Divorce Lawyers in California

Quick Answer:

A California divorce lawyer helps individuals navigate the legal, financial, and parenting issues involved in ending a marriage. Attorneys may assist with contested or uncontested divorce, community property division, child custody, child support, spousal support, negotiations, and court representation. The right lawyer depends on the complexity of the case and the issues requiring resolution.

Divorce Law Attorneys in California

Puja Sachdev
Puja Sachdev Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Sex Crime Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +14 more
San Diego, California Accepting Clients

Review Puja Sachdev's San Diego, CA profile for family cases and matters involving custody, support, parenting, and marital issues.

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Hossein Farzam Berenji
Hossein Farzam Berenji Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Sex Crime Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +14 more
Beverly Hills, California Accepting Clients

Hossein Farzam Berenji's practice in Beverly Hills, CA centers on family law concerns, including divorce, custody, support, and related disputes.

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Sandra lopez
Sandra lopez Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Salinas, California 20+ yrs Accepting Clients

Family law attorney in Salinas, CA with over 20 years of experience handling divorce and custody matters.

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R. Christian Scott
R. Christian Scott Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Car Accident Criminal Law DUI Motorcycle Accident Personal Injury Slip and Fall Truck Accident Workers Compensation Wrongful Death Child Custody Child Support Property Division Sex Crime Domestic Violence Brain Injury Dog Bite Uber Accident Hit and Run Accident Bus Accident Bicycle Accident Train Accident Pedestrian Accident Boat Accident Construction Accident Nursing Home Abuse Lyft Accident Spinal Cord Injury Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +36 more
Salinas, California Accepting Clients

The Salinas, CA profile for R. Christian Scott highlights family law matters, including custody, support, divorce, and family disputes.

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Douglas Borthwick
Douglas Borthwick Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Assault Battery Domestic Violence Drug Crime DUI DWI Estate Planning Family Law Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Harassment Law Juvenile Law Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Robbery Sex Crime Sexual Harassment Theft Crime Traffic Ticket Violent Crime Visitation Rights White Collar Crimes +27 more
Rancho Cucamonga, California 35+ yrs Accepting Clients

Douglas Borthwick is a criminal defense attorney serving clients in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

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Taylor B. Warner
Taylor B. Warner Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +13 more
Rancho Cucamonga, California Accepting Clients

Taylor B. Warner's work in Rancho Cucamonga, CA is centered on family legal matters, with attention to custody, parenting, support, and divorce issues.

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Rozanna M. Velen
Rozanna M. Velen Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Sex Crime Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +14 more
Encino, California Accepting Clients

The Encino, CA profile for Rozanna M. Velen highlights family legal matters, including custody, parenting, support, and divorce issues.

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Arasto Farsad
Arasto Farsad Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Property Division Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +13 more
San Jose, California Accepting Clients

Arasto Farsad maintains a San Jose, CA practice focused on family law concerns, including divorce, custody, support, and related disputes.

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Jennifer A. Mello
Jennifer A. Mello Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
San Jose, California 26+ yrs Accepting Clients

Owner and Managing Partner of Mello & Pickering, LLP, a Certified Family Law Specialist practicing exclusively in family law in San Jose since 2000.

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Harvey I. Levin
Harvey I. Levin Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Amusement Park Accident ATV Accident Bicycle Accident Birth Injury Boat Accident Brain Injury Breach of Contract Burn Injury Bus Accident Business Contracts Business Disputes Business Financing Business Formation Business Law Business Litigation Business Transactions Car Accident Catastrophic Injury Child Custody Child Support Civil Litigation Contract Drafting Daycare Injury Dog Bite Domestic Violence Drunk Driving Accident Electric Scooter Accident Entertainment Law Fathers’ Rights General Counsel Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Gym Injury Hit and Run Accident Intellectual Property Jet Ski Accident Lyft Accident Merger And Acquisition Moped Accident Mothers’ Rights Motorcycle Accident Nursing Home Abuse Patent Law Paternity Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Premises Liability Product Liability Property Dispute Property Division Real Estate Law School Injury Slip and Fall Spinal Cord Injury Sports Injury Startup Suv Accident Swimming Pool Accident Taxi Accident Trademark Law Visitation Rights Workplace Injury Wrongful Death +65 more
Encino, California 43+ yrs Accepting Clients

Harvey I. Levin is a Family Law attorney in Encino, California, helping individuals and families navigate complex family law matters.

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Christina Cardenas-Gonzalez
Christina Cardenas-Gonzalez Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Fresno, California 9+ yrs Accepting Clients

Christina Cardenas-Gonzalez is a Family Law attorney at Tomassian, Pimentel and Shapazian in Fresno, California.

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Shahnaz Hussain
Shahnaz Hussain Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Amusement Park Accident ATV Accident Bicycle Accident Birth Injury Boat Accident Burn Injury Bus Accident Car Accident Catastrophic Injury Child Custody Child Support Construction Accident Daycare Injury Dog Bite Domestic Violence Drunk Driving Accident Electric Scooter Accident Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Gym Injury Hit and Run Accident Jet Ski Accident Lyft Accident Moped Accident Mothers’ Rights Motorcycle Accident Paternity Pedestrian Accident Personal Injury Premises Liability Product Liability Property Dispute Property Division School Injury Slip and Fall Spinal Cord Injury Sports Injury Suv Accident Swimming Pool Accident Taxi Accident Train Accident Truck Accident Uber Accident Visitation Rights Workplace Injury Wrongful Death +49 more
Anaheim, California 37+ yrs Accepting Clients

Family Law attorney serving clients in Anaheim, California.

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Christian L. Schank
Christian L. Schank Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Property Division Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +13 more
San Jose, California 23+ yrs Accepting Clients

Christian L. Schank handles matters in San Francisco, CA involving family cases, including custody, support, parenting, and marital issues.

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Nicole Duncan
Nicole Duncan Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +13 more
Los Angeles, California Accepting Clients

Nicole Duncan works on family legal matters in Los Angeles, CA, addressing custody, parenting, support, and divorce issues.

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Ariel Carter
Ariel Carter Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Rancho Cucamonga, California 14+ yrs Accepting Clients

Family law attorney at Family Law Advocacy Group serving Rancho Cucamonga, California clients.

Free Consultation Virtual Appointments
Stephen V. Smith
Stephen V. Smith Verified Attorney
Lawyer at Smith Family Law
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
San Diego, California 21+ yrs Accepting Clients

Stephen V. Smith is a family law attorney with Smith Family Law in San Diego, California.

Free Consultation Virtual Appointments
Haitham Amin
Haitham Amin Verified Attorney
Lawyer at Amin Law
Divorce Law Child Custody Child Support Property Division Domestic Violence Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +13 more
San Francisco, California Accepting Clients

Haitham Amin's San Francisco, CA practice covers family legal matters, with emphasis on custody, parenting, support, and divorce issues.

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Michael Efron
Michael Efron Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Business Law Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Property Division Alimony Property Dispute Visitation Rights Fathers’ Rights Mothers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Adoption Guardianship Paternity +14 more
Anaheim, California Accepting Clients

Review Michael Efron's profile in Anaheim, CA, with a practice centered on family law matters and marital, parenting, custody, and support concerns.

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Dena A. Kleeman
Dena A. Kleeman Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Beverly Hills, California 43+ yrs Accepting Clients

Beverly Hills family law attorney and California Certified Family Law Specialist handling complex divorce and custody matters.

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Joseph L. Urbanski
Joseph L. Urbanski Verified Attorney
Lawyer at JKZ LLP
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
San Francisco, California 20+ yrs Accepting Clients

Joseph L. Urbanski is a family law attorney with JKZ LLP in San Francisco, California.

Free Consultation Virtual Appointments
Michael H. Nathans
Michael H. Nathans Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Los Angeles, California 25+ yrs Accepting Clients

Michael H. Nathans is a top-rated Los Angeles family law attorney and mediator with over 25 years of experience.

Free Consultation Virtual Appointments
Kyle R. Puro, Esq
Kyle R. Puro, Esq Verified Attorney
Divorce Law Adoption Alimony Child Custody Child Support Domestic Violence Fathers’ Rights Grandparents’ Rights Guardianship Mothers’ Rights Paternity Property Dispute Property Division Visitation Rights +13 more
Long Beach, California 18+ yrs Accepting Clients

Long Beach family law attorney with over a dozen years of experience handling divorce, custody, and dependency cases.

Free Consultation Virtual Appointments

Common Types of Divorce Cases in California

California divorce attorneys may handle:

Divorce Case Types

Contested Divorce Uncontested Divorce High-Asset Divorce Divorce Involving Children Business Owner Divorce Property Division Disputes Spousal Support Disputes Domestic Violence-Related Divorce Divorce Involving Prenuptial Agreements

When to Hire a Divorce Lawyer in California?

Consider speaking with a divorce lawyer when:

  • Your spouse contests the divorce.
  • Child custody or visitation is disputed.
  • You disagree about child support.
  • Spousal support is requested or contested.
  • Significant property or debts must be divided.
  • You or your spouse owns a business.
  • Retirement accounts or investments are involved.
  • You suspect undisclosed assets.
  • A prenuptial agreement is disputed.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer in California?

Consider these factors when comparing attorneys:

Attorney Selection Factors

Relevant Experience Case-Specific Knowledge Negotiation Skills Courtroom Experience Financial Knowledge Communication Fee Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce in California

Is California a no-fault divorce state?

Yes. California allows divorce based on irreconcilable differences without requiring one spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.

Is property always divided 50/50 in California?

California generally requires equal division of the community estate, subject to applicable exceptions and agreements. Separate property is generally treated differently.

How long does a divorce take in California?

California has a minimum six-month waiting period before a divorce can become final. Contested property, support, or custody issues may make the process take longer.

Can a divorce lawyer help with child custody?

Yes. Divorce lawyers may assist with legal custody, physical custody, parenting schedules, visitation, relocation, and other parenting disputes.

Can I get divorced if my spouse does not agree?

Yes. California does not require both spouses to agree to end the marriage. However, disagreements about property, support, or children may require additional proceedings.

Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

Not necessarily. However, legal advice may be useful when reviewing property agreements, financial disclosures, support arrangements, or parenting terms before finalizing the divorce.

Helpful Resources