Best Divorce Lawyers Bay area
THOMAS D. SANDS
Divorce Lawyers
Attorney Thomas D Sands is a prominent and respected transactional and litigation attorney licensed in the State of California and Hawaii. Thomas is the founder and CEO of The Sands Law Group, and has dedicated his entire legal career to high-quality but cost-conscious representation to individual consumers and businesses in a variety of complex and challenging cases. Thomas is committed to serving his clients with attentive, timely, and effective representation.
Throughout his career, Attorney Thomas D Sands has been a fierce advocate of those in need of legal representation. Thomas’ commitment has helped create a positive reputation in the legal and local community. This positive feedback coupled with years of experience has positioned Thomas to understand why consumers and businesses need a strong advocate to represent them while at the same time being cost-conscious. Prioritizing client needs first and litigating aggressively have helped to secure clients with the best possible outcome.
Thomas believes like all other industries; the highest quality of service leads to the highest quality result. Throughout his career, Thomas has successfully handled hundreds of cases in civil litigation, family law, contested bankruptcy cases, real property disputes, and a variety of other complex legal issues, and remains focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the firm’s clients, which is highlighted by his previous cases.
Rolf D. Kruger
Divorce Lawyers
Mr. Kruger, a Certified Specialist in Family Law (ACFLS) since 2004, has been a member of the California bar since 1995. He holds an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell in his field since 2016, a 10.0 rating on AVVO, and was honored as one of the Top 100 attorneys in Northern California across all practice areas by Superlawyers™ in 2014. Born and raised in San Mateo County, Mr. Kruger attended Santa Clara University, graduating with distinction Beta Gamma Sigma for his accomplishments in a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Commerce with straight A’s in accounting and Calculus.
Christine Tour-Sarkissian
Divorce Lawyers
Christine Tour-Sarkissian specializes in real estate law (both transactions and litigation), family law (in which she is certified as a specialist by the California State Bar), and general civil litigation. She has been in practice since 1985, and co-founded Tour-Sarkissian Law Offices, LLP in 1988. Christine attended the Université Francaise de Lyon (1972-1974). She received a B.A. (with honors) in psychology from the University of San Francisco (1980), a J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law (1984), and a LLM in Taxation from there (2004). Admitted to practice law in California and the District of Columbia, Christine is a member of the Real Property and the Real Property Trust and Estate, Family Law Sections of both the American Bar Association and the State Bar of California.
Since 1995, Christine has been an Adjunct Professor at Golden Gate University School of Law, where she has taught Real Estate Transactions, Real Estate Litigation, Real Property, Real Estate Finance, Commercial Finance and General Civil Litigation Practice. She is co author of California Real Estate Cases 2000, published by California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), and has written numerous articles among them, on Mediation, Elder Abuse and Tenancy In Common Exchanges, in CEB’s Real Property Law Reporter. Her real estate clients have included major commercial property owners, tenants, brokers, contractors, lenders and developers, as well as homeowners’ associations. She has extensive litigation and transactional experience in the purchase and sale of residential and commercial properties, in the drafting and negotiating of commercial mortgage loans representing borrowers and lenders, in construction contracts and litigation, foreclosures and loan work outs. Christine has been involved in several highly complex real estate transactions as well as real estate litigations. Christine is also a licensed real estate broker and is co-owner and founder of Amicus Realty, which specializes in commercial and residential real estate transactions. She belongs to the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, and is a Member and Candidate to the Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute.
Christine’s other major field of practice is family law, where she has the distinction of being a Certified Family Law Specialist. Her practice includes prenuptial agreements, divorce, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, mediation, post-judgment matters and enforcement actions. She also specializes in high conflict cases involving complex business and real estate issues. She also represents clients involved in child kidnapping and child custody disputes both nationally and internationally.
Christine speaks French, Armenian, Arabic, Turkish, and Spanish.
H. Yvonne Seeley
Divorce Lawyers
H. Yvonne Seeley is a Certified Specialist in Family Law (California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization). Her practice focuses on dissolution cases involving high-asset and complex financial issues such as the division of interests in closely-held businesses, real estate, and equity compensation, including stock options and RSU’s. She also has extensive experience with high-conflict custody matters and relocation/move-away cases.
Ms. Seeley brings over 35 years of civil litigation experience to the firm and represents clients through all phases of family law litigation before private judges and in public courthouses. She is also certified in and practices collaborative law. For clients who choose mediation to resolve their issues, Ms. Seeley acts both as a mediator and as a consulting attorney in the mediation setting.
Before founding Seeley Family Law Practice, Ms. Seeley practiced at Hersh Family Law in San Francisco, the Law Offices of John A. Guthrie in Pleasanton, the Seeley Law Firm in San Mateo, and Seeley & Madigan in San Mateo. In her previous association with civil and family law firms she was lead attorney in bench and jury trials. She has also appeared and argued before the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
Jennifer Ani
Divorce Lawyers
Jennifer was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1993. She is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, and holds a B.A. in English from University of California at Davis. Ms. Ani began her career in the private sector working in the financial services industry. After making a mid-career change in 2006, Ms. Ani has since practiced exclusively in the specialized area of Family Law including Juvenile Dependency matters.
Ms. Ani has a deep commitment to providing the highest level of representation to her clients. This also includes giving back to her community by providing pro bono services through the Family Law Project of The Bar Association of San Francisco. In addition to receiving their highest award in 2009, the James P. Preovolos Award, she has received their “Outstanding Contribution to Public Service” awards in 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2010, Ms. Ani was selected to receive the “Family Law Attorney of the Year” award from the Legal Aid Society of California. She is also a recipient of the Wiley P. Manuel award from the State Bar of California.
When not serving the needs of her clients, Jennifer enjoys travel and spending time with her family.
Fraser, Elaine Ryzak
Divorce Lawyers
Elaine Ryzak Fraser’s litigation practice began in 1984, representing clients in family law and personal injury cases. Ms. Fraser added collaborative law to her family law practice in 2002 after she began collaborative law training. She continues to train and is an active member of Collaborative Practice of San Mateo County (CPSMC). She served as chair of its Public Education Committee, and served two years as co-chair of the organization.
In addition to her membership and participation in Collaborative Practice of San Mateo County, Ms. Fraser assists the San Mateo County Superior Court by serving on the Family Law Advisory Board, the Alternative Dispute Resolution MAP Oversight Committee, the Judicial Arbitration Panel and Advisory Committee, the Civil and Probate Advisory Committee, and the San Mateo County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee. She volunteers as a mediator for the San Mateo County superior court for family law and also volunteers to assist the family law judges at status conferences at court.
Ms. Fraser was president of the San Mateo County Trial Lawyers Association in 2007 and continues to serve on its board of directors. She also serves as a Judicial Arbitrator for the San Mateo County Superior Court, and serves as a panelist for the San Francisco Superior Court Pre-Arbitration Settlement Conferences for personal injury cases.
Barry Schneider
Divorce Lawyers
My practice is focused on Family Law and Divorce with an emphasis on Real Estate, Business and Community Property divisions. Our office also has extensive background in Domestic Partnerships, Same-Sex Marriages and Probate and Estate Proceedings.
Our goal is to help our clients make wise and informed decisions and avoid the costly legal and emotional consequences of court proceedings. If court proceedings are necessary, we competently and zealously advocate for our clients.
I have been in the practice of law in San Francisco and the Bay Area for over 30 years and I was Certified in the first class of Family Law Specialists and have been recognized as a “Family Law Super Lawyer” in California.
Areas Of Practice
- Family Law 80%
- Probate & Wills 20%
Bar Admissions
- California, 1974
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1974
Education
- Golden Gate University School of Law, San Francisco, California
- J.D.
- University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California
- B.A.
- Major: Political Science
Honors And Awards
- Super Lawyers, State of California
Professional Associations And Memberships
- San Francisco Bar Association
- Marin County Bar Association
- State of California Bar Association
- State of California Family Law Specialists
Sarah Van Voorhis
Divorce Lawyers
Sarah Van Voorhis is a founding partner of Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP. She was certified as a specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Van Voorhis has been exclusively practicing family law in California (San Francisco Bay Area) since 2001.
Ms. Van Voorhis received her J.D. from Stanford Law School and her B.A. from the University of Utah, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. While in law school, she served as an intern with the U.S. Attorney and the San Jose District Attorney.
Ms. Van Voorhis acquired her formidable divorce and family law litigation experience at well-known and respected Bay Area family law firms. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers magazine after a confidential balloting process by members of the Bar every year since 2009. Most recently, from 2015 to 2018 Super Lawyers named her to their list of Top 100 Attorneys in Northern California. For the past seven years (2013-2019), Super Lawyers recognized her by including her on their list of Top 50 Women: Northern California Super Lawyers. Additionally, for the past nine years (2011-2022), Ms. Van Voorhis was named to their Super Lawyers list. Finally, her recognition from Super Lawyers magazine began in 2009 and 2010 when she was named a family law Rising Star. In 2014, Ms. Van Voorhis was appointed by the State Bar of California to the Family Law Advisory Commission. Her experience gained her inclusion on the San Francisco Superior Court’s Settlement Master panel, where she serves as family law settlement master (settlement judge). She was chairperson of the family law section of the San Francisco Bar Association’s Barristers Club in 2008 and served as vice-chair of the family law section in 2007. She currently serves as a Board Member of the Stanford Club of San Francisco.
Hiring the best divorce lawyer in the Bay Area, which encompasses cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and surrounding areas, can offer several advantages when navigating a divorce. Here are some of the benefits of having a skilled divorce attorney in the Bay Area:
Legal Expertise: A top divorce lawyer in the Bay Area will have a deep understanding of California’s divorce laws, ensuring that your case is handled in compliance with state regulations.
Objective Advice: Divorce is often emotionally charged, making it difficult to make rational decisions. A divorce lawyer can provide objective advice and help you make informed choices about important matters such as property division, alimony, child custody, and child support.
Negotiation Skills: Many divorce cases are resolved through negotiation and settlement rather than going to court. An experienced attorney can negotiate effectively on your behalf to reach a fair and favorable settlement with your spouse, potentially saving you time, money, and emotional stress.
Legal Documentation: Divorce involves a significant amount of paperwork, including legal documents and court filings. A top divorce lawyer will ensure that all necessary documentation is prepared accurately and submitted on time to avoid delays or complications.
Court Representation: If your divorce case does go to court, having a skilled attorney by your side can be invaluable. They will represent your interests effectively before a judge, present your case persuasively, cross-examine witnesses, and advocate for your rights.
Asset Protection: If you have substantial assets or complex financial holdings, a divorce lawyer can help ensure that your property and financial interests are protected during the divorce process.
Child Custody and Support: If you have children, a top divorce lawyer will work diligently to secure a fair custody arrangement and child support agreement that is in the best interests of your children.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution: Some divorces can be resolved through mediation or alternative dispute resolution methods. A knowledgeable attorney can represent you during these processes and help you reach a mutually acceptable agreement with your spouse.
Post-Divorce Issues: Even after the divorce is finalized, there may be post-divorce issues that arise, such as modification of custody or support orders. Having a trusted attorney can be helpful in addressing these ongoing legal matters.
Emotional Support: Going through a divorce is emotionally challenging. A good divorce lawyer can provide not only legal guidance but also emotional support, helping you cope with the stress and uncertainty of the process.
Local Knowledge: A divorce lawyer in the Bay Area will be familiar with local court systems, judges, and procedures, which can be advantageous in navigating your specific case.
Ultimately, the “best” divorce lawyer for you will depend on your unique circumstances, so it’s crucial to consult with several attorneys, ask questions, and choose the one you believe will best represent your interests throughout the divorce process in the Bay Area.