FAMILY LAW LITIGATION SERVICES

We offer representation in all family law matters including divorce, legal separation, custody, spousal support, child support, judgment enforcement, asset division, retirement division, and domestic violence. We focus our practice on providing full supportive services to clients when they need us most. Every case is unique just as every family is unique.  

Ms. Russo also acts as a consultant in family law cases, particularly Solano County cases, where she can advise clients or their counsel without taking on full representation services. Contact us to learn more about our consulting services. 

It is our goal to keep our client list small to ensure availability to our active clients. While we will try to help with emergencies if we are able, you may have to wait for an appointment. Please know that this is how we ensure that our existing clients needs are met. 

mediation SERVICES

Attorney Sarah Russo offers experienced and compassionate mediation services throughout the State of California in family law matters. This includes custody mediation as well as divorce mediation.  Ms. Russo has experience working with families in transition and helping them solve their problems in a way that works for everyone. She is experienced working with children, including special needs children, and brings this experience to her mediation practice. 

What sets Ms. Russo apart as a mediator is that she sets firm boundaries in her sessions.  You will not have to spend an hour listening to your spouse's marital grievances. She will not permit a controlling or hostile spouse to dominate the space. Mediation requires trust, compassion, fairness, and firm guidelines. 

Not every case is right for a mediated settlement. Cases involving serious domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse, child abuse, hidden assets, or dishonesty are often not good candidates for mediation. There is an exception to every rule - but both parties must feel safe and heard for the process to be successful. 

Parenting coordination

A parenting coordinator helps high conflict families stay out of court.  A parenting coordinator may be appointed where families cannot agree on joint legal custody issues such as educational services, special needs, extracurricular activities, medical care, parenting schedules, holidays, or parental estrangement. 

A parenting coordinator is not a family therapist or a judge.  The parenting coordinator's role is to create a forum for decisions to be made quickly outside of court for the best interests of the children.  The parenting coordinator will normally not make permanent decisions such as whether to change from joint custody to sole custody for one parent, or whether a parent should be permitted to relocate.  The parenting coordinator is more likely to determine day to day parenting issues that would otherwise create stress for the parents and child or be costly to resolve in Court. 

We take this role and responsibility seriously and we aim to protect both parties from disrespect, coercive control, and weaponization of the children and ultimately to protect the children's right to a childhood with minimal parental conflict.