Last updated: October 2026
When should you get a new divorce lawyer?
Consider a change when your lawyer is hard to reach, deadlines are being missed, or you no longer understand where your case stands. In California you may change attorneys at any time. The best moment is well before a hearing, so the new lawyer has time to learn your file.
This is general information about California family law. It is not legal advice, and reading it creates no attorney-client relationship.
What are the common warning signs?
- Calls and messages go unanswered for more than two business days at a time
- You deal with several staff members and rarely with the attorney
- Court deadlines pass without explanation
- Bills arrive that you cannot connect to any work
One sign alone may be a misunderstanding. Several together are worth taking seriously. In my experience, the clients who come to me mid-case most often say the same thing: they did not know what the next hearing was for.
How does changing attorneys work?
The new attorney and the client sign a Substitution of Attorney, and it is filed with the court. Until it is filed, the old attorney remains attorney of record.
You are entitled to request your file. Ask for it in writing. When I take over a case, I read the whole file first, usually a few hours of review, before we talk strategy.
What should you gather before meeting a new lawyer?
Bring the petition and any response, orders already made, upcoming hearing dates, and your financial disclosures. A list of questions helps as well. The article on questions worth asking a San Diego divorce attorney is a good start.
How is my office different?
I am a sole practitioner. Every matter that comes through this office is handled by me directly, and I have practiced family law exclusively for over 20 years. I appear at the Downtown San Diego, Vista, El Cajon, and Chula Vista family courthouses, and I have met clients from Mission Valley, La Jolla, and North Park who arrived with a binder of orders and no clear picture of their case.
My hourly rate is $300. A retainer for a new case typically ranges from $4,700 to $7,500 and depends on the case. These are typical figures, not a quote or a guarantee. A transferred case may involve work already done, so the right figure is discussed after I see where it stands. The initial consultation is free.
Details on how divorce matters are handled are on the divorce practice page.
Call or text (619) 250-2683 for a quick response. My office is at 591 Camino De La Reina, Suite 821, in Mission Valley.