Best Family Lawyer in California
BESHOY F. SHEHATA
Family Lawyer
Beshoy F. Shehata Esq., is the Chief Executive Officer and proud owner of Family Law Matters. He goes by “B.” B graduated from California Western School of Law Cum Laude and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2017. B is passionate about his career choice and loves helping his clients.
B was raised in Cairo, Egypt. He migrated to the United States with his family in 2000. He has six siblings. He always wanted to become an attorney to help those going through tough times.
He understands how difficult it is to go through a divorce or a custody battle. He understands the stress and uncertainty that accompanies this unfortunate situation. B comes from a strong religious background. He is a Coptic Orthodox Christian. He has strong ties with his family, church, and the community.
His mission is to help his clients through this difficult time. He enjoys counseling them and guiding them through this complex legal system.
CHARRISSE N. SMITH
Family Lawyer
Charrisse N. Smith Esq., is a native of Southern California. She attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she double majored in Sociology and Black Studies. After completing her undergraduate studies, she dedicated one year of service to the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Through this program, Charrisse worked at an inner-city high school where she loved developing students academically and socially to prepare them for college and life in general.
Charrisse then continued her education at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. While there she excelled in the classroom, making The Dean’s List consistently. Additionally, she held leadership positions in the Student Bar Association and the Black Law Students Association, both locally and nationally. Most notably, Charrisse was the first student from her law school to serve on the Executive Board for the Midwestern Region of the Black Law Students Association.
Peter M. Walzer
Family Lawyer
eter M. Walzer is the founding partner of the Southern California law firm Walzer Melcher LLP, a practice focused exclusively on family law with offices in Woodland Hills.
Peter handles multifaceted and contentious divorce cases. He skillfully negotiates marital agreements. His cases involve people with “out of the ordinary” personal and financial issues. Many of the matters that he handles involve cases where one of the parties lives in another state or country.
Peter is an extraordinary leader. He served as president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2018-2019), an organization consisting of 1650 preeminent family lawyers in the United States. He is the past chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Family Law Section, a past president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and former chair of the executive committee of the State Bar Family Law Section.
Christopher C. Melcher
Family Lawyer
Business owners, celebrities, and trust beneficiaries across California turn to me for assistance in protecting their most valuable assets in high-stakes divorces. With deep experience in complex family law litigation, I provide tactical representation in the most challenging family law disputes.
I understand the need to keep sensitive family matters private, having represented noteworthy clients in the largest divorce cases in California. My clients include A-list celebrities, executives, and tech company founders. Frequently, I am hired by other family lawyers as a consultant, expert, or co-counsel on significant divorce cases in California.
My passion is helping others and I love the law. My father was a trial lawyer and I learned not only how to be a lawyer from him, but what it means to be a lawyer. Before entering family law exclusively, I practiced criminal defense and civil personal injury litigation.
Bettina Yanez
Family Lawyer
Attorney Bettina Yanez is a California Certified Family Law Specialist, previously based in Anaheim. The Law Firm relocated to Santa Ana, then Tustin, California in 2007. She has been practicing family law since 2000. Her family law offices are now located in Orange, CA, two blocks south of the Orange family law courthouse.
She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in Divorce Law, Matrimonial and Family Law, which includes, matters such as complex divorce issues and Equitable Distribution Litigation, Child Custody and Visitation, Relocation/Move away, Child Support and Spousal Support Proceedings, Contempt of Court Proceedings, Enforcement and Modification Proceedings, Paternity, Domestic Violence, Interstate Child Abduction and Custody Matters.
Peter J. Flanagan
Family Lawyer
Peter J. Flanagan has been a family law practitioner since 1986 and was certified as a Family Law Specialist in 1994. Mr Flanagan is a past president of the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association (1998) and served as co-chairman of the Education Committee of that section from 1999 to 2006. Currently Mr. Flanagan maintains his practice in Orange County.
Law School: Western State University College of Law
Admission Date: 7/28/1986
ANA BARSEGIAN
Family Lawyer
Upon being admitted to practice law in 2003, I worked for Knapp Petersen & Clarke as an associate attorney, practicing insurance defense litigation. I was part of a team of lawyers representing major insurance companies.
Still searching for my niche in the area of law, during 2005, I learned the craft of family law by working at the Glendale office of a reputable family law certified specialist. She has become my mentor and good friend. A huge part of my success and happiness as a family law practitioner was meeting her in 2005.
I opened my law office during April 2006, and dedicated my practice to family law. I handle simple, as well as challenging family law disputes.
I am a solo practitioner and work one-on-one with my clients. There are no paralegals or other attorneys at my office. Just me.
Joanne Zhou
Family Lawyer
Joanne Zhou is the founder and managing partner of The Zhou Law Group, and a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) – the highest recognition of family law expertise issued by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California. Ms. Zhou has represented over 1,000 clients in the past 10 years and is well known for her talent, compassion, competence, and efficiency. Her strength lies in her ability to simplify complicated divorce issues and propose intelligent, effective solutions for her clients.
As a prominent member of the California Bar Association and California Family Law Association, Ms. Zhou regularly gives exclusive interviews to Tencent, and many other mainstream media companies, with her comments on trending legal news and topics, which have gained over 50 million views in total. Her pristine reputation speaks volumes about her exceptional skills and profound social influence.
Finding the “best” family lawyer in California can be subjective and dependent on individual needs and preferences. While I cannot provide specific recommendations, here are some general tips to help you find a reputable family lawyer in California:
Referrals: Seek recommendations from friends, family members, or colleagues who have had positive experiences with family lawyers in California. Their firsthand referrals can be valuable in identifying reliable and skilled practitioners.
Online Directories: Utilize online directories, such as the State Bar of California’s website or other legal directories, to search for family lawyers in California. These directories often provide information about lawyers’ credentials, practice areas, and contact details.
Bar Association Resources: Visit the website of the State Bar of California (https://www.calbar.ca.gov/) to access their lawyer referral service or directory. These resources can help you find qualified family lawyers who are members of the bar association.
Reviews and Testimonials: Read client reviews and testimonials on various platforms, including Google reviews, legal review websites, or lawyer-specific websites. While individual experiences may vary, reviews can provide insights into lawyers’ reputations and the quality of their services.
Consultations: Schedule initial consultations with potential family lawyers to discuss your case and assess their suitability. During these meetings, ask questions about their experience, track record, approach to family law, and how they can assist you.
Specialization and Expertise: Look for family lawyers who specialize in family law and have experience handling cases similar to yours. Verify their credentials, certifications, and memberships in professional associations related to family law.
Fee Structure and Communication: Inquire about the lawyer’s fee structure, including billing methods and rates, to ensure they align with your budget. Additionally, assess their communication style and responsiveness, as effective communication is crucial for a productive attorney-client relationship.
Remember to consider factors such as experience, specialization, reputation, communication skills, availability, and affordability when choosing a family lawyer in California. It’s important to find a lawyer who not only possesses the necessary legal skills but also understands your unique circumstances and can provide the support and guidance you need for your family law matter.