Watsonville Family Lawyers

I am a Family Law Specialist, certified with the California State Board of Legal Specialization. I enjoy assisting clients with all their family law needs including custody, support, division of property and paternity. I have acted as minor's counsel for several years, both private and appointed by the court, and have provided mediation services for 15 years.

Stephen W. Penn is a Certified Family Law Specialist who has been in private practice since 1991. He received a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Los Angeles and his law degree from Glendale College of Law. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University and Master of Arts from John F. Kennedy University in Counseling Psychology.

Prior to commencing his legal career, Mr. Penn served as Vice Chancellor of the West Valley-Mission Community College District and Director of Finance and Chief Business Officer of California State University...

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.

Mr. Stinson represents clients in divorce and family law matters. He has an undergraduate degree in Business Management Economics from University of California, Santa Cruz where he graduate with honors in the major and overall within the college. While there he also earned perfect scores in his economics calculus classes. Mr. Stinson then worked in corporate finance with a national publicly held company before attending law school. While in law school Mr. Stinson clerked with the Honorable Judge Brian C. Walsh in the Family Division of Santa Clara County Court, interned in a corporate legal department,...

Joshua Robinett Jachimowicz was admitted to the State Bar in 2011. Mr. Jachimowicz began working with his father's firm as a law clerk while attending law school. He graduated the University of California at Santa Barbara with a bachelor's degree in Physics. Like his father, he received his law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. While at Santa Clara, he received honors for his academic efforts in Wills and Trusts, Employment Discrimination and Trial Techniques classes. As a young attorney, he has handled numerous criminal matters, including petty thefts, drug offenses, and DUIs. Mr. Jachimowicz recently married...

Michele Elizabeth Hales has been assisting clients with Family Law matters since her admittance to the California Bar in 1992. In addition to a successful litigation practice, she also offers Alternative Dispute Resolution services, such as Mediation, Collaboration and Unbundled Family Law Assistance. She is dedicated to providing experienced, skilled and knowledgeable representation, and pursuing the best possible outcomes for your family law needs. Michele received her B.A. from the University of California Davis in 1989. She earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1992. Michele is a member of the State Bar of California, Santa Clara...

Aaron J. Lodge received his BA degree and first graduate work in math. He taught math at both the high school and college level for nearly 10 years, before changing careers and going to law school. Mr. Lodge now has a general practice law firm, where he focuses on family law, mediation, civil rights, and is now affiliated with other larger firms for personal injury and other areas of law. Mr. Lodge is highly dedicated to his clients, is very personable, and excellent in both litigation (in court), and in mediation.

Philip Crawford graduated Magna Cum Laude from Santa Clara University School of law. Philip has practiced in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties for the past 33 years. His practice includes Family law, Juvenile law, Education Law, and Labor law.
Philip is a former Police Officer, Police Sergeant at San Jose Police Department. He is the founding attorney and former chief counsel for the Santa Clara County Correctional Officers Union. He has served as Chief Negotiator for public employee unions in negotiations and has handled hundreds of internal affairs investigations...

For over 34 years, the Law Office of Gregory M. LaForge has been providing high-quality, compassionate, and tenacious legal representation to those in need. Whether you are facing a criminal or family law case, we will advocate for your best interests.

Mr. Krepelka specializes in all aspects of family law matters, such as property division, characterization, allocation, and valuation; reimbursement claims; spousal support; child support; breaches of fiduciary duty; business valuations; real property valuations and claims; post-judgment matters; enforcement of California orders, out-of-state orders, and international orders; contempt actions; all aspects of child custody and visitation; domestic violence issues; and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. He is seasoned in working closely with experts such as forensic CPAs, real estate appraisers, and child custody evaluators. He is a skilled litigator, handling numerous contested Family Law Trials of varying lengths. Travis Isaiah Krepelka obtained a...

Because divorce is a problem to be solved, not a battle to be won, I focus on alternatives to the court system, through Collaborative Law and Mediation. I believe that most families and children are best served by being supported to work together in resolving their family matters. The fundamental goal in both Collaborative Divorce and Mediation is client empowerment.

With either mediation or the Collaborative process you will have control of the decisions that are made and will be firmly supported, legally and emotionally, in achieving a successful dissolution of your relationship. This not only allows but also encourages you...

As a Certified Family Law Specialist, Jim Hoover represents clients in all aspects of family law litigation, including but not limited to, domestic violence, child custody and visitation, property identification, characterization, valuation and division, spousal support, child support, breaches of fiduciary duties, reimbursement claims, dates of separation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and related matters. After many years of experience, Mr. Hoover skillfully settles and if necessary, litigates all of these issues. Mr. Hoover educates, advocates and acts in our clients' best interests on these issues. He pays particular attention to our clients' emotional and financial difficulties. Mr. Hoover attended Santa Clara University,...

Experienced Principal with a demonstrated history of working in the law practice industry. Skilled in trial advocacy, representing clients with business disputes, labor and employment law and family Law. Samira received her undergraduate degree with honors from University of California at Berkeley and obtained a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Santa Clara University School of Law, with a specialization in intellectual property. Samira practices in Federal Court, State Court and the Appellate Court.

Mr. Cvietkovich is very well-connected in the Bay Area being a 6th generation resident of San Jose. He currently works in the same building where his great-uncle had a law practice from the 1960s to the 1980s. Mr. Cvietkovich has handled over 3000 cases in his career and he uses his vast experience to aggressively defend his clients. Mr. Cvietkovich is a member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association and the California Public Defender’s Association. To find out about our flexible and affordable payment options or to receive a free consultation, please contact us today at 408-625-1130.

Welcome to the Law Office of James Chau. You deserve the highest quality legal representation at affordable prices for your San Jose / Santa Clara County Divorce and Family Law needs. Please call the office today to speak with an attorney.

Yanna Sukhodrev is a partner at Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist. She focuses her practice exclusively on family law and has successfully handled a variety of matters, both before private judges and in the public courthouse, including high-earner child support issues, date of separation disputes, restraining orders, breach of fiduciary duty claims, reimbursement claims, valuation of stock options, valuation of businesses and complex challenges to the validity of pre-nuptial agreements and marital settlement agreements. She regularly handles challenging custody disputes, and has experience litigating international move away cases. She works closely with...

Gretchen Z. Boger began her law career as a Deputy District Attorney in San Joaquin County from 2007 – 2010. During her tenure with the D.A.’s office, she prosecuted 17 jury trials.

Ms. Boger has been practicing family law exclusively since January 2010. Ms. Boger joined Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri in 2013. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. During her time at McGeorge, she received a concentration in trial advocacy.

Ms. Boger demonstrates great care and compassion in handling the complex emotional and legal issues which are unique to family law matters. Ms....

Gina Policastri is a Family Law Specialist as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and partner at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, where she has worked since graduating from Santa Clara University School of Law. Gina was one of the firm’s first associates and, during her 21-year tenure, has been instrumental in growing the firm into one of the largest family law firms in California. Gina obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Santa Clara University in 2000 and her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2003, where she earned a place...

David Patton is a Family Law Specialist as certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, limiting his practice to family law exclusively. He heads the firm's family law practice.

Mr. Patton has 22 years experience as a trial lawyer, spending his early years focusing on insurance defense and plaintiff's personal injury cases. After co-founding Lonich & Patton in 1994, Mr. Patton developed the firm's family law practice. Since then, he has become one of Silicon Valley's top family law attorneys. Mr. Patton is a certified family law specialist. Only attorneys certified by the State Bar of California...

Michael E. Lonich is the managing partner of Lonich & Patton and has nearly 30 years of experience representing a wide range of businesses and individuals. His practice concentrates on Estate Planning, Business Law and divorce mediation. Mike draws upon his expertise and the firm's resources to partner with individuals and families to develop comprehensive estate plans and successfully represent clients in trust administration and probate litigation. From the creation of a simple will to a complex trust, family limited liability partnership or business succession plan, maximizing financial benefits as well as ensuring the peace of mind that an estate...

Mitchell T. Ehrlich is a partner with Lonich and Patton and along with David Patton, he leads the Family Law practice. His practice focuses on all areas of Family Law including Dissolutions, Child Custody, Support Matters, Property and Business Division, Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements, Paternity, Registered Domestic Partnerships, Guardianship and Adoptions. In 2009, he became a California Certified Family law Specialist. Mitchell has over 10 years of experience as a civil litigator and trial attorney. Mitchell began focusing his practice exclusively on Family Law matters shortly after Lonich & Patton's Family Law practice was developed. Prior to that, he amassed significant...

Dorit L. Goikhman is a licensed attorney, with years of experience representing clients in business, real estate, and family matters. Dorit graduated Brooklyn Law School in 2012, with a certificate in business law. During law school, she served as a debate coach for underserved NY youth, and won the CALI award for future excellence in accounting. After witnessing numerous clients spend fortunes and waste years of their lives in litigation, Dorit became interested in mediation and all that it has to offer. Dorit is committed in helping parties work together to obtain a mutually acceptable solution to their disputes at a...

Gina Azzolino is a Partner at MTSA and a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California. She has practiced family law exclusively since 2005.

Ms. Azzolino has significant experience in all areas of family law, including child custody and visitation, child support (including high-earner disputes), spousal support, domestic violence and restraining orders, date of separation disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, set-aside of premarital agreements, property division, reimbursement claims, business valuations and other complex financial issues. Ms. Azzolino works closely and regularly with forensic accountants on complicated financial issues as well as with mental health professionals...

Nancy M. Martinez is a California native. She grew up in Los Angeles and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to attend college. Nancy is a native Spanish speaker. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys photography, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Martinez attended the University of California-Berkeley where she earned a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History. After Cal, Ms. Martinez worked as a paralegal for several years in the areas of business litigation, antitrust, class-actions, and intellectual property.

Ms. Martinez attended the University of San Francisco, School of Law where she earned a Certificate of Concentration...

Andrew Marcellino is a seasoned lawyer who has represented many clients throughout Santa Clara County in the trial and mediation process. He fights for his clients in the courtroom, but emphasizes negotiation and mediation as alternatives whenever possible. He does this to save his clients time, money and emotional stress, and to help them retain control over their legal results.

We assist family law clients in matters of domestic violence, divorce, custody and visitation, child support, restraining orders, property division, modifications of court orders, paternity matters, and other issues related to family law. We also provide experienced representation in criminal...

Michelle Tidalgo, a founding partner of Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP and a Certified Family Law Specialist, is an experienced trial lawyer who practices family law exclusively, focusing on diverse financial issues including business valuation, property division and child and spousal support. Ms. Tidalgo also represents clients in difficult custody disputes. Before the founding of Morgan Duffy-Smith & Tidalgo LLP in 2008, she spent part of her career practicing civil litigation and handling cases involving claims of unfair competition, breach of contract, fraud, trade secret misappropriation and employment law with a management orientation. Ms. Tidalgo began to practice family...

Magdalena Chattopadhya practices all areas of family law, providing comprehensive legal representation for matters related to divorce, separation, child custody/support, paternity, retraining orders, and more. As a Certified Family Law Specialist, she is hands-on with her clients from the initial consultation all the way to negotiations, trials, and even appeals when necessary. Ms. Chattopadhya focuses on the big picture – the long-term impact of a case on her clients’ lives. As a certified mediator, she strives to help parties move forward from a conflict in an amicable and dignified manner. She is dedicated to pursuing the best possible result, no...

Jennifer is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She earned a B.A. in Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her law degree from Santa Clara University. Jennifer is a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, and member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association and is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Jennifer has lectured at multiple seminars for the Santa Clara County Bar Association, and Santa Clara University School of Law,...

Traci is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 2000 and was admitted to the bar in December of that year. During her tenure at Santa Clara, she was the Sr. Technical Editor of the Computer Technology Law Journal and received a Certificate of Excellence in Legal Research and Writing. After graduation, Traci was recruited by a top corporate law firm. She worked at Gray Cary (now DLA Piper) from 2000 - 2002 as a securities and corporate transactional attorney. She was involved in...

A Bay Area native, Chelsea has always been committed to making a difference in the local community. Family law has provided her the avenue to help families in transition, while maintaining civility and focus on issues that truly matter. Chelsea graduated Cum Laude and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Leo University in St. Leo, Florida, which she attended on a volleyball scholarship. She returned to the Bay Area for law school and graduated with her Juris Doctor Degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2015. While in law school, Chelsea used her classroom knowledge to help families while working...

Robert (“Bobby”) Cashen is a partner at Morgan Tidalgo Sukhodrev & Azzolino LLP. Mr. Cashen has been named a Super Lawyer’s Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine in both 2018 and 2019, an award conferred upon the top 2.5% up and rising attorneys in California. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Family Law Section of the San Mateo County Bar Association and will serve as its chair in 2020.

Mr. Cashen assists clients with all aspects of family law matters. He is experienced with complex financial issues, such as business valuation and characterization, private equity,...

Kara represents individuals in all aspects of family law, including divorce, property division, child and spousal support issues, child custody and visitation, attorney fees and costs, as well as domestic violence restraining orders, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Kara’s clientele incorporates a broad range between C-level executives, business owners, engineers, start-up employees, other attorneys, medical professionals, and stay at home parents.

I'm a litigator and trial lawyer with 10+ years of experience as lead trial counsel, both in jury trials and bench trials in civil litigation, personal injury, family law, and employment law. My appellate experience consists of briefing and arguing before the Appellate Division of the Santa Clara Superior Court and the Sixth District Court of Appeal. Prior to becoming an attorney, I worked full time as a Software Engineer while attending law school in the evening. During law school, I was a member of the Honorable William A. Ingram American Inn of Court, received an award for Academic Excellence in Evidence,...