We Want To Help With Your Family Law Case

When going through a family law dispute, emotions can run high. You need a team of attorneys that can guide you through the process and form a legal strategy tailored to your needs. At Smith Family Law, APC, our team is one that you can lean on, and we will be a powerful voice that will advocate for you in the courtroom.

Use these links to learn more about our attorneys:

Our Attorneys

• Stephen V. Smith
• Heather Catron
• Caroline Plemmons
• Vanessa Lopez-Pastenes

Our Staff

• Rekedra Franklin
• Talia Reyes
• Sydney Spears

The attorneys on our team are experienced, skilled and varied in background. This gives us a strong team that is capable of handling a large variety of cases. We’re strong litigators, but we are fully capable of keeping a case out of the courtroom if necessary. If we do have to go to court, then you can trust in our history of success. We have successfully litigated:

• Contentious divorce
• Custody
• Domestic violence
• Child/spousal support
• High-asset division
• Marital agreement

Our experience working in San Diego County gives our team a unique insight into how certain judges or courts may handle cases, helping us design effective legal strategies for each and every one of our clients.

Experienced, Empathetic Attorneys

For more than a decade, our founder, attorney Stephen V. Smith, has practiced family law, helping clients navigate complex legal disputes such as divorces, child custody and support cases, property division disputes, the drafting of marital agreements, and more.

Stephen is familiar with the California divorce process – he’s been through a divorce himself. The experience of representing his own interests in a contentious divorce and child custody battle led Stephen to take up the practice of family law, inspiring him to help others going through similarly challenging times.

We Offer Discounts For Enlisted Military And Veterans

Stephen Smith is a former member of the United States Navy. After being honorably discharged, he was motivated to provide assistance to both enlisted military and veterans. As such, we offer discounted services to military members and veterans.

Stephen leverages that experience and discipline on behalf of his clients in the courtroom, and his motivations extend to everyone in our firm.

Speak To An Experienced Family Law Attorney Today

Stephen founded Smith Family Law, APC, in 2017 after serving as a senior associate at one of San Diego’s top family law firms for many years. With a continuous focus on remaining at the cutting edge of family law, we’re not only here to stay – we’re just getting started.

To schedule a free 30-minute video or phone consultation with our team and receive the representation that you deserve for your family law case, call (619) 431-3131.

– Family Law: Divorce and Separation, Child Custody and Visitation, Spousal and Child Support, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Prenuptial Agreements.

– English: Spoken, Written
– Spanish: Spoken, Written

– J.D., NYU School of Law: Specialization in Family Law.

– B.A. in Psychology, Columbia University: With Honors, Focus on Developmental Psychology.

– “Top Lawyer of the Year”, National Legal Excellence Awards: Recognized for outstanding achievements in corporate law and significant contributions to the legal community.