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Divorce Lawyer
updated: Jun 29, 2011, 10:22 AM

Who is the best divorce lawyer in Santa Barbara? Preferably one that is kind, but tough (although that may be an oxymoron)!

Places People Are Talking About:

Allan Morton	Charles "Chip" Oxton	Cruz & McMurray
Dewey, Cheetam and Howe	Diana Jackson	Jamie Raney
Larry Laborde	Laura and Russell Collins	Lionel Hutz
Matthew J. Long	McCleary Sanborn	Michael Pina
Paul Capritto	R.T. Griffith	Rachel Wilson

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 188096P	2011-06-29 10:27 AM
Larry Laborde on 21 E Canon Perdido St helped me through my divorce. He was also provided good emotional support through the ordeal.
COMMENT 188101P	2011-06-29 10:39 AM
Tracey Cruz, Cruz & McMurray, (805) 965-0752. Very good lawyer, friendly staff, downtown location. Did very well by me. Good luck!
COMMENT 188103	2011-06-29 10:53 AM
Jamie Raney - without question fits your description. We had a complicated custody and financial situation which she navigated very well for us. Best wishes to you.
COMMENT 188107	2011-06-29 10:56 AM
Matthew J. Long (805) 963-1994
COMMENT 188131	2011-06-29 11:45 AM
The posters should please disclose their gender.
COMMENT 188135P	2011-06-29 11:48 AM
Paul Capritto--both competent and compassionate. The best!
COMMENT 188163	2011-06-29 12:37 PM
Charles "Chip" Oxton helped me (female) - affordable, kind, and encouraged mediation and trying to work things out without involving the courts as much as possible. Of course that doesn't always work, but he handled the court hearings well too. His paralegal Ruth is great.
COMMENT 188166	2011-06-29 12:38 PM
Paul Capritto!!!
COMMENT 188178P	2011-06-29 12:57 PM
The law firm of Dewey, Cheetam and Howe.
COMMENT 188193	2011-06-29 01:27 PM
Lionel Hutz is the best in town.
COMMENT 188196	2011-06-29 01:34 PM
I vote Tracey Cruz!! That's where I went!
COMMENT 188211P	2011-06-29 02:03 PM
101P here. The problem with referrals of this sort is you get over the top/negative comments such as those by 147. Who knows? Maybe on the losing end of a settlement? In any case, Tracey Cruz was ethical, fair and "undramatic" in all her dealings with me and opposing counsel and her rates are certainly standard for what one finds in SB. FWIW, I am a male if disclosing gender is really a factor.
COMMENT 188212P	2011-06-29 02:04 PM
Contradiction in terms. Anyway, plain old sharks will do better for you financially, where the rub generally comes in.
COMMENT 188231P	2011-06-29 03:42 PM
If you're reasonable friendly exing spouses or even if you're not, perhaps especially if you're not, you'd be much better off with mediation. Saves money, saves emotional wear and tear, and works forward rather than backwards. ...That said, I don't know who to recommend in SB, that is, who is trained and competent. Maybe that should be the next referral question: who is a good divorce mediator attorney or non-attorney?
COMMENT 188250	2011-06-29 04:44 PM
Mediation is BEST if the other party will cooperate. Ten years ago mine didn't and I shelled out about $15,000 to a lawyer that really wasn't that good, to many loop holes and bad advice. I don't know about any of the lawyers that are being recommended but mine is not one of them. I won't give out his name because I'm not a person who goes about bad-mouthing people, lessons learned. Sadly we had two young children but they adapted well and this is what the the fight was all about. Best advice is that between you and the other party during the proceedings it's like poker after the divorce (especially if you have children) it's like chess.
COMMENT 188262	2011-06-29 05:04 PM
hands down Paul Capritto.... He is the best and most compassionate.
COMMENT 188322P	2011-06-30 06:08 AM
McCleary Sanborn. Honest, hard working, smart.
COMMENT 188324	2011-06-30 06:31 AM
Call the Santa Barbara Bar Association. They will give you details and background information on several divorce attorneys allowing you to figure out which will work best for your needs. The lady there is a huge help in that office! 569-5511
COMMENT 188341	2011-06-30 07:11 AM
I just hope it wasn't my wife that asked for this referral? LOL
COMMENT 188360	2011-06-30 07:45 AM
231P and 250 are correct that mediation lets you keep more of your money and is far less traumatic. It also creates more durable results, which is an advantage where there are continuing issues like kids and taxes. I used mediation and it was very civilized and set me back only $1400. There are plenty of family law mediators in town, but start with the nonprofit Lawyer Referral Service of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association www.sblaw.org. It's a professional outfit with a heart. Lastly, a "plain old shark" is no more likely to "do better for you" than a humane and pincipled lawyer, but the shark will certainly charge more in legal fees.
COMMENT 188362	2011-06-30 07:48 AM
Chip Oxton & Ruth are by far the best in town. They CARE! Cant say the same about Larry Laborde as he tried to help my x get out of the financial responsibilities he had towards our kids... Chip keeps the kids in mind during all aspects. He is also very welk respected in the courts...
COMMENT 188372	2011-06-30 08:11 AM
Never, Ever, would i hire Larry Laborde. So many better, divorce attorneys in Town. Check with the Santa Barbara Board.
COMMENT 188378	2011-06-30 08:23 AM
Rachel Wilson ! Very skilled, competent and civilized.
COMMENT 188396	2011-06-30 08:42 AM
Jamie Raney is by far the best.
COMMENT 188404P	2011-06-30 08:59 AM
I wouldn't use any of them, here, if I were you. Very expensive and my experience has been, very unavailable. Also, some charge by the hour, versus a set fee for the service. That is the most important element and one that, if you do not pursue, will take you to the cleaners.
COMMENT 188416	2011-06-30 09:16 AM
Lionel Hutz is the best in town - seconded. Hands down the best.
COMMENT 188442	2011-06-30 09:48 AM
Rachel Wilson, the worst, I had to switch to another...Jamie Raney, hands down.
COMMENT 188447	2011-06-30 09:57 AM
Michael Pina is Ethical, Hard-Working, and Fair Practices. He has an outstanding reputation in the community and in the legal circles of Santa Barbara. He will represent you well. He is HIGHLY recommended! His office is located at: 214 East Victoria Street (downtown) Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2021 (805) 965-7128
COMMENT 188480	2011-06-30 10:35 AM
loved Rachel Wilson, but if you can mediate, try Laura and Russell Collins.
COMMENT 188486	2011-06-30 10:43 AM
Diana Jackson was the one that finally resolved a long drawn out divorce from my dramatic, indecisive ex wife. She is very compentent, kind but strong and reasonable pricewise. She is also a strong advocate of mediation when both parties are willing. I have used her for a trust and financial matters and I highly recommend her.
COMMENT 188492	2011-06-30 10:56 AM
Would never hire Larry Laborde. Interesting he is the only attorney, who shows his address. ???? Thank his secretary for looking for new business. He sure needs it.
COMMENT 188500	2011-06-30 11:38 AM
Allan Morton and Jamie Raney are excellent at the law firm of Fell, Marking, Abkin, Montgomery, Granet & Raney.
COMMENT 188525P	2011-06-30 12:44 PM
The most assertive spouse will usually prevail in mediation. (But mediation can be ok if each has independent counsel.) One attorney cannot represent both unless there is no pie to divide or support/custody to order. You want a lawyer competent in the field, who won't back down when (s)he shouldn't but is reasonable and doesn't view family law as a field to maximize results at all costs. I've given up recommending; eventually a sour result comes up! --Retired attorney
COMMENT 188549	2011-06-30 01:32 PM
Try talking to the lawyer. See if you feel comfortable with what they tell you. Some people have recommended R. T. GRIFFITH.
COMMENT 188581	2011-06-30 02:39 PM
Hire Michael Pina. Very diligent, ethical, and fair! 214 East Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101
COMMENT 189133	2011-07-02 11:43 AM
Larry Laborde was very helpful to me with my difficult divorce. He is friendly, supportive and always available. He has a great sense of humor and does care about the kids. His staff is also great which says a lot about him too.
COMMENT 189263	2011-07-03 08:10 AM
Male- (not a divorce client). Larry Laborde represented me as a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. After months of meticulous preparation by Mr. Laborde and his capable staff, Judge Thomas Adams ruled in my favor for both compensatory and punitive damages. Mr. Laborde's consummate professionalism was very much appreciated.
COMMENT 189843	2011-07-05 12:35 PM
Rachel Wilson. Fair and extremely knowledgeable about financial and tax implications, long-term planning, equity. Has the best interests of the children in mind. Compassionate.
COMMENT 189918	2011-07-05 04:10 PM
(Not a divorce client, child of one) Larry Laborde is someone I will always be grateful for. He did my mothers divorce 10 years ago and I honestly think if it wasn't for him my life wouldn't be the same as he helped my mom get my father to TAKE CARE OF HIS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. Of course if your on the other side of the spectrum it probably would not seem as though. He is the best at what he does, Larry is the go to guy ! I should also say that my mom has referred friends and family in the similar situations and they were just as happy and grateful to him. SB NATIVE
COMMENT 254520	2012-02-07 09:06 AM
Why hasn't anyone mentioned the Santa Barbara County Bar? I went to them to find a lawyer to file a divorce. They gave me the name of two attorneys. I didn't use either and hired one recommended by a friend. BIG mistake! He was terrible!! I had to go back to the Bar and get the original names they gave me. I replaced my lawyer wiht the one screened by the county bar. Much, much better!!!!!
COMMENT 288108	2012-06-15 07:07 AM
Rachel Wilson will ruin your life. She is exteremely greedy and ruthless. She tells you that her fee is $400/hr, but she does a lot of double billing and her partner supposedly works on the case at the same time. So her actual fee is closer to $1000/hr, and most of the money you get in your settlement will go towards her fees. Please don't fall prey to this mad dog attorney.
COMMENT 304088	2012-08-02 01:23 PM
I had a simple divorce case a year ago but many attorneys I consulted with seemed to be more interested in getting money upfront than providing a good service. I found an attorney who got on the phone with me and gave an opportunity to share with him the intricacies of my case in full detail without putting any time constraints. He did it free of charge and made me feel like I was the center of the universe. I was so taken by his generosity I made the decision to hire him. This attorney turned out to be the worst of his kind and after he gained my trust, he billed me five times the amount I was quoted without giving me any explanations. I had to file a lawsuit against him which I won. Watch out for Glenn L. Robertson. I later learned he had more than half a dozen lawsuits from other clients. He's an excellent actor, very charismatic and well-manered so you won't see it coming.
COMMENT 339102	2012-11-04 05:24 PM
To 304088 Your comment about Glenn L. Robertson was very timely. I would like to hire the lawyer you hired to file a lawsuit against him.
COMMENT 388748P	2013-03-23 12:43 PM
Wow - I knew I was right about him all along and his acting skills. I was begging him to stop the forced sale of my house which was completely unjustified, and while I was doing that he was calling opposing counsel and conspiring (for lack of a better word) with him and the judge to release the money from the 150k below market sale of my house to the both of them. That's just the tip of the iceberg. The reason I know this is because he accidentally left the message for opposing counsel stating the above on my vm. When confronted with this information he simply ignored it and I was stuck with him as a lawyer because of how this town operates. The judge holds it against a litigant if they fire an attorney for doing a horrible job. I know my judge did - nothing to do with the merits of the case or my rights or the truth or most importantly the best interest of my children - just getting rid of a bad lawyer she (Judge CS) held against me.. It's called legal incest and it is insanely out of control here. And that's just the beginning. I knew there was something not right about him and all the things he was, or was not, doing. Would also like details on the lawsuits filed against him if anyone reads this again.
COMMENT 388919P	2013-03-24 06:12 AM
Hire Dan Murphy if there is no actual legal work to do and all he has to do is have ex parte communications with unethical hack psychologists and make up crazed, illogical, unbelievable lies with his sociopath client about the opposing party. All he needs is the right judge to go along with him. He is one of the most overpaid, unskilled, dangerous "lawyers" in town. He will destroy children's lives with pleasure and a smile on his very scary and unattractive face -- of course he needs a client who wants to destroy the children's lives, as well. I guess the Perry Mason lawyering allowed by certain judges here makes up for his actual knowledge of the law. One thing he is very skilled at is screaming at the top of his lungs at other lawyers though-- especially after lunch. Oh, but he has a rockin' fiesta party. That's all that really matters here.
COMMENT 402724P	2013-04-28 05:18 PM
Paul Capritto, in my opinion and experience, does not deserve the positive reviews he has on this board,. He cares only about making the most money while working as little as possible. He is very easily overwhelmed and unfocused if something unexpected happens He just is simply part of the good old boy newtwork and people buy his propaganda. If you want that - which cannot be underestimated here - hire him, but look out for a complete 180 if he has to actually work or deal with something challenging. He also has some interesting (aka concerning) personal, professional and financial history of his own as do a number of his colleagues.