Top Family Lawyers Near Me in Costa Mesa Area

I have lived and practiced law in the Newport/Costa Mesa area for over 30 years.. By partnering with me, you will receive personalized representation that is professional and thorough, and customer service that is consistent and compassionate.. I oversee all my cases from start to finish. If you have a concern, problem, emergency, or just a simple question or two, you can always reach me by phone or email.. My law practice encompasses all aspects of Family Law Including:

I have exclusively practiced family law for over 8 years in Southern California superior courts and appellate courts. I have practiced in nearly all areas of Family Law, including, dissolution, paternity, domestic violence and restraining orders, child custody/visitation, child support, spousal support, jurisdictional issues, tracing and reimbursement issues, business valuation and income available for support issues (assisted by forensic accountants), move-away requests, post-Judgment Modifications and writ and appeals.. Mrs. Yarnal's interest in becoming a family law attorney was sparked at the age of seven, when her parents adopted her younger brother. She remembers her parents' confusion in the process. She recalls meeting a family law attorney who invited her to appear at court. A seven-year old girl wearing a shoulder-padded jacket appeared before the judge and promised to take care of her now-brother. Signing the adoption papers changed her life and established her desire to become an attorney.. Also growing up with a shared parenting plan with her then-teenage (half) brother visiting on weekends and holidays gave Mrs. Yarnal the desire to practice child-centered family law.. Mrs. Yarnal attended University of California, Santa Cruz and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. During her junior year she attended Universidad de Carlos III in Madrid, Spain, where she studied international politics and discovered a love of traveling.  Mrs. Yarnal obtained a Juris Doctorate from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. During law school, Mrs. Yarnal worked as a law clerk and was a volunteer certified law student at Veteran’s Village Family Law Clinic, helping San Diego homeless veteran’s with family law legal matters.

For more than two decades, Hollie Lemkin has dedicated her career to family law in Orange County, California. As a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2001, she understands that divorces range from straightforward to profoundly intricate affairs. Unlike attorneys content to merely tally hours and collect fees, Hollie relishes the intellectual rigor of complex disputes and pursues every case with integrity. She eschews hostility in favor of professional, merit-based advocacy, believing that the best outcomes arise from sound legal strategy and respect for all parties. Specializing exclusively in family law, Hollie’s passion for her work drives her commitment to each client. In a brief initial conversation, she will honestly assess whether her firm is the right fit, referring you elsewhere if necessary. If you proceed together, Hollie will remain your steadfast ally, prioritizing solutions that safeguard your children’s future.

CERTIFIED SPECIALIST. California Certified Family Law Specialist since 1995.. AREAS OF PRACTICE. Family Law:. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony is experienced in all facets of family law from commencement of the action to trial.  Her areas of practice include, but are not limited to: child custody, guardianship, child and spousal support, property division, domestic violence, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, domestic partnership, and same-sex marriage dissolution.. Employment Law:. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony is also experienced in the area of management law. She represents both employers and employees in all forms of employment disputes, including but not limited to: advising employers on Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”) Law, the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Kin Care Leave, California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”); issues of exempt and non-exempt status and the duties and liabilities associated therewith; representing employers in administrative hearings before the California Labor Commission, Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”), Employment Development Department (“EDD”), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”); preparation of Employee Handbooks; performing investigations of sexual harassment claims; advising companies on Human Resource issues and how to avoid litigation; and lawsuits involving discrimination based upon disability, age, gender, sexual harassment, wrongful discharge, wage claims and associated torts.. ALTERNATIVE METHODS. Mediation, Cooperative and Collaborative law. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony is experienced in mediation, cooperative and collaborative law which resolves matters short of court intervention. This method maintains the parties' privacy and minimizes the conflict between the parties. This is an effective alternative to the highly contested litigation involved in the adversarial process.. TRIAL EXPERIENCE. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony has a broad range of trial experience ranging from short cause matters to multiple week trials.. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony’s Family Law litigation experience includes, but is not limited to: custody, visitation, move-away, child support, spousal support, property division (including issues dealing with evaluating businesses and real property), domestic violence, restraining orders, and custody issues for same-sex couples.. Ms. Graybehl D’Antony verdicts and awards obtained in Employment and Civil Litigation include a 1995 jury trial where Ms. Graybehl D’Antony obtained a $360,000 damages award for a client bringing a battery case against her ex-husband who infected her with a sexually transmitted disease.  Ms. Graybehl D’Antony successfully overcame the ex-husband’s invasion of privacy defense to obtain this victory for her client.. In 1998, Ms. Graybehl D’Antony was granted three nonsuits in favor of her client, ITT Cannon, in a wrongful termination case.

Adam P. Harris is a Partner at Fortis LLP. Adam concentrates his practice in the areas of Family Law, Real Estate and General Litigation.Mr. Harris has substantial experience in both Family Law and Civil Litigation and has practiced in both California and Arizona.  Mr. Harris’s business background has assisted in his family law practice by simultaneously being responsive to the emotional difficulties of going through a divorce, while saving clients substantial money by counseling clients in making business decisions during a difficult and emotional time.Mr. Harris has experience in real estate legal matters ranging from transactional issues with real estate contracts to complex construction defect experience in California and Arizona. In California, Mr. Harris successfully assisted to defend a real property breach of contract action involving a multi-million dollar home property in Southern California. Mr. Harris has civil litigation experience, including but not limited to complex construction defect litigation.  Mr. Harris has the unique experience of representing both the plaintiff side by representing homeowners, Home Owners Associations and business owners in residential (400+ homes) and commercial properties in Arizona, while having represented the defense side for large national builders in California in construction defect disputes.  Mr. Harris is also a California licensed real estate broker.Mr. Harris has been an active member of the southern California community, having been involved with USC alumni groups, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Bar Association.

A native Californian, Mr. Kaufman has tried over 125 jury trials and has been lead appellate counsel in another 150+ cases around the country.  He has been married to Peggy since 1980, and they have four adult children and three beloved granddaughters.  Mr. Kaufman has also taught legal research and writing, trial advocacy, and remedies in law school, and business law and chemistry to undergraduates i college.  He served as an officer i the US Army Reserve for several years in the Military Police Corps.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.

Experienced Family attorney serving clients in Costa Mesa and surrounding areas.