Reducing trauma, increasing security and successful outcomes.

The process of resolving the issues of your divorce does not have to be a devastating scorched earth nightmare that leaves personal, emotional and economic trauma in its wake nor, one that poisons the futures of you and your children.

My practice is devoted exclusively to helping people to regain control over the resolution of their divorces, to maintain their dignity, to protect the welfare of their children, to negotiate the divorce process in a secure respectful atmosphere, to find constructive solutions, to restructure their families rather than destroy them and to deal effectively with the economic issues that face every family.

In spite of the best intentions of concerned judges, family lawyers and other experts who comprise the business as usual court-based divorce process, the adversarial system by its very nature ignites hostility and suspicion, fuels fears, aggression and anger. The divorce lawyers' standard of care requires that people experiencing one of the most difficult times in their lives be subjected to procedures that are invasive, costly and dehumanizing. For decades these well-meaning professionals have been wont to say that a divorce that leaves both parties unhappy is a fair one. I strenuously reject this destructive point of view.

As you will discover from the material and links on this site, skilled well-trained and experienced professionals in the family law sub-specialty of Collaborative Practice and in Mediation have made the respectful, constructive and dignified resolution of divorce issues an every day occurrence. In 2000, working with a select group of my family law colleagues, I founded the first Ventura County based Collaborative Practice group. Many of us are also trained mediators. We make it possible for our clients to avoid the worst of the ordinary divorce process and to achieve resolutions that they agree are appropriate.

My Credentials

• Certified Specialist In Family Law, State Bar Of California. In 1980, I was a member of the first class of family lawyers in California to be certified as specialists in family law. My practice has been devoted exclusively to family law matters since 1975.
• International Academy Of Collaborative Professionals. Membership in the Academy reflects adherence to the highest standards of professional practice and ethics and our support of the advancement of professional skills and public edeucation.
• JUDGE, Pro Tem, VENTURA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT. Appointed by judges of the Superior Court with the consent of trial counsel for both parties, I conduct hearings and trials dealing with complex property, support and child custody matters and enforcement proceedings, including contempt matters. The judge pro tem system provides clients with a means of obtaining an earlier and sometimes a more thorough hearing than would otherwise have been available. It also provides the lawyer sitting as a judge pro tem with invaluable experience and insight into the judge's perspective - a must for success in advocacy and litigation.
• REFEREE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE BAR COURT, 1978-1989. This position involved supervision of investigations into complaints against lawyers and the conduct of hearings to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to institute disciplinary proceedings. Disciplinary and investigative referees perform a valuable public service in identifying conduct which should be curbed. In doing so we gain an even greater insight into the legal system as seen from clients' perspectives and a deeper appreciation of what clients need from their lawyers and from the legal system as a whole.
• FOUNDER OF COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW PROFESSIONALS. This group of prominent family lawyers offers family law clients an effective approach to the resolution of their matters without having to experience the costly, invasive and upsetting effects of litigation in our adversarial system. For several years the California Judicial Council, the California Law Revision Commission and other state-wide bodies have sought a way to protect people in divorce from the full impact of the adversary litigation system without also depriving them of their Constitutional due process rights. The collaborative process effectively accomplishes both parts of that goal. The decision, in January of 2000 to bring this innovative and now highly acclaimed alternative to Ventura County stemmed from my own awareness of that need. My colleagues in the Collaborative Family Law Professionals organization are gratified to be able to provide an effective answer to this need. Our approach has been heartily endorsed by the presiding judge of our Superior Court and by all of our family law judges and commissioners.
• FOUNDER OF THE FAMILY LAW LEGAL ASSISTANCE FREE CLINIC. The need for help in family law matters is not limited to those who are able to retain counsel to represent them. Yet, without professional guidance people are all too often unable to make the courts work for them, even in the most straight forward and uncomplicated situations. Divorce is one of the most traumatic events that people (children included) experience. Everyone involved in divorce needs help to negotiate their way through the legal system. In Ventura County this need was met for years by the free clinic. Today we now have an in-the-courthouse self-help clinic staffed by court-paid well experienced family lawyers and support staff to help insure that no one is deprived of access to the courts or of the ability to resolve these important matters.
• VENTURA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION, FAMILY LAW SECTION, Client Relations and Arbitration Committee, Chairperson 1978-1980 and the Pro Bono Representation Committee - volunteer counsel. The arbitration role reflects my continuing interest in the activities I pursued as a referee of the State Bar Court. The pro bono committee is a clearinghouse for requests to the Bar for free legal representation from people who have compelling and extremely meritorious situations which require substantial professional intervention. This is another very rewarding way to give back to the community and to extend the reach of our justice system to often difficult but, very compelling matters.
• ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA FAMILY LAW SPECIALISTS (founding member).
• STATE BAR OF CALIFORNIA (Member, Family Law Section).
• AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (Member, Family Law Section).
• CITY OF VENTURA PLANNING COMMISSION 1978-1983, Vice-Chairman, 1979-1980, Chairman, 1981-1983, Member, Modification Committee, 1978-1981.
• 1ST LIEUTENANT, U.S. ARMY INTELLIGENCE CORPS 1964-1966.