 and graduated from CSU, Los Angeles with honors and Dean's List recognition in 2000. I graduated from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles in May of 2004 and passed the Bar exam in July of 2004. During the last 18 years, I have gained experience with family law and probate cases such as domestic violence, divorce, legal separation, paternity, government child support, step-parent adoption, legal guardianship, conservatorship, spousal property petitions, name change petitions, and grandparent visitation. I assist the families of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties. ...

Edwin J. Castellanos is the managing partner at Castellanos & Associates, APLC. He has significant experience in matters pertaining to family law, divorce, custody, child support, paternity, guardianship, and adoption. Mr. Castellanos was raised in Brooklyn, New York and received his Bachelor of Science degree from New York University's prominent Stern School of Business. In 1995, Edwin earned his J.D. Degree from Boston University School of Law where he graduated with distinction. After admission to the California Bar, Mr. Castellanos began his career as a solo...

Lindsey K. Terry was raised in Tuolumne County and graduated from Summerville High School. She attended Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. Lindsey K. Terry graduated in the top 3% of her class and was awarded several academic honors for top marks, including the highest grades in Criminal Litigation and Trial Advocacy. She was also the winner of the Appellate Advocacy competition. Lindsey K. Terry is a member of the Jesse Carter Honor Society, a graduate of the Honors Lawyering Program, and graduated summa cum laude from Golden Gate.

Lindsey K. Terry...

Attorney/mediator, Leslie Howell, offers evening and weekend appointments in person or via Zoom.

Leslie comes from a bi-racial, musical family. She was a jazz singer for several years before (and after) attending law school. She has also worked for years in a corporate setting. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, but has lived in New York City, Japan and Hawaii. Her background makes her approachable and she has insight that most other mediators and lawyers may not have. This insight allows Leslie to understand, as well as creatively think, about the concerns and issues at hand.

Leslie is a collaborative...

Attorney Thomas D Sands is a prominent and respected transactional and litigation attorney licensed in the State of California and Hawaii. Thomas is the founder and CEO of The Sands Law Group, and has dedicated his entire legal career to high-quality but cost-conscious representation to individual consumers and businesses in a variety of complex and challenging cases. Thomas is committed to serving his clients with attentive, timely, and effective representation. Throughout his career, Attorney Thomas D Sands has been a fierce advocate of those in need of legal representation. Thomas’ commitment has helped create a positive reputation in the legal and...

Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., is a top rated, Nationally Recognized.Attorney at Law, and founder of The Law Offices of Norman Gregory Fernandez & Associates, a California personal injury law firm.

Mr. Fernandez has been made a member of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers, by the National Trial Lawyers Association. He was also named one of the 10 Best by the American Insitute of Personal Injury Attorneys for the year 2016-2017.

Mr. Fernandez is an aggressive trial lawyer who has extensive experience handling Personal Injury, Family Law, and other types of legal matters, throughout the State of California.

He handles cases which...

Richard Young is a Master lawyer with the Orange County Bar Association practicing in Family Law, Divorce Law, Custody, Support, Domestic Violence, Asset Division, Pre Nuptials, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Trusts, Wills, Bankruptcy. He graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1994 and immediately formed his firm. He has won awards from the Orange County Bar Association from the Judiciary and Pro Bono Publico as well as Graduating from the Pepperdine College of Advocacy. He has served as a Judge Pro Tem, Senior Mandatory Fee Arbitrator and has successfully handled thousands of Family law matters.

Drew received his Bachelor of Arts from Queens University of Charlotte, where he majored in Psychology and served as captain of the university tennis team. After college, he attended graduate school at West Virginia University, where he earned master’s degrees in social work and public administration, and participated in many community outreach projects. He also demonstrated exceptional work ethic by completing two master’s programs while simultaneously working as a tennis coach to help pay for his education. He later received his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law, where he was a Dean’s List student and member of...

Emiliza San Diego practices family law, with experience in issues including divorce and child custody. She received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law and completed her undergraduate work at University of California, Santa Cruz. Emiliza is well-regarded among her peers in the legal profession, having previously served as Vice Chair of the Solo, Small Firm & General Practice Section of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.

Emiliza chose a career in family law to guide people through difficult times in their lives. She takes pride in explaining complex legal concepts in a straightforward manner and providing clients...

Scott Mitchell is a dedicated family law and criminal defense attorney serving clients throughout Modesto, California, and surrounding areas. With over 20 years of experience, he has helped thousands of clients resolve complex legal issues involving divorce, child custody, child support, traffic tickets, DUI defense, and bankruptcy. Scott takes a practical, solution-focused approach — guiding clients through difficult situations with compassion, clarity, and confidence. His firm, Scott Mitchell Law Incorporated, is known for providing flexible legal services, including flat-fee options, limited-scope representation, and full litigation support. Whether handling a contested divorce, negotiating child custody agreements, or defending clients in criminal matters,...

A lawyer who understands the concerns you have and the situations you are going through, may be hard to find. As someone who has been through a divorce and heavily involved in the criminal justice system, attorney Heath L. Baker may understand your concerns regarding your family law, criminal law, and personal injury cases, more than you would expect. Mr. Baker understands what it is like to face emotionally difficult situations, which go beyond “winning” a case. Mr. Baker retired from the Riverside Police Department after obtaining years of experience with the courts, investigations, and the judicial process, seeing both sides of...

Help small to medium size companies navigate through a wide variety of legal challenges: formation, funding, governmental impediments, operational legal planning, merger and acquisition, employee relations, and labor compliance. All with the goal of litigation avoidance. Litigation in all California state courts and the Northern and Eastern U.S. District Courts of California.

My practice is devoted to Family Law, Divorce, Custody and Visitation, Domestic Violence and Support. PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE

Experienced attorney with office located in Rancho Bernardo, San Diego. In practice in San Diego County for 15 years. Appeared in Los Angeles County, Riverside County and Orange County courts. My practice is limited to those counties.

Experience in Estate Planning arose from the connection that exists between the two areas of law practiced in my firm. Divorce causes change in estate plans, wills, asset allocation, beneficiary and Powers of Attorney designations. The two areas of law naturally go together. And even if they do not in your case, we have the skill and experience to assist you with your specific...

Edward Castro is a seasoned family law practitioner with an unwavering commitment to the field throughout his career. 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 issues like business valuation disputes, income analyses of large business owners, and asset protection trusts. He gained...

Melody Trujillo is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law who brings to her clients 28 years of legal practice. She and her partner have successfully litigated thousands of cases in Southern California. Ms. Trujillo practices primarily in Family Law representing clients in Hemet, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville and all of the San Diego Courts. She is dedicated to her clients. The attorneys and paralegals at Trujillo & Trujillo, APLC are all caring individuals who put their client's needs as paramount. Each paralegal has at minimum a paralegal certificate and an Associate Degree. The...

I am a determined Criminal Defense and Family Law attorney. I represent clients in Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles counties with legal matters including divorce, domestic violence, guardianships and criminal defense.

During a time of intense stress and uncertainty, you need an experienced and compassionate attorney to advocate for your rights and interests. I am committed to the highest level of integrity while aggressively pursuing the best possible outcomes for my clients.

My interest in law began over 25 years ago, when following high school, I began work as a legal assistant. Since opening my own firm in 2002, my...

Attorney, therapist, and social worker providing trauma-informed, child-centered litigation services to individuals engaged in high-conflict divorce/child custody disputes. Ms. Wienick served in the United States Army as a military intelligence linguist from 1989-1993. In 1997, she received her undergraduate degrees in political science and Korean studies, magna cum laude, from the University of Washington. She is also a 2000 graduate of the University of California College of the Law at San Francisco, cum laude, and has been a licensed attorney in the state of California since 2000. Ms. Wienick practiced law as a commercial and environmental litigation attorney in Los Angeles...

Dahann Bowers was born in Panama and immigrated to Southern California at a young age. She is fluent in Spanish. She attended California State University San Marcos where she double majored in Political Science and Spanish. Dahann then attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. During law school, Dahann interned with the Department of Child Support Services where she gained insight into child support issues and parental rights. She began working at different family law firms and was exposed to the complexities of family law. At the end of 2022, Dahann took the step to go out on...

Thomas Georgianna is an associate attorney at the Boyd Law firm office located in Orange County, CA. Mr. Georgianna focuses his legal practice on a variety of different types of legal issues and cases, including family law. Some of the family law practice areas that Thomas Georgianna handles regularly, include but are not limited to: Child support, child custody, spousal support, alimony, annulments, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, military divorce, high profile divorce, complex property division, property settlement, step parent adoption, same sex marriage, domestic partnership, legal separation, child visitation, relocation, paternity, asset protection strategy, modification of support, high...

Family Law office focusing on cases, both litigated and mediated, including custody, child and spousal support, dividing assets or modification of current orders in divorce and parentage actions. We can accomplish this through settlement, if possible, and litigation, if necessary. Professional office with experienced attorney and associates, always putting the client's interest as first priority.

I am a graduate of the University of California, San Diego and California Western School of Law. After law school, I served as a law clerk to a veteran San Diego attorney whose family law practice deals with primarily heavily contested custody matters before family law and juvenile courts, domestic violence restraining orders, guardianships, complex dissolution of marriage cases involving division of assets and debts, and criminal defense. After passing the Bar Exam, I joined another law group in San Diego for several years. At that firm, I handled straightforward and complex divorce matters from inception to judgment, including motions...

I have extensive experience with litigation and mediation in all areas of Family Law. I am dedicated to providing outstanding advocacy for clients in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

I assist clients with both the emotional and legal matters that arise in family situations. With a practical approach, I am committed to a close and interactive client relationship, focused on attaining the best outcomes.

Visit my website for more information. Contact me for a free consultation to discuss how I can assist you with your family law needs.

Need a divorce lawyer in Orange County? At The Law Offices of Marc E. Mitzner, you can rest assured of getting the help you need, because Attorney Mitzner is experienced, dedicated, and ready to stand by your side. The firm handles cases ranging from divorce and child custody to legal separations, child support, prenuptial agreements, modifications and much more. Contact the firm today to learn more!

It is my goal is to provide my clients with outstanding legal representation. To accomplish that, I seek to: (1) take the time necessary to understand your personal circumstances, needs, goals, and concerns; (2) be well-informed of new developments in the law and how those developments affect you; (3) utilize the most suitable, efficient, and cost-effective strategies to accomplish your objectives; and (4) provide you the peace of mind that you have hired an attentive, responsive and compassionate attorney to help you through difficult times.

Carrie E. Foglesong is Certified Family Law Specialist. She is an Orange County native. She graduated with high honors from California State University, Fullerton (B.A.) and from Loyola Law School Los Angeles (J.D.) where she was awarded the Dean’s Service Award for her work with at risk youth in Los Angeles. Carrie has a mediation back from time spent at The Center for Conflict Resolution at Loyola Law School and a criminal background from interning with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. While with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, Carrie prepared the...

Ryan Patrick Murphy is a certified family law specialist at Seastrom Tuttle & Murphy.

For over a decade, Charrisse N. Smith has been a trusted advocate, guiding individuals through the legal system with skill and compassion. Throughout her career, she has earned recognition for her professionalism, dedication to advocacy, and exceptional negotiation and mediation abilities. Committed to changing the narrative surrounding attorneys, Charrisse upholds the highest standards of integrity both in and out of the courtroom. She approaches each case with the same level of dedication and care she would expect for her own legal matters. Charrisse is passionate about family law, finding great fulfillment in helping individuals navigate one of the most challenging periods...

Matthew J. Knez graduated from the University of Redlands in California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing. He went on to pursue his Law Degree at the University of LaVerne, College of Law in Ontario, California. While pursuing his law degree he earned various awards, including CALI Award in Torts and he was on the Dean’s List. Mr. Knez was also a member of the Justice and Immigration Clinic where he worked with people seeking asylum into the United States from countries where they had experienced persecution or threat of persecution....

Kate is a California bar-certified attorney with more than seven years experience currently operating an eponymous law practice: The Law Offices of K. Kelso. Since graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Kate, an ocean-minded South Florida native, consciously endeavors to hone her talents as a communicator, connecting with clients from diverse backgrounds. Through targeted community outreach and dedication to volunteerism, Kate developed the philosophy on which K. Kelso Law is based: to provide comprehensive custom estate plans that are individualized and compassionate, to empower every client through wills, trusts, and estate planning as they contemplate and arrange their...

Family Law is an area of law that requires more than just an understanding of the law, it requires an understanding of people. When dealing with something as personal as family, emotions can run high and often impact a person's decision making process. At Swanson and Ruegg, we address your needs by helping you to determine what your best options are so that you can decide on which course of action is right for your family. Our Riverside law firm brings over 30 years of combined experience to every family law case we handle. That experience allows us to...

CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST At the Law Office of Dianne Drew Butler C.F.L.S., we have worked closely with men and women across the Central Valley in California since 1986. We know that the legal process can be complicated and take great care to carefully explain the law and process to you so that you have a realistic idea of what to expect. We will help you understand your rights and options so that you can make good decisions that are in your best interests. Our Credentials We offer clients extensive experience and knowledge in family law matters, having focused our practice exclusively...

Kent P. Tierney has been practicing law for over 20 years. He specializes in the areas of Family Law, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, and Business Law. Mr. Tierney formed what is now Tierney Law Group in 2012 following more than 15 years of practice with several Bay Area law firms specializing in Civil Litigation. Mr. Tierney brings his unique personal experiences to the representation of his clients and is known for his no nonsense approach to cases. Mr. Tierney’s clients often compliment him for his straightforward demeanor and candid review of cases. His strengths are his knowledge of the law,...

Amy Laughlin has been achieving exceptional results for clients since 1992. After graduating with honors from The University of Michigan Law School, Amy joined the San Francisco office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. While there, she counseled individuals and corporations in a wide range of complex financial matters. In 2013, Amy opened her own practice where she focuses primarily on divorce, business and entertainment law.

Before merging her law office with Tammy J. Mercado’s, Mary Whipple opened her own law practice in the summer of 2008. Prior to that Mary was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements, and domestic-violence restraining orders. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract, and employment disputes, to name a few. Previously, Mary worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny...

Kimberly Madigan is a founding partner of Madigan & Lewis, LLP, family law firm representing clients throughout the Bay Area. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in the State of California. Ms. Madigan was named a "Rising Star" in family law by Super Lawyers on the basis of peer recognition and professional achievement for years 2012-2014. In 2014, Ms. Madigan was named as one of the Top 10 Family Law Attorneys Under 40 in Northern California by the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys (NAFLA). She is serving as the 2015 chair of...

Mark T. Koo’s work includes Corporate Compliance and Governance, Estate Planning, Family Law, Non-Profit Formation and setting up the 501c3 Non-profit designation. Mark also helps companies file incorporation as well as other corporate legal assistance. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mark T. Koo has been involved with Silicon Valley’s technologies such as data warehousing, wireless software and hardware technologies, and internet technologies. Mark is a graduate of McGeorge Law School and is a member of the California Bar. Mark received his bachelors of science degree in electrical engineering and masters of science degree in materials science from University of California,...