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 are deeply personal and impact your life long-term. A prenup before the wedding, a divorce filing, a custody dispute, or a return trip to court years later when circumstances shift — each of these carries weight that extends well past the courtroom, into finances, parenting, and daily life. Choosing the right attorney from the start can make a meaningful difference in the decisions you make, the outcomes of your case, and how well they hold up over the long haul. Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. builds each case around the specific family in front of us, not a one-size-fits-all playbook. We represent clients throughout Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, and Newport Coast across every kind of family law matter, whether straightforward and amicable or complex and highly contentious.
Even in the best of circumstances, when the spouses agree on most issues, the end of marriage involves many emotional matters and difficult decisions. Property must be divided, support negotiated, custody arranged, and financial futures replanned — often all at once and under considerable strain. Although California’s no-fault and community property frameworks aim to simplify some major issues, the reality is that disentangling your shared life and finances is rarely a simple task – particularly in a community where waterfront real estate, investment income, and closely held business interests are the norm. Our work for Newport Beach clients spans:
We aim to resolve every case as efficiently and amicably as circumstances allow, whether that means a negotiated settlement or going to trial. We help our clients navigate highly sensitive matters with calm and confidence, focusing on a stable future for your family in its new form.
Custody tends to be the most emotionally charged aspect of family law, and the stakes feel exceptionally high. California courts apply the best interests standard to every custody matter, weighing many factors related to the child’s overall well-being, including each parent’s ability to provide a safe, stable environment, the existing parent-child bonds, and the child’s existing routines and relationships. In Newport Beach specifically, strong schools, sailing and competitive sports, and tight community ties are often central to a child’s daily life — details a generic custody template simply cannot account for. Our custody work includes:
We push for highly tailored, practical arrangements that support the child’s well-being and preserve parent-child relationships, while protecting parental rights.
Financial support issues are more complicated than most clients expect going in. California’s guideline formula for child support factors in each parent’s income, their share of parenting time, and the child’s specific needs. Spousal support runs through a broader set of considerations — marriage length, the couple’s standard of living, and each spouse’s future earning capacity. Our support work covers:
A robust financial analysis (not just a plausible sounding number) is what makes a support order actually hold up.
Many family law disputes never need a courtroom. Mediation offers a private, less adversarial way to reach agreement on key issues, and this matters to Newport Beach families who want to preserve their co-parenting relationship and their standing in the community.
When successful negotiation isn’t realistic, litigation becomes necessary. Family law matters in the Newport Beach area proceed through the Orange County Superior Court, and knowing the local procedures and judicial expectations is key to presenting a compelling case. Litigated matters typically involve formal hearings, mandatory financial disclosures, motions practice, and judicial rulings on contested issues. We’re comfortable in both settings and help clients choose the path that actually serves their interests, rather than defaulting to whichever option costs more.
Orders issued at the time of divorce aren’t always permanent fixtures. Jobs change, kids grow, parents relocate — and California courts recognize that orders sometimes need updating to match new realities. A significant change in circumstances is the threshold for most modifications. Common post-judgment matters include custody and visitation changes, child and spousal support adjustments, enforcement of existing orders, and contempt proceedings. Informal agreements between former spouses, even mutual ones, carry no legal weight until a court approves them — we help clients formalize changes properly so nothing is left ambiguous.
Family law demands more than technical knowledge. It requires discretion and strategic judgment, plus a real understanding of what’s actually at stake — children, relationships, community standing, and financial security. Over nearly four decades of practice, Schoenberg Family Law Group has built its reputation on advocating for our clients’ families and protecting their financial futures – always through relationships grounded in trust, communication, and professionalism.
Founding attorney Debra Schoenberg, a Certified Family Law Specialist, brings decades of experience across high-net-worth property division, complex support arrangements, and multi-jurisdictional custody matters. That depth shapes our strategic approach throughout Newport Beach, combining the legal precision complex assets demand with the sensitivity personal matters require.
Working with our team means:
Whatever stage of the process you’re in — just starting out or dealing with a post-judgment complication — the right legal guidance makes a meaningful difference. Working with an attorney who clearly explains your rights and advocates for you from the start positions you for a more stable result. Contact Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. at 866.618.2132 or through our online form to schedule a confidential consultation. We serve clients throughout Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, Newport Coast, and the greater Orange County region.
"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
Divorce, legal separation, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, property division, prenuptial agreements, and post-judgment modifications — essentially anything touching family relationships, parental rights, or financial obligations between family members.
No. Plenty of cases resolve through mediation or negotiated settlement without ever going to trial. Court becomes necessary when a dispute can't be resolved in another way.
Community property law requires equal division of everything acquired during the marriage, with separate property — anything owned before marriage or received individually as a gift or inheritance — excluded. Tracing and characterization disputes come up frequently in complex cases involving real estate or business assets.
A mandatory six-month wait applies regardless of complexity, but contested cases involving business valuations or custody disputes routinely take much longer.
Yes, given a significant change in circumstances. The bar is intentionally high because courts value stability, but real changes in income, living situation, or a child's needs can justify a modification.
A statewide guideline formula factoring in each parent's gross income, their share of parenting time, and allowable deductions. Carried interest, business ownership, and self-employment income all tend to require closer financial analysis.
Full financial disclosure is legally required from both spouses. Concealment can be uncovered through discovery, subpoenas, and forensic accounting, and courts impose serious penalties on parties who hide assets.
For custody matters, yes — Family Court Services mediation is required in most cases before final orders. Other family law matters encourage mediation without requiring it.
Legal separation resolves the same financial and custody issues as divorce, but doesn't formally end the marriage. Couples choose it for religious reasons, insurance coverage, or because residency requirements for divorce haven't yet been met.
Family law involves strict deadlines, detailed financial disclosures, and decisions that impact your children’s future – mistakes here have lasting consequences. An experienced attorney protects your position during negotiations and makes sure whatever you sign genuinely reflects your interests.
