Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California
in a statewide poll limited to Judges, Attorneys, and Law Firm Administrators.
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Family law matters often involve some of life’s most significant transitions. Whether you are preparing for marriage with a prenuptial agreement, filing for divorce, resolving a child custody dispute, or returning to court to modify an existing order, the decisions made during these proceedings can have lasting financial, legal, and personal consequences. Having experienced legal guidance from the beginning can help you make informed decisions while protecting your rights and your family’s future.
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, we understand that no two families face the same challenges. Some clients require strategic guidance through complex financial issues, while others need practical solutions that minimize conflict and promote long-term stability. Our attorneys represent individuals and families throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay in a wide range of family law matters, providing personalized legal strategies tailored to each client’s goals and circumstances. Whether your case is resolved through negotiation, mediation, or litigation, we are committed to helping you move forward with confidence.
Divorce involves much more than legally ending a marriage. It often requires resolving property division, spousal support, parenting issues, and other financial matters that may affect your future for years to come. California’s community property laws establish the framework for dividing marital assets and debts, but high-value real estate, business ownership, executive compensation, retirement accounts, and separate property claims frequently add complexity to the process.
Our attorneys represent clients in all aspects of divorce and legal separation, including:
Whether your case involves straightforward financial issues or substantial assets requiring detailed legal and financial analysis, our goal is to help you reach a resolution that protects your interests while supporting long-term stability. For clients seeking more detailed information about the divorce process, we also provide dedicated guidance on our Hermosa Beach Divorce Attorney page.
When children are involved, custody decisions often become the most important aspect of a family law case. California courts evaluate every custody matter using the best interests of the child standard, focusing on each child’s health, safety, stability, and overall well-being. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach, courts consider each family’s unique circumstances when determining parenting arrangements.
For families throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay, parenting plans often need to account for school schedules, extracurricular activities, work commitments, and the practical realities of daily life throughout Los Angeles County. Thoughtfully prepared parenting plans can help reduce future conflict while providing children with consistency and stability.
Our child custody services include:
Our attorneys work closely with parents to develop practical custody solutions that preserve meaningful parent-child relationships while protecting the child’s best interests. If your primary concern involves custody or parenting time, our dedicated Hermosa Beach Child Custody Attorneys page provides more detailed information about California custody laws, parenting plans, and the legal process.
Financial support is a key component of many family law matters and often one of the most complex issues families face. Whether support is being established during a divorce, modified after a significant life change, or enforced because payments have not been made, accurate financial information and experienced legal guidance are essential.
California uses a statewide guideline formula to calculate child support, while spousal support is determined by considering numerous statutory factors, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, the marital standard of living, and the financial circumstances of both parties. Cases involving business ownership, executive compensation, investment income, self-employment, or other complex financial assets often require additional analysis to ensure support orders accurately reflect each party’s financial situation.
Our attorneys assist clients throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay with:
Whether you are seeking support or responding to a request, our goal is to help ensure financial orders are fair, legally sound, and supported by accurate financial information.
Although California’s community property laws provide the framework for dividing marital assets and debts, many family law matters involve financial issues that require significantly more analysis than simply dividing property equally.
Families in Hermosa Beach often own high-value coastal real estate, retirement accounts, investment portfolios, closely held businesses, professional practices, or executive compensation packages that require careful valuation and characterization before property can be divided fairly.
Our attorneys regularly assist clients with matters involving:
When appropriate, we work alongside forensic accountants, business valuation professionals, and other financial experts to ensure assets are accurately identified, properly valued, and divided in accordance with California law. Clients facing divorce involving substantial assets can also find more detailed information on our Hermosa Beach Divorce Attorney page.
Not every family law matter requires a courtroom trial. Many disputes can be resolved through negotiation or mediation, allowing families to reach practical agreements while maintaining greater control over the outcome.
For many Hermosa Beach families, mediation offers several advantages. It encourages cooperation, allows for more personalized solutions, provides greater privacy than litigation, and often reduces both the emotional and financial costs associated with contested court proceedings. Whether the issue involves divorce, parenting plans, property division, or support, mediation frequently gives families greater flexibility to create agreements that reflect their unique circumstances.
When settlement is not possible, experienced litigation becomes essential. Family law matters involving Hermosa Beach residents are heard through the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, where judges resolve disputes involving divorce, custody, support, and property division according to California law.
Our attorneys represent clients throughout every stage of the litigation process, including:
We believe every family law matter deserves the approach that best serves the client’s goals. In some cases, that means resolving disputes through productive negotiation. In others, it requires experienced courtroom advocacy. Our attorneys are prepared for both and develop legal strategies based on each client’s specific circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Family law matters do not always end when a final judgment is entered. As families grow and circumstances change, existing court orders may no longer reflect a parent’s financial situation or a family’s current needs. California law allows certain family law orders to be modified when there has been a significant change in circumstances.
Our attorneys assist clients throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay with a variety of post-judgment matters, including:
Whether a modification involves a parent’s relocation, a substantial change in income, or evolving needs of a child, we help clients pursue practical legal solutions that comply with California law and protect their long-term interests.
It is also important to remember that informal agreements between former spouses or parents are generally not legally enforceable. Even if both parties agree to modify a parenting schedule or support arrangement, those changes should be properly documented and approved by the court to avoid future disputes.
Family law matters involving Hermosa Beach residents are typically handled through the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Depending on your case, proceedings may involve divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, mediation, or post-judgment modifications.
Helpful resources include:
The Los Angeles Superior Court hears divorce, custody, support, and other family law matters for residents throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay. The court also provides filing information, required forms, and procedural guidance.
The Family Law Facilitator’s Office assists self-represented litigants with procedural questions involving support, custody, and other family law matters. While the office cannot provide legal advice, it offers guidance regarding forms and court procedures.
Family Court Services provides court-connected mediation for custody and visitation disputes. In many cases involving children, participation in mediation is required before a judge issues final custody orders.
The California Courts Self-Help Center provides statewide access to family law forms, filing instructions, and educational resources for individuals involved in California family law proceedings.
Although these resources can help explain court procedures, they cannot replace legal advice tailored to your family’s circumstances. Working with an experienced Hermosa Beach family law attorney can help you better understand your rights and make informed decisions throughout your case.
Family law cases involve much more than legal procedures. They often require difficult decisions that affect your children, your financial future, and your family’s long-term stability. Whether you are preparing for divorce, negotiating a prenuptial agreement, resolving a child custody dispute, or seeking to modify an existing court order, experienced legal guidance can help you move forward with greater confidence.
For decades, Schoenberg Family Law Group has represented individuals and families throughout Southern California in a broad range of family law matters. Our attorneys understand that every case presents unique circumstances, which is why we develop personalized legal strategies rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. We work closely with our clients to identify practical solutions that align with their goals while protecting what matters most.
Led by founding attorney Debra Schoenberg, a Certified Family Law Specialist, our legal team has extensive experience handling high-asset divorces, complex property division, child custody disputes, prenuptial agreements, and post-judgment matters. When appropriate, we collaborate with financial professionals, business valuation experts, and other specialists to help clients navigate complicated legal and financial issues with confidence.
When you choose Schoenberg Family Law Group, you can expect:
Our commitment is to provide knowledgeable legal counsel, compassionate client service, and strategic advocacy that helps families confidently navigate every stage of the family law process.
Whether you are preparing for marriage, considering divorce, addressing child custody issues, or seeking to modify an existing family court order, obtaining experienced legal guidance early can make a meaningful difference. Understanding your rights, evaluating your options, and developing a thoughtful legal strategy from the outset can help you avoid unnecessary conflict while protecting your family’s future.
Schoenberg Family Law Group proudly represents individuals and families throughout Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, and surrounding South Bay communities. Our attorneys are committed to helping clients resolve family law matters efficiently while providing the personalized attention and experienced advocacy they deserve.
Contact Schoenberg Family Law Group today to schedule a confidential consultation with an experienced Hermosa Beach family law attorney and learn how we can help you move forward with confidence.
"I was seeking a reputable family law firm for my prenuptial agreement and received high praise for the Schoenberg Law Group. My attorney listened to my questions and responded to them very patiently. She also paid close attention all my concerns and made sure I was aware of the legal value of the agreement I was about to sign. It was…”
D.R.“It has been a real blessing to find this family law group in my life. I was in the middle of a custody battle with my ex wife and had a lawyer who had sided with my ex wife’s lawyer. I was faced with the option of paying to a regular lawyer to do half jobs with no results or to invest a bit more for a top family counselor who understood my situation and at the same time not giving me false hopes."
A.L."I hesitated filing papers for a long time because I was not sure if I could survive a long legal battle. When we were married, my husband worked while I raised the children, two under four years old, and I was afraid I would lose the stability they needed. I had a wonderful group of friends that helped me search for a reputable law firm that could represent me when my focus was on my children. They found the"
L.A.We are trial lawyers who litigate high-conflict, high-stakes cases. While we try to build on mediation efforts and exhaust opportunities for a negotiated agreement, emotions, egos and various other realities often force these disputes into court. It is critical to work with a firm that knows how to apply the law and the facts in your favor, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.
One of California’s Top Family Lawyers for five consecutive years: 2022–2026
SFLG Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years: 2021 - 2026
One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by San Francisco Business Times
Debra Schoenberg was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization
Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
“My goal is to preserve your dignity and your humanity throughout what can be a very difficult and painful process, while at the same time achieving a favorable outcome on your behalf.”
Over 400 Years of Collective Family Law Experience
Debra R. Schoenberg
Owner & Founder
Kimia Kojouri
Associate
Family law includes divorce, legal separation, child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, property division, prenuptial agreements, and post-judgment modifications. Our attorneys represent clients throughout Hermosa Beach and the South Bay in a wide range of family law matters.
Not always. Many family law disputes are resolved through negotiation or mediation before reaching trial. However, if an agreement cannot be reached, your case may require hearings before the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
California follows community property laws, meaning assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally divided equally. However, determining whether property is community or separate can become more complicated when high-value real estate, business interests, retirement accounts, or investment assets are involved.
California requires a minimum six-month waiting period before a divorce can become final. More complex cases involving child custody disputes, significant assets, or contested financial issues often require additional time depending on the circumstances and court scheduling.
Yes. California courts may modify custody or support orders when there has been a significant change in circumstances. Common reasons include changes in income, relocation, changes to a child's needs, or other developments affecting the family's situation.
California uses a statewide guideline formula that considers each parent's income, parenting time, and other statutory factors. Cases involving self-employment income, business ownership, executive compensation, or investment income often require additional financial analysis.
California law requires both spouses to make complete financial disclosures. If you believe assets or income have not been disclosed, your attorney may use formal discovery procedures and, when appropriate, work with forensic accountants or financial experts to identify hidden assets.
Not every family law matter requires mediation. However, mediation is commonly required in child custody disputes before the court will issue final custody orders. In other family law matters, mediation is often encouraged because it can help families resolve disputes more efficiently and with less conflict.
Legal separation allows spouses to resolve financial matters, property issues, and parenting arrangements without legally ending the marriage. Divorce permanently dissolves the marriage and allows each spouse to remarry if they choose.
Family law cases often involve complex legal procedures, financial disclosures, and decisions that can affect your family for years to come. An experienced Hermosa Beach family law attorney can help you understand your legal rights, develop an effective strategy, negotiate favorable resolutions, and advocate for your interests throughout the process.
