Best Family Lawyer in San Diego

Dario Higuchi

Family Lawyer

As a founding partner and managing member of Signature Resolution, Dario Higuchi is dedicated to delivering the firm’s vision to provide the highest level of service and results for attorneys and their clients.

Dario actively guides senior management, leading business operations, business development strategy and planning, and recruiting the industry’s most distinguished neutrals. His knowledge of the legal industry and candid approach have helped him accelerate the firm’s growth. Under Dario’s leadership, Signature Resolution created a new business model and set a footprint for expansion into new markets to serve the community of attorneys and their clients in California and across the country.

Driven by the belief that litigators, trial lawyers, insurance companies, and corporate America understand the value of premium service and results for their cases, Dario positions Signature Resolution to attract the most respected alternative dispute resolution professionals. His awareness of new social and economic trends also helps Signature Resolution remain at the forefront of service and technology solutions, to provide better outcomes for all.

Prior to Signature Resolution, Dario dedicated 14 years to leading operations for an alternative dispute resolution firm in Los Angeles. He is currently based in Signature Resolution’s downtown Los Angeles offices and resides in the South Bay with his family.

Ezekiel E. Cortez

Family Lawyer

Ezekiel E. Cortez is a California State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Federal Criminal Defense. He has dedicated his law practice to federal criminal defense and related federal criminal matters, for over thirty eight years and is a veteran trial and appellate lawyer.

Emerging from law school as a career federal criminal defense attorney, Mr. Cortez has devoted himself to the zealous defense of those under attack by the Federal Government and is deeply committed to the underdog, the persecuted, the voiceless, and the outnumbered in federal courts nationally.  He began his federal criminal defense career as a federal criminal defense lawyer in 1983 at the then nationally preeminent Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., vigorously defending people who could not afford to hire a lawyer.

As a highly experienced and determined defender of constitutional rights, Mr. Cortez regularly handles difficult cases in the notoriously difficult area of post-conviction Habeas Corpus litigation. Since 1988, he has handled unique cases involving a variety of legal defects, including prosecutorial misconduct, ineffective assistance of counsel, lawyer malfeasance, and other constitutional violations.  In this difficult area of last resort, he has successfully accomplished the vacating of life sentences in three separate difficult cases that had been considered lost causes. Because of his recognized creative and vigorous commitment to criminal defense, Mr. Cortez is often the attorney to whom clients turn when they believe they have run out of options.

Mr. Cortez also handles selected federal civil matters, asset forfeiture matters and serves as a consultant to lawyers in the creation and direction of case strategy in federal criminal matters and select federal/state civil matters that involve constitutionally significant federal issues.

Shana J. Black

Family Lawyer

Shana J. Black was admitted to the California bar in 2000. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her Juris Doctorate from University of San Diego School of Law in 2000, cum laude.

She was a member of the San Diego Law Review, serving with distinction, and a Merit Scholarship Recipient at the University of San Diego School of Law from 1997 to 2000. She has received numerous awards for her legal and community work, including the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services, CALI Award for High Achievement in Trusts and Estates and International Civil Litigation, and recognition by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program. Prior to entering law school, she taught Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics as a graduate assistant and adjunct faculty member.

Ms. Black has served as a member of the following organizations:

  • Board of Directors, Federalist Society, San Diego Chapter
  • Board of Directors, San Diego Republican Business Women’s Association
  • Board of Directors, Past President, Co-Founder, Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association
  • Member, La Jolla Symphony & Chorus
  • San Diego Bar Association
  • State Bar of California

Puja Sachdev

Family Lawyer

Puja A. Sachdev is a top-rated San Diego divorce attorney and family law mediator who focuses on family law, child support, and divorce cases and is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She received her law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law at San Diego, graduating cum laude with her Juris Doctorate.

She is admitted to practice law in California and the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California.

As a Certified Family Law Specialist, Ms. Sachdev has met the rigorous requirements set by the California State Bar. Some of these include passing a written exam, demonstration of a high level of experience in family law issues, fulfilling specific educational prerequisites and receiving favorable recommendations from colleagues and the judiciary.

In order to fulfill these demands and to continue to meet this benchmark, Ms. Sachdev continues to be an expert in the field.

Ms. Sachdev serves on a select court-appointed panel of attorneys who are appointed to represent minor children in high conflict and complex child custody cases. Custody and visitation matters are often some of the most contentious issues in Family Law. By taking her lead, the entire team is incredibly passionate about the well-being of children in Family Law cases.

Family Law is an incredibly diverse and challenging field, which frequently involves issues in tax law, real property law, contract law, and criminal law. By having a widespread professional network ensures Ms. Sachdev can connect clients with experts in their field and work with these legal experts on their cases.

Steven J. Prager

Family Lawyer

Attorney Steven J. Prager handles a variety of Divorce and Family Law cases in San Diego, CA. If you are facing the family court system you may be overwhelmed and in need of help from an experienced attorney. Whether your Family Law matter requires litigation or mediation Steven has the expertise to guide you through the process.

For over 15 years, Steven has dedicated his life to the practice of law. He has handled well over 1,000 cases to date and reports a success rate that exceeds 90%. Originally, Steven began his career with the San Diego County Public Defender in 2010. He joined the Family Law division of the Marshall Sanders firm in 2012, becoming a partner in 2015. He subsequently started his own practice now known as Prager Jones, APC. Steven is also a licensed Divorce Attorney in the State of Texas, and admitted to practice law before the U.S District Court, for the Southern District.

Steven describes his practice style as “efficient”. He focuses on what the problem is and getting the problem solved, as soon as possible, with the least possible cost to the client. Every case is unique and requires a distinctive legal strategy to be successful. Diplomacy can be the most efficient route to the best results while other cases require aggressive litigation. It’s essential that your Divorce attorney excels at a multitude of legal strategies. Steven has a background in competitive chess and game theory which he draws upon in developing legal strategies. He credits a large number of his successes to his innovative legal strategies.

Outside of work, Steven loves spending time with friends, family and his miniature schnauzer, “Charlie”. Steven is an avid weightlifter, and enjoys an active lifestyle with activities such as boxing, scuba diving, and surfing. Steven spends much of his free time giving back to the community by working with charities, legal clinics, and volunteering as a Judge in national law competitions.

Timothy Miranda

Family Lawyer

Timothy Miranda is a Founding Partner of Antonyan Miranda, a litigation trial attorney, and a Certified Family Law Specialist that has successfully represented a vast array of clients throughout the State, and in a wide range of legal matters.

Having started his legal career as a Certified Legal Intern for a former prosecutor and veteran criminal defense attorney, Mr. Miranda garnered invaluable litigation experience by participating in the defense of several high-profile felony trials. While still a law student, Mr. Miranda prevailed in his first criminal trial, securing an acquittal on all counts of assault and battery. That was followed by a not-guilty verdict on six counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, during Mr. Miranda’s first year of practicing law.

Mr. Miranda focuses exclusively on family law, domestic violence, as well as the collateral criminal and administrative issues that may arise from them. Aside from more traditional family law proceedings such as marital dissolution, child custody, and support, Mr. Miranda has also performed countless restraining order trials, and has prosecuted and defended several contempt trials. Additionally, Mr. Miranda represents clients in criminal domestic violence cases, as well as proceedings involving Child Welfare Services and juvenile dependency matters.

Prior to pursuing the practice of law, Mr. Miranda, who is bilingual English-Spanish, embarked on a successful career as an entrepreneur and executive. His strong business background and diverse legal experience has made Mr. Miranda a coveted attorney for high-net-worth individuals, captains of industry, professional athletes, as well as their spouses and partners.

Bonnie A. Rabinovitch

Family Lawyer

Bonnie is a multifaceted dynamo with many talents that make her truly an asset to her clients. She is a passionate and aggressive attorney who has handled many complex matters for her clients.

Bonnie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, where she graduated from McGill University Law School with Honors, Distinction, and two law degrees. Bonnie was published twice in a prominent Canadian Law Journal. Aside from her numerous distinctions, Bonnie has two business degrees, in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, which she also received from McGill University in Montreal. Bonnie’s passion has always been the law since 2006 as an attorney in Family Law. Bonnie is fluent in two languages, but, can speak four. Her depth of experience and educational background makes her uniquely qualified for her work in Family Law and able to handle the most complex of cases.

Bonnie brings a humorous approach to even the toughest situations, and, her clients love her dedication and personal attention. When Bonnie is not at work, she enjoys hiking, working out, and spending time with her family. Bonnie has been married for 23 years and she has three wonderful children who are her pride and joy and the main reasons she brings such passion to her career.

Bonnie is routinely appointed by the judges across our county as a temporary judge to help parties resolve their case before, they need to spend their hard earned money on a trial.  She has a 98% success rate in getting parties to resolve their differences in as little as 3-5 hours.

Sara Neumann

Family Lawyer

born San Bernardino, California
admitted to bar, 1997, California
1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Divorce Lawyer and Certified Family Law Specialist 
State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Sara Neumann nominated as a semi-finalist for San Diego County Top Attorneys for 2009 with the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Sara Neumann nominated as a semi-finalist for San Diego County Top Attorneys for 2010 with the San Diego Daily Transcript.

Education

University of California, San Diego (B.A., 1993)
Southwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1997)

Member

Association of Certified Family Law Specialists since 2008
Bar Association of Northern San Diego County
San Diego County Bar Association
American Bar Association
State Bar of California
Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles

Practice Areas

Family Law; Divorce; Annulments; Legal Separation; Paternity; Child Custody; Visitation Rights; Child Support; Spousal Support; Asset Division; Step Parent Adoptions; Adoption; Enforcement of Judgments, Modifications; Guardianships; Restraining Orders.

What Are The Most Common Financial Mistakes Made During Divorce?

Divorce can be an emotionally challenging and financially complex process, leading to mistakes that can have long-term consequences. Here are some of the most common financial mistakes people make during a divorce:

1. Failing to Understand the Full Financial Picture

  • Overlooking Assets and Debts: Not having a complete inventory of all assets and debts can lead to an unfair settlement. This includes hidden assets, joint debts, retirement accounts, and investments.
  • Ignoring Tax Implications: Divorce can have significant tax consequences, such as taxes on alimony, property division, and retirement account withdrawals. Failing to consider these can result in unexpected tax liabilities.

2. Keeping the Family Home Without Considering Affordability

  • Emotional Attachment: Many people fight to keep the family home due to emotional ties, without considering if they can afford the mortgage, maintenance, taxes, and insurance on a single income.
  • Overlooking Liquid Assets: In trying to keep the home, some may overlook the importance of liquid assets like cash or investments, which might be more beneficial in the long run.

3. Underestimating Future Living Expenses

  • Inaccurate Budgeting: Many people underestimate their post-divorce living expenses, including housing, utilities, childcare, and healthcare. This can lead to financial strain and difficulty maintaining the same standard of living.
  • Not Accounting for Inflation: It’s important to consider how inflation will affect future costs, particularly for long-term expenses like education and healthcare.

4. Mishandling Retirement Accounts

  • Improper Division: Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and pensions are often divided in divorce, but mishandling the process can lead to penalties and tax consequences. A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is typically needed to divide these accounts without incurring penalties.
  • Forgetting About Future Retirement Needs: In the rush to divide assets, some people neglect their future retirement needs, leaving them underfunded for retirement.

5. Failing to Consider Long-Term Financial Impact

  • Focusing Only on Immediate Needs: Some people focus on immediate financial relief rather than long-term financial security, leading to decisions that might not be beneficial in the long run.
  • Not Consulting Financial Experts: Failing to seek advice from financial planners, accountants, or divorce financial analysts can result in poor financial decisions that affect your future stability.

6. Overlooking Hidden or Complex Assets

  • Business Interests: Business ownership, stock options, or complex investments can be difficult to value and divide fairly. Failing to properly account for these can lead to an unfair settlement.
  • Pension Plans and Benefits: Pension plans and other employment benefits may have substantial value, but they are often overlooked or undervalued during divorce negotiations.

7. Incurring Excessive Legal and Emotional Costs

  • Prolonged Litigation: Prolonging the divorce process out of spite or emotional distress can lead to excessive legal fees and deplete assets that could have been better used post-divorce.
  • Letting Emotions Drive Decisions: Allowing anger, revenge, or guilt to dictate financial decisions can lead to choices that are not in your best financial interest.

8. Not Updating Estate Planning Documents

  • Forgetting to Update Beneficiaries: After a divorce, it’s crucial to update beneficiaries on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and wills. Failing to do so can result in assets going to an ex-spouse instead of intended heirs.
  • Overlooking Legal Documents: Powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and trusts may need to be updated to reflect the change in marital status.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common financial mistakes requires careful planning, understanding the full scope of your financial situation, and seeking professional advice. By taking a strategic approach to financial decisions during divorce, you can protect your financial future and minimize the long-term impact of the separation.

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