50 California Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Geller Firm’s top divorce lawyers in San Francisco specialize in family law. They have a track record of success, including settling a $4 million divorce case. Their expertise covers divorces with domestic violence, high assets, international assets, and the need for forensic accounting.
Attorney Michael Geller, founder of The Geller Firm, has a license from the State Bar of California. He also has degrees from the University of Southern California, City University of New York, and Santa Clara University School of Law. His focus in law school was on torts, divorce, domestic violence, and community property laws in California.
388 Market St, Suite 920, San Francisco, CA 94111
The Law Offices of David Korsunsky, a divorce law firm, excels in family law in San Francisco. They handle domestic partnership dissolution, child custody, child support, and spousal support. The firm takes a personalized approach and tailored strategies.
A founder, David Korsunsky is a practical San Francisco divorce attorney. His affordable legal help is in methods like limited scope representation, consulting, and drafting attorney work. He also offers budget-conscious litigation. Clients commend Korsunsky for his professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication. This divorce consultant manages complex cases, even those with international aspects.
215 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127
Bay Area Law Group excels in family law in San Francisco. They offer comprehensive legal services in divorce and separation, property division, child custody, and support issues. The firm also addresses complex immigration concerns in family law cases. Expertise in prenuptial and postnuptial agreements is a key aspect of their service. Their approach is about honesty, reliability, and diligent representation.
Arusyak Abrahamyan, the lead divorce lawyer in the Bay Area, stands out for her professionalism and extensive court experience. She handles mediation and guides clients to fair and effective resolutions.
870 Market St # 414, San Francisco, CA 94102
Lurkis, Joyce & Del Bove, LLP, are divorce attorneys practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm’s founders, Sean Patrick Joyce and Clifton Lurkis, bring over 40 years of combined experience in this field. Sean Joyce offers divorce attorney consultation, child custody and visitation, child support, paternity actions, domestic violence restraining orders, and premarital and postnuptial agreements.
He holds a J.D. from the University of Denver-Sturm College of Law, where he earned the American Jurisprudence Awards in Constitutional and Patent Law. Clifton Lurkis, a certified San Francisco family law attorney since 2009, handles all areas of family law. He is a Top Attorney of Northern California by San Francisco Magazine and a Northern California Super Lawyer.
50 California St., 15th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111
Fenchel Family Law PC lawyers in San Francisco specialize in divorce. Led by Valerie Fenchel the firm excels in managing complex cases. Their focus areas include agreements, child custody, and domestic violence restraining orders. They provide personalized, attentive legal support to their clients.
Valerie Fenchel, the firm’s founder and principal Bay Area divorce lawyer, boasts extensive family law experience. Her background includes more than 11 years of working with top family law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area. This experience equips her to handle intricate legal matters. The firm is well-regarded, earning accolades like a 10.0 Superb Avvo Rating. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys has also recognized them as a professional legal representative.
50 California St Suite 1517, San Francisco, CA 94111
Amin Law is a San Francisco family law firm focusing on divorce cases. They handle child custody, spousal support, and paternity issues. They emphasize the option of uncontested divorce, which can hurry the process and reduce costs. This law firm offers remote consultations and filing with an automated support system.
Haitham Amin, the founder and principal divorce attorney in San Francisco, has many legal professional awards. These include the Top 10 Best Attorney from the American Institute Of Attorneys and the Avvo Client’s Choice Award. Amin received his Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy University in 2012 and is a member of many legal associations in the San Francisco area.
One Market Street, 36th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
Boyd Law, under Karie Boyd’s leadership, excels in divorce law. They handle complex and net-worth cases. Karie Boyd, as CEO and lead San Francisco family lawyer, ranks among the top 1% of attorneys nationwide, as per the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys lists her among the top 10 divorce lawyers in San Francisco. Her skill set includes conducting jury and bench trials in state and federal courts.
Boyd has several prestigious nominations. These include Women Making a Difference, Women in Business, and Women Who Mean Business awards. She also received accolades in corporate litigation and real estate litigation from the San Diego Daily Transcript.
575 Market Street, Suite 4000, San Francisco, CA 94105
The Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., divorce lawyers in San Francisco, excels in complex family law matters. This firm, with over 30 years of lawyers’ experience, manages intricate financial issues, custody disputes, and large marital estates. Debra Schoenberg is a distinguished legal separation attorney. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist.
Her achievements include features in the Daily Journal’s Top Family Law Lawyers in California list and induction into The Recorder’s Best of Awards Hall of Fame for Family Law Firms. Her accolades further include recognition as one of the 10 Influential Leaders in the World by Insights Success. The San Francisco Business Times lists her in their Top 100 Women-Owned Businesses.
333 Bush Street, 21st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104
The Law Offices of Robert J. Rothman in San Francisco specialize in family law with over 30 years of experience. Their practice covers a broad range of high-conflict divorces with custody, visitation, relocation, business valuation, and more. They are adept at handling sensitive matters like domestic violence and premarital agreements.
Founder Robert J. Rothman focuses on conflict resolution through mediation and court proceedings. His approach emphasizes non-confrontational solutions where possible. He has earned recognition as one of the best San Francisco divorce lawyers with a top rating in Martindale Hubbell for ability and ethics.
50 California St., Suite 1500, San Francisco, CA 94111
The family law firm of Moradi Saslaw handles high-stakes divorce and custody cases in San Francisco, San Mateo, and surrounding areas. They have experience in a variety of areas of divorce and high net-worth asset division and valuation, from startups to venture capital. The firm’s partner lawyers have more than 60 years of combined experience in family law.
Moradi Saslav has been recognized by U.S. News & Best Lawyers as one of the best divorce lawyers in San Francisco and the top female attorneys in Northern California. Their approach to collaboration includes weekly strategy sessions with all lawyers to help find creative solutions to complex client situations.
Divorce is tough, and the legal stuff can be very confusing. That’s why in this section, we’ll discuss key issues about divorce lawyers in San Francisco and the process itself. We will focus on the divorce costs and how to get one under California law. So let’s get started!
California doesn’t impose mandatory representation by a lawyer in family law cases. On average, more than a third of all divorces in the US are pro se. California is no exception.
The State Court provides a detailed self-help guide for almost all family law cases. Thus, people going through an uncontested divorce can read these instructions and proceed on their own. But, this is often costly in time terms and moral effort. This is why you should think twice before refusing divorce legal advice.
You always have the choice of whether to contact a San Francisco divorce attorney on an ongoing basis or for a one-time consultation. However, some scenarios need legal representation due to their complexity. Here are some examples:
Hiring a lawyer in these situations ensures effective presentation and protection of your rights.
So, if you decide to hire a specialist for your San Francisco family law case, consider a divorce lawyer consultation to get started. During the conversation, you will be able to ask relevant information and clarify whether a particular counselor is the right fit for you. Here are some questions to ask during your first meeting with a lawyer:
Don’t hesitate to compare several lawyers before making a decision. Look at their experience, fees, and how comfortable you feel with them. Finally, trust your feelings. Your comfort and confidence in the lawyer’s ability to represent you is the key to future success.
Remember, research and preparation before selecting a lawyer will impact the outcome of your legal process.
Now let’s move on to the price of a marriage dissolution in San Francisco. In general, California is one of the most expensive states for divorce fees. The average cost per case reaches $14,000, but it depends on the type of proceedings you have. For example, an uncontested divorce can cost $4,500-$5,500, while a contested one with several issues that go to trial will range from $21,000 to $26,000.
In general, the cost of a divorce includes lawyer’s fees, court, filing, and copying expenses. If not included in the attorney’s fees, you may also need to pay for child custody evaluators, financial experts, or mediators as a separate option. Let’s take a closer look.
Attorney fees in San Francisco vary based on whether the divorce is contested or not. For simple divorces, where both parties agree on the terms, they charge a flat rate. The average divorce attorney fees in San Francisco for an uncontested case are $2,000 to $3,000. This cost covers the legal case review, document filing, and the divorce settlement under California law.
In contested divorces, attorneys charge an initial retainer fee to start the case and then bill hourly. The average attorney retainer in San Francisco ranges from $3,000 to $5,000. Hourly rates are around $350 on average. But, this varies based on the lawyer’s expertise and reputation.
Here are some factors that influence the cost of a contested divorce lawyer’s fee:
The total fee of divorce lawyers in San Francisco for a contested case is around $12,500. But to get a clear picture of your case, discuss all potential costs with your attorney.
In San Francisco, the basic cost to file for a divorce is $435. Below is a table based on The Superior Court of California in San Francisco County fee schedule:
| Fee Type | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Petition for divorce/dissolution of marriage | $435 |
| Response or other first paper in a divorce case | $435 |
| Settlement agreement or stipulation for judgment (signed by a defaulted respondent) | No fee |
| Appearance, stipulation, and waiver of rights in dissolution cases (if a respondent is a member of the armed forces) | No fee |
| Petition for adoption (per person to be adopted) | $20 |
| Domestic violence restraining orders | No fee |
| Motion or order to show cause in family law matter | $60 |
| Stipulation and order not requiring a hearing | $20 |
| Stipulation that does not require an order | No fee |
If you can’t afford the divorce filing fees in San Francisco, you can ask the court for a fee waiver. To do this, you need to qualify if you are on public benefits or have a low income. To apply, fill out the Request to Waive Court Fees form (FW-001). The form asks for details about your income, property, and expenses. You can submit it at the same time as your initial filing for divorce or any time during the process.
The court will review your application and decide whether to grant or deny the fee waiver. Sometimes, the court may grant a partial waiver, so you still need to pay a part of all fees. If granted, the fee waiver is valid for the duration of the case, but you must inform the court if your financial situation improves.
To get a divorce in San Francisco you need to meet California’s residency requirements. One spouse must live for at least 6 months in the state and for at least 3 months in San Francisco before filing. After meeting these conditions, you can file for divorce in a local court. Let’s figure out how.
To file for divorce in San Francisco, first complete the necessary forms:
You may also need extra forms for child custody. These are available on the California Courts webpage.
Once the forms are ready, file them at the Unified Family Court. The Clerk’s office resides at Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 402, San Francisco, CA 94102. This location handles all divorce-related filings and proceedings.
After you file the divorce petition, you (or someone over 18) need to serve the notice to your spouse. You must then give the court proof that they got the notice. Your spouse has 30 days to respond. Here, they will explain their views on dividing property, custody of children, and support.
Both spouses must give all financial details to each other. This usually happens within 60 days after filing the petition or response. You both need to agree on how to split property and deal with child support and spousal support.
In California, you have to wait 6 months from when you file the petition to when the divorce can be final. To finish it, you submit a set of forms to the court. The judge checks it and then makes the divorce official.
On average, uncontested divorce in San Francisco takes about 8 months, while contested one can extend to 18 months or more.
Getting through a divorce in San Francisco can be simpler if you choose the right lawyer. Think about what you need – maybe it’s help with child custody, property division, or just someone to guide you through. Our top 10 list is a great place to start. These divorce lawyers in San Francisco know their stuff and can help make a tough time a bit easier.
Check their experience and reviews, and think about a consultation to discuss their approach to your situation. Pick one that feels right for you, and you’ll be on your way to sorting things out.
Visit the Civil Records Division at the Civic Center Clerk’s Office, located at 400 McAllister St., Room 103, San Francisco, CA 94102. The office can assist with requests for certified copies of dissolution (divorce) records. You can request copies either by mail or in person, following the instructions provided in the Civil Records Request Form.
The cheapest option for divorce in California is an uncontested case. If so, you can file joint divorce forms on your own or with the help of a lawyer. In both cases, the costs will be much lower, since it will not involve long litigation.
Yes, you can get a divorce in California without a lawyer. In such cases, you can file the necessary paperwork yourself, using resources provided by the California courts’ self-help services.
The mandatory waiting period is 6 months. An uncontested divorce in San Francisco takes about 8 months on average. A contested divorce can take 18 months or more.
Filing first for divorce in California doesn’t give a big advantage. It depends on personal readiness and the need to prepare documents. Both sides get a fair chance to present their cases in court.
