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Divorce And Family Lawyers in California, MD: 2026 rankings

8 divorce and family lawyers ranked by LFR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →

The short answer

  1. 1

    Highest LFR Score in California: Shane Mattingly Law Offices, LFR Score 63/100; 4.9★ from 20 Google reviews.

  2. 3

    Most-reviewed: Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C., 174 Google reviews at 4.7★, the most of 8 ranked; ranked #3.

Rankings can't be bought. Lawyers can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank

8 California divorce and family lawyers are ranked here by LFR Score, from nine published factors. The median Google rating is 4.5★ across 8 rated law firms.

Top 8 divorce and family lawyers in California at a glance

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

Top 8 divorce and family lawyers in California at a glance
RankBusinessLFR ScoreGoogle ratingBased inNotable for
1Shane Mattingly Law Offices634.9★ (20)CaliforniaTop score
2The Law Office of D. Anne Emery & Associates, LLC633.7★ (7)California—
3Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C.584.7★ (174)Lexington Park, 3 mi awayMost reviews
4Dugan, McKissick & Longmore, LLC564.6★ (90)Lexington Park, 1 mi away—
5WILLIAMS, MCCLERNAN, & STACK LLC564.8★ (50)California—
6Southern Maryland Law | Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, & Family Lawyers554.5★ (10)Lexington Park, 3 mi away—
7The Law Office Of Troy C. Hansen, LLC523.7★ (35)California—
8Sawyer & Myerberg PA503.7★ (12)Lexington Park, 4 mi away—

All 8 divorce and family lawyers in California, in rank order

Ordered by LFR Score, a 0–100 score from nine published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.

Ranked by our published LFR Score from public data, not by payment; a rank is not an endorsement or a prediction of results.

  1. Ranked #1 in California

    #1 Shane Mattingly Law Offices

    Based in California

    63/100LFR Score

    Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.9★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Family law attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.9★ from 20 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    41645 Church St, Leonardtown, MD 20650
    View profile for Shane Mattingly Law Offices(301) 475-9101

  3. #3 Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C.

    Based in Lexington Park, 3 mi away

    58/100LFR Score

    Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 174 Google reviews, the most in California.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.7★ from 174 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Tue 9 AM–5 PM · Wed closed · Thu–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    22335 Exploration Dr #2030, Lexington Park, MD 20653
    View profile for Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C.(301) 862-4400

  6. #6 Southern Maryland Law | Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, & Family Lawyers

    Based in Lexington Park, 3 mi away

    55/100LFR Score

    Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 4.5★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Bankruptcy attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 4.5★ from 10 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    22196 Three Notch Rd Ste 104, Lexington Park, MD 20653
    View profile for Southern Maryland Law | Bankruptcy, Personal Injury, & Family Lawyers(301) 863-7480

  8. #8 Sawyer & Myerberg PA

    Based in Lexington Park, 4 mi away

    50/100LFR Score

    Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and practice area focus: 3.7★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Attorney”.

    Based on 7 of 9 factors; bar status and recency not yet collected.

    • 3.7★ from 12 Google reviews
    Hours
    Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM · Sat–Sun closed
    Address
    21689 Great Mills Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653
    View profile for Sawyer & Myerberg PA(301) 863-9434

How we ranked California divorce and family lawyers

We scored 8 California divorce and family lawyers on nine factors, weighted as shown. A law firm is ranked when its practice area is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 9, 2026.

Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Attorney advertising businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.

Read the full method: formula, sources and exclusions

LFR Score factors and weights
FactorWeightComputed fromIn California data
Reputation25%Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back itMeasured
Bar status10%An active bar or law society record matched to a lawyer at the firm (not measured until a record source is loaded)Not yet collected
Review volume10%Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed firm on the listMeasured
Recency10%Share of reviews from the last 12 monthsNot yet collected
Availability5%Weekly office hours, Saturday, Sunday, and phones answered 24/7Measured
Practice focus15%How clearly the firm practises this area (its Google category and name)Measured
Proximity5%An office in the city scores highest, less the farther away it isMeasured
Claimed profile10%The firm has claimed its Law Firms Ranked profile (free and paid earn the same)Measured
Law Firms Ranked reviews10%Verified client reviews collected by Law Firms Ranked: their rating and how many there areMeasured

How to choose a divorce and family lawyer

  1. Check the lawyer’s status and any public discipline in the state bar or law society directory.
  2. Ask how many divorce and family law matters the lawyer handles each year, and who at the firm will do the work.
  3. Get the fee arrangement in writing: hourly, flat or contingency, and which costs are charged on top.
  4. Ask how and how often the firm will update you, and how fast it answers calls and emails.
  5. Read recent reviews for how the firm communicated and billed, not only for outcomes.
  6. Ask how the firm bills phone calls and emails, and how often you will get an itemised bill.
  7. Meet more than one firm; many offer a short first consultation, sometimes free.

Questions to ask a divorce and family lawyer

  • How would you approach a matter like mine, and what are the realistic options?
  • How do you charge, and what will the total likely cost?
  • Who will be my main contact, and how quickly do you reply?
  • How much is the retainer, and what happens when it runs out?
  • Do you offer mediation or collaborative divorce?
  • Is there any conflict of interest that would stop you representing me?

Terms explained

Contingency fee
A fee that is a share of the money recovered, paid only if there is a recovery. Common in injury cases; not allowed for criminal defense or for securing a divorce.
Retainer
Money paid up front and held in a trust account, which the lawyer draws on as fees are earned.
Flat fee
One set price for a defined piece of work, such as a will or an uncontested matter.
Limited-scope representation
Paying a lawyer for part of a matter only, such as reviewing documents or coaching for one hearing (also called unbundled services).
Statute of limitations
The deadline to file a lawsuit or charge. It differs by state or province and by type of claim.
Good standing
A lawyer’s status as active and eligible to practise with a state bar or law society.
Law society
The body that licenses and disciplines lawyers in a Canadian province or territory.
Board certification
Recognition in a field of law by a state program or an organisation accredited for that purpose. Lawyers may only claim it when they hold it, naming the certifying body.
Attorney–client privilege
The rule that keeps confidential communications between a client and lawyer, made for legal advice, out of court.
Conflict check
The search a firm runs before taking a matter to make sure it does not represent someone on the other side.
Pro bono
Legal work done for free, usually for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Legal aid
Publicly funded legal help for people with low incomes, through legal aid offices, public defenders or provincial legal aid plans.

Divorce and family lawyers in California: frequently asked questions

Which divorce and family lawyer has the highest LFR Score in California?

By LFR Score, the highest-ranked divorce and family lawyer in California, MD is Shane Mattingly Law Offices with an LFR Score of 63/100. It has 4.9★ from 20 Google reviews. The Law Office of D. Anne Emery & Associates, LLC (#2) and Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C. (#3) follow. We ranked 8 divorce and family lawyers on nine factors, last updated November 9, 2026.

How many divorce and family lawyers are there in California?

LawFirmsRanked ranks 8 divorce and family lawyers serving California, MD. 4 of them are based in California; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.

What Google rating do California divorce and family lawyers have?

The median Google rating among 8 rated divorce and family lawyers in California is 4.5★, with a median of 28 reviews. Baldwin, Briscoe, Steinmetz & Ohri, P.C. has the most, 174 reviews, and ranks #3. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.

How does LawFirmsRanked rank divorce and family lawyers?

Each divorce and family lawyer gets a 0–100 LFR Score from nine published factors, led by reputation (25%), practice focus (15%), review volume (10%) and recency (10%). A law firm with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only law firms with a confirmed practice area and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.

Do divorce and family lawyers outside California count in this ranking?

Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the California city center, our service radius for divorce and family lawyers. Each listing shows where the law firm is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the LFR Score, so a nearby law firm gets a small edge.

Can divorce and family lawyers pay to rank higher on LawFirmsRanked?

No. The LFR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured law firms may appear above the list, labelled Attorney advertising and showing their honest rank.

How do divorce and family lawyers in California, MD charge?

Divorce and family lawyers usually bill by the hour against an upfront retainer. A fee that depends on securing a divorce or on the amount of support is not allowed under ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Lawyers using Clio billed an average of $357 an hour in this area (Clio Legal Trends data, October 2026; all areas $362). Ask for the fee arrangement in writing before you agree.

Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

Not always, but a lawyer can review the agreement on property, support and parenting before you sign it, which is hard to undo later. Many firms offer limited-scope help for this. This is general information, not legal advice.

How is this list of divorce and family lawyers in California, MD ranked?

By LFR Score only, from public data on reviews, practice focus, office location and hours. Firms labelled “Attorney advertising” paid for that placement; payment never changes a rank, and a rank is not an endorsement.

Does a lawyer need an office in California?

No, but the lawyer must be licensed in your state (or, for federal matters such as immigration, in some state). A local office makes meetings and court appearances easier, so proximity is one of our factors.

Update log for California

  1. November 2026: LFR Scores recalculated for 8 divorce and family lawyers serving California.

More divorce and family lawyers and California pages