Top best Child Custody Lawyers in Scottsdale | 63 available

Every divorce, custody, or family dispute is challenging and emotional for the individuals involved. Through compassion and communication, Nicole’s personalized approach seeks to reduce her clients’ stress, while assisting in formulating her clients’ priorities and achieving her clients’ goals through settlement or litigation.. Nicole’s extensive experience as a family law gives her a unique and significant perspective that she applies to her practice, and to her work as a mediator and court-appointed parenting coordinator. Nicole believes in settlement as a potential vehicle to accomplish her clients’ goals. However, when negotiation and compromise are not viable, Nicole zealously protects and advocates for her clients in Court.. Even before becoming an attorney, Nicole’s strong desire to serve families and protect children was evident. Nicole worked as a case specialist for Child Protective Services (CPS) which is now the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and for Sojourner Center (a domestic violence shelter) as an advocate.. Following a position managing the legal department of a local non-profit organization, Nicole practiced family law as an associate attorney and later a partner at three boutique family law firms in Phoenix  which handled complex divorce and custody cases. After working with Launi Jones-Sheldon for six years, Nicole and Launi continued their partnership and opened the law firm of Sheldon & Stoutner.. Nicole was honored to be appointed as a full-time judicial officer in the Maricopa County Superior Court in August of 2020 and served on the bench for a year before deciding to resume private practice. This experience, along with Nicole’s position as a divorce and paternity mediator for the Maricopa County Superior Court, provide her with valuable experience and insight about the workings of the court and judges’ decision-making processes.. Over the years, Nicole has received numerous awards and recognition related to her work as a family law attorney. She was invited to teach a course on family law as a an adjunct law professor at a local law school. On a regular basis, Nicole authors articles and presents Continuing Legal Education seminars through and for the Arizona State Bar, the Maricopa County Bar, the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on the Impact of Domestic Violence. Topics include family law trial techniques and advocacy, current case law, mental health issues in the family court, autism and the family court, serving minority clients, orders of protection, multi-jurisdictional custody and support issues, and cultural competency.. Nicole is appointed to serve as a judge pro tem for the Maricopa County Superior Court and conducts Alternative Dispute Resolution Conferences, as well as private mediations. She is a trained Parenting Coordinator and appears on the Maricopa County Superior Court Mental Health Roster.. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, skiing, travel, sporting events, and most importantly spending time with her family.. Nicole speaks both Spanish and Italian.

Erika has practiced exclusively in the area of family law since starting her legal career in greater Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. Herself the child of an extremely high conflict divorce, Erika has personally experienced the toll a divorce takes on a family, especially the turmoil experienced by children. It was in the aftermath of her own experience that she realized her desire to become an Arizona divorce lawyer in order to provide families the care they need and deserve while navigating through this process.. Erika is both diligent and committed to the family law practice. She is a passionate ally who is dedicated to solving your problems. It has always been a goal of hers to provide more than just legal advice. Erika believes that family should always come first. It is for this reason that she focuses on the issues that are most important to her clients and their loved ones.. Erika’s compassion for each client’s legal and emotional challenges is genuine. Nothing is lost on her. But as an experienced litigator, she never lets the emotional aspects of the case overtake her good legal sense and judgment. Erika’s goal is to craft creative solutions that might not otherwise be available through litigation. However, when negotiation and settlement prove unsuccessful, she is a skilled litigator who will advocate for you and your family.. Families in Scottsdale and the Phoenix area who are in need of an Arizona Family Law Attorney to help them through the legal process of divorce and who wish to experience the empathy of an attorney who understands the process firsthand should contact Erika for a consultation today.

Douglas came from New Jersey in 1978 to attend Arizona State University.  Since being admitted to the Arizona State Bar in 1987, Douglas has focused his practice on creditor’s rights, real estate, business/corporate law, civil rights and probate.  During his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, bicycling, and traveling.

Dana Michaels has a deep compassion for her clients as a family law attorney. She graduated with honors, Law Review, from Pace University School of Law in 1990. Her civil litigation experience, coupled with her desire to help families through the divorce process makes her a strong advocate. Dana is admitted to practice law in Arizona (2015), New York (1991) and Connecticut (1990). She is a member of the Arizona State Bar Association and the Arizona Women Lawyers Association. She volunteers at both My Sister’s Place and the Phoenix Rescue Mission. Her passion within the practice focuses on children and making sure their best interests are represented.

Clients expect and pay more to receive Mr. Cherney's legal advice.  Craig Cherney is a different kind of attorney. He truly listens and solves problems rather than merely identify risks. Craig is also a unique talent for a family law dispute. Craig brings complex real property, business and financial expertise to family law matters enabling him to offer clients a tremendous strategic advantage. He provides a unique perspective to complex issues like asset valuation, asset recovery, disposition and sale of real property, division and valuation of of business partnerships and practices, determining present value of future income streams and locating hidden assets or income often implicated in family law disputes.. Mr. Cherney also serves as a testifying real estate expert witness based on his years of hands on real estate experience both in private equity and residential and commerical transactions.  When serving as an expert witness, other lawyers hire and retain Mr. Cherney to testify for their own clients to advance their real estate claims in courts throughout the nation.  Mr. Cherney has been appearing and testifying as a real estate expert witness since 2012.. In law school, only the top graduates are offered the privilege of working for a federal judge. Craig was one of the few, to clerk for not just one federal judge after law school, but two active federal judges. Clerking for a sitting federal judge is the toughest training an attorney can get, bar none. Having participated in countless federal court trials, Craig’s writing skills are razor sharp. This exceptional writing ability complements his skills in the family law courtroom where he seeks the highest and best result obtainable by law. Craig was first admitted to practice law 28 years ago and is licensed in three states: Arizona, California and Nevada.  He is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the District of Arizona, the Southern District of California and the Northern District of California.

Bryce Johnson is a founding member and lead attorney at State 48 Law. He is a confident, composed attorney dedicated to his clients working tirelessly to help them achieve the best results for their future and their family. Bryce is known for his strong communication skills, his ability to think through difficult situations, and his creative strategies backed by a clear game plan on how to move forward. The firm jokingly calls him the Pilgrim because he settles. Using creative solutions and keeping his client’s best interests protected, Bryce is resolution focused.. Before relocating to the Arizona desert for law school, Bryce was born and raised in Illinois. He attended Illinois State University for his undergraduate degree. Coming from a family of teachers, Bryce graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Science in Middle Level Education. His background and interest in education gives Bryce a unique approach to keeping your child’s best interests in mind throughout your family law matter.. Bryce is an avid professional sports fan and enjoys staying active in organized recreational sports leagues in the Valley. His competitive nature on the sports field translates to the office and Courtroom where he aims to out work, out prepare, and ultimately out litigate other family law attorneys to bring his clients the results they want.

Attorney McCall is a skilled family law attorney dedicated to protecting her clients' rights, interests and well-being. She approaches each case with boldness, directness and positive aggression. She does not shy away from challenges. She is fully invested in every case she takes and she handles all aspects of the legal process personally. She does not delegate the fine tuning required for the successful litigation of a case to paralegals or assistants. She is hands on. She communicates effectively and transparently throughout the process and provides clear and honest advice. Whether it is through negotiation, mediation or litigation, she works directly with her clients to reach a just, fair resolution.. Attorney McCall has been licensed to practice law for nearly 35 years, and her experience and wisdom are valuable assets . She has seen the legal system evolve and change over the years and knows how to adapt and strategize accordingly. She gained valuable experience and insight from working with a variety of judges, each with their own personality and style, and she has learned how to adapt to different expectations and preferences. This skill allows Attorney McCall to build rapport, credibility, and trust with the court. She also knows her way around the courtroom. She has handled a wide range of cases, including civil litigation, criminal defense, government contracts and family law. From 1997 to 2023, her law firm held the honor of being associated in an Of Counsel position with the renowned law firms of Michael D. Kimerer handling the family law matters. Thus, she has extensive experience in handling family law matters involving business valuations, child custody, child support, divorce, paternity, prenuptial agreement, property division, post-decree matters, spousal support, and other family law issues. Attorney McCall is confident in her abilities as a lawyer.

As a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law, Taylor has the extensive knowledge and experience necessary to navigate complex divorce and custody cases. Taylor’s clients appreciate his calm demeanor, rational approach, and honest advice. Taylor’s goal in every case is to provide clarity and reassurance so that his clients can make the best possible decision for their children and their finances. When settlement isn’t possible, he takes a meticulous, logical approach to litigation to achieve the best possible result at trial.. Taylor graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law in 2012 with a strong background in legal writing. As a law student, he was selected as a write-on candidate for the Arizona Law Review and later served as its Online Editor. Taylor was also selected as a Senior Writing Fellow for the Legal Writing Program, where he mentored first-year law students in the art of legal writing.. Shortly after graduating law school, Taylor opened his own solo family law practice. Taylor managed his own practice until 2017 when he joined the business law firm Smith Saks Kuzmich (now Guidant Law). While still practicing family law, he expanded his practice to include transactional business matters and estate planning. During his tenure there, he served as second-chair counsel on multimillion dollar business transactions and assisted with the drafting and review of dozens of operating agreements, commercial leases, and employment contracts. He also worked with the managing partner to serve as “outside counsel” to several small businesses, where he gained experience dealing with the wide variety of legal issues affecting small business owners.. From 2019 to 2021, Taylor served as a judge pro tempore with the Maricopa County Superior Court, conducting ADR settlement conferences and filling in for court commissioners for single-issue hearings and protective orders. Taylor is currently a Board Member for the Family Law Section of the Maricopa County Bar Association. From 2016 through 2019, Taylor served as the Chair of the Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section (SPSF) of the State Bar of Arizona. Taylor is a Founding Member of the American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators.. In addition to family law, Taylor is also an experienced estate planning attorney and assists clients with preparing wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning instruments. Taylor’s breadth of knowledge in business law and estate planning gives him a competitive edge when these issues arise in complex divorce cases.

A seasoned prosecutor and trial attorney, Robyn Barrett’s tenacity when it comes to divorce and family law shows relentless ambition for justice and the satisfaction of her clients. Constantly keeping her pulse on the ever-evolving atmosphere surrounding her craft, Robyn’s skills in consulting, mediation and litigation are an astronomical asset to anyone who hires her as their attorney.. Carrying a deep love for dogs, her supportive nature yields for no species. She’s an advocate for sheltering, supporting and nurturing relationships among humans and animals alike.