Top Best Family Lawyers | 14650 Available

Dennis Schuster was born and raised in a working class family in East Los Angeles. After serving in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, Mr. Schuster received his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University in 1974.. In 1979, Mr. Schuster received his Juris Doctor from Pepperdine Law School. Shortly after, in 1981 he started his own private practice, which is still in business today.. Mr. Schuster built his law firm on the principle of serving the needs of men and women going through divorce, dealing with child and spousal support, special education disputes, child custody issues, and other complex family-focused law matters.. As an experienced attorney, Mr. Schuster is best known for his deep commitment to and compassionate for his clients, and individualist approach to each and every client’s case.

Please note that any recommendations and/or testimonials on this profile are not meant to guarantee, predict or warrant the outcome of any specific matter.

We Are Here To Make Your Family Law Issues Easier To Deal With. Whipple, Mercado & Associates, LLP, has the qualifications, reputation, personal qualities and professional credentials that get results across the spectrum of family law matters — from premarital agreements to adoption and domestic violence restraining orders. Our Best Family Law Attorney with extensive legal knowledge, openness to your ideas and attentive personal service can pave the way for your family’s brighter future.. Our Skilled Lawyers Are Committed To Providing You With All The Tools You NeedWhether you are married, unmarried or divorced, we believe deeply in your parental rights and in the best interests of your child or children. You can trust our leadership in practice areas such as child support, custody orders as they relate to emergencies, move-aways and Hague Convention laws regarding international adoption and child abductions.. Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously 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. Certified by the California State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. 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.. Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O'Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco's Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.. A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.. Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador's Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Alameda County Superior Court, where she acts as a settlement referee assisting self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angels, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County's Annual High School Moot Court Competitions. She is a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club and California Women Lead; she was the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and she is a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley. She is also a member of the American Association of University Women, which advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. She is a proud member of Los Californianos.

Brittney N. Sturtevant is a Certified Family Law Specialist (certified by the CA State Bar Board of Legal Specialization) and a Partner at Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada LLP. Ms. Sturtevant handles a variety of issues, including divorce, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, property characterization and division, and complex, high-asset matters. She is a member of the State Bar of California, as well as the Bar Associations in Santa Clara County, Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and Solano County.. Each year since 2020, Ms. Sturtevant has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Northern California. Super Lawyers® is a third-party, who evaluates attorneys based on twelve factors including peer recognition, professional achievements, and community service. They award the Rising Star recognition to the top 2.5% of attorneys under 40 or in practice for less than 10 years.. Prior to joining Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada LLP, Ms. Sturtevant founded her own law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area, handling a variety of family law, estate planning, business, and real estate matters. She also represented victims of domestic violence as a volunteer attorney with Bay Area Legal Aid.. Ms. Sturtevant received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. During law school, she was a senior editor for the Hastings Business Law Journal. She also held a judicial externship at the California Court of Appeal for the Sixth District in San Jose.. Ms. Sturtevant earned her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mark Ressa was admitted to the California in 1979 and Federal Bar in 1985. He is a CFLS, Certified Legal Specialist in Family Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. He limits his practice exclusively to family law matters including complex litigation, spousal and child support, paternity, high conflict custody disputes and domestic violence. His office is located in San Ramon and practices primarily in the Bay Area counties. He is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee (FLEXCOM) of the California State Bar (2008-2014) and its immediate past Chair (2012-2013), Vice-Chair (2011-2012), Legislation Chair (2010-2011), Vice Legislation Chair (2009-2010), Editor of the Family Law Section's eNews (2008-2010) and Vice-Chair for the Family Law Section's Online Continuing Education (2008-2009). He is a member of the State Bar Social Media Task Force (2010-2013) that was responsible for in launching FaceBook™ and Twitter™ sites for the State Bar Sections. Prior to his appointment to FLEXCOM, he served as Chair (2006-2008) and Vice-Chair (2005-2006) of the State Bar Family Law Section’s Bay Area Regional Standing Committee, formerly known as Financial Issues North. He is a member of the state and local bar associations. He is also a Board and Executive Committee (ExCom) Member of the ACFLS (Association for Certified Family Law Specialist) for 2013-2014. He is the Co Vice-Chair of the Council of Sections of the California State Bar (2013-2014) and Co-Chair of the Council of Sections of the California State Bar (2014-2015) Mark Ressa was chosen for inclusion in the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Northern California Super Lawyers™. Super Lawyers™ is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. He has also been featured as a 2011, 2012, and 2013 ‘Top Attorneys in Northern California – Selected by Peer Recognition and Professional Achievement’ as published in the San Francisco Magazine. He received Avvo’s – Superb Rated Attorney (10.0) for years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.. Mr. Ressa created and marketed the first Windows™ based child / spousal support calculation program to be certified for court use by the California Judicial Council; i.e., SupportPro™ from 1994 to 1998. He served with other software providers, including family law luminaries Steve Adams, Garrett Dailey and George Norton, to advise the California Judicial Council on the standards to be applied for the use of software in courtrooms. Mr. Ressa co-founded Legal dot Net in 1995, internationally recognized as one of the first leading web sites to serve the needs of legal consumers as well as legal professionals (rated an Internet Business 500 – The Top Essential Sites for Business in 1995). Mr. Ressa’s interest in social media has resulted in one of the most followed Twitter™ sites for a practicing attorney, @BayAreaDivorce with over 260 thousand followers and #1 on the “Top 100 Lawyers to Follow on Twitter” list for twelve consecutive months (July 2013 – June 2014).. Mr. Ressa has appeared in local media – KTVU Channel 2, “Valentine’s Day is not just for love, but for divorce” February 16, 2014 and KGO ABC7, “Texts Show [Nadia} Lockyer’s Ex-Boyfriend Struggling” on December 13, 2012. He as been quoted in the press, New York Post “Halle [Berry] ex fight for kid hurt” on November 24, 2012 and Mercury News “Nadia Lockyer’s restraining order against former lover expires while she remains in drug treatment” on December 13, 2012. He has also appeared on NPR Radio, KALW 91.7FM San Francisco June 2014, “Alternative Resolution Methods for Divorce Including Mediation and Private Judging” and January 2011, “Urban Divorce Myths.”

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.. Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.. Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.. During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other's strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.. Areas of PracticeFamily Law. Honors and AwardsTammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce. Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

John Adam Lazor Esq. CFLS has been practicing Family Law for over 25 years. His practice includes complex family law litigation, family law mediation, family collaborative law and estate planning.. Mr. Lazor is a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California . He is a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, California Bar Association and International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. John has served as President of the Family Law Indigent Paternity Panel (FLIPP) and Membership Chair of the California State Bar Family Law Section Executive Committee (FLEXCOM).. John received his law degree from the University of Michigan and he’s a lifetime member of the Michigan Alumni Association. Mr. Lazor received his undergraduate degree in Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa with Departmental Honors and Distinction from Stanford University and lifetime membership of the Stanford Alumni Association.. Mr. Lazor has been elected by his peers as a Super Lawyer for seven consecutive years , 2011 through 2017. He’s also a certified participant of both the American Bar Association‘s Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute in Denver , Colorado and the Houston Family Law Trial Institute at the South Texas College of Law. John has published articles for both the Los Angeles Daily Journal and Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine. He has also been a guest lecturer for high school students and a featured guest on two television programs. Currently, John is a faculty member for the California Bar’s Family Law Specialist Exam training program (“FLIC”) through CEB.. John’s community involvement includes Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center, Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law and Aids Project Los Angeles. He’s written the book, music and lyrics for an original musical comedy and he’s a member of Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI). His avocational activities include scuba diving and singing in the church choir. John resides in Culver City with his wife and two daughters.

Attorney Bouchet is a Christian Attorney who is willing to try and mediate your case before she puts on her PIT BULL Persona! Over thirty (30) years of law practice. Margo Bouchet has vast experience in dealing with legal issues that confront families. Going beyond the conventional family law practice has also required Margo’s utilization of her extensive experience and an ability to think outside the box.

Ben Aguilar received his J.D from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2011 where he was the President of the International Law Society. Ben received his B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Education from the University of California, Irvine in 2007.. Before attending law school, Ben had the opportunity to work for the Spanish Justice Department in Barcelona, Spain where he worked directly with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. This experience prompted Ben’s desire to attend law school and commit to public interest and ensuring all individuals have equal access to the justice system.. While attending law school, Ben served as the American Bar Association's 9th Circuit Lieutenant Governor of Communications and as a member of the National Advisory Committee for Equal Justice Works. Ben spent his first summer in law school clerking at the Center for International Protection in Moscow, Russia where he assisted in providing legal aid to Russian nationals' victims of human right violations in filing complaints before the European Court of Human Rights. He spent the summer after his second year in law school taking law classes in Hangzhou, China. Ben clerked at the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties for two years and also volunteered with the California Innocence Project.. Ben currently serves on the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Board of Directors. He has previously served in the board of directors for the Coalition for Reproductive Choice, and Visionaries In Philanthropy (Meals-On-Wheels San Diego).. Ben is admitted to practice law in California and the Southern federal district of California. He is a member of the American Bar Association, San Diego County Bar Association, La Raza Lawyers, National Lawyers Guild, and the Tom Homann LGBT Law Association.

I'm Sharon J. Brunner, an attorney with over 20 years of experience representing individuals and families through some of life's most difficult challenges. My practice focuses on family law, where I guide clients through divorces, custody disputes, and other sensitive matters with compassion and clarity.. In addition to family law, I represent victims in wrongful death and police misconduct cases, including police shootings and in-custody deaths. These cases require strength, strategy, and a deep commitment to justice - qualities I bring to every client relationship.. I serve clients across Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties, and offer phone consultations to make legal guidance more accessible. Whether you're protecting your family or seeking accountability, I'm here to advocate for you with experience, integrity, and care.

I am the founding attorney of Hathaway Law Group, P.C. L.L.O. with offices in Omaha, Nebraska and Kansas City, Missouri. Mainly my practice is focused on alternative options for those seeking a divorce or dealing with family law issues, that is custody, property, and support. These alternatives include options such as uncontested-attorney assisted divorce, mediated divorce, and collaborative law divorce, but the special emphasis I like to make is that we strive to help all our clients find a non-litigated option. We find that non-litigated options are less expensive, less emotional, and overall a much better experience for our clients. I look forward to speaking with you.

Theresa is passionate about helping guide families in conflict to an amicable resolution through mediation and collaborative divorce. Being the youngest of seven, Theresa learned at an early age the vast benefits and advantages of using a team-based approach to find a peaceful resolution.. Theresa, an Omaha native, graduated with honors from UNL and received her law degree from Creighton University School of Law. After law school, Theresa honed her research and writing skills as a judicial clerk. After her clerkship, Theresa’s love to assist families was stoked while she practiced juvenile law and family law.. Theresa is a trained collaborative attorney and mediator.. When not helping other families, Theresa is busy with her spouse and four children. She also loves walking, running and spending time with her large family.