If you're facing a difficult divorce, especially one involving children, call Candelaria. When I contacted Stan Sarkisov in November 2024, I was facing the hardest time my life. What began as an attempt at an amicable separation turned into a nightmare when my ex hired an aggressive litigator and weaponized the court system against me and our child. Despite co-owning our home and paying the mortgage for 15 years, he locked my daughter and me out, forcing us to live out of my car. Stan's colleague had described him to me as having "the biggest heart," but said that that when faced with a crisis, Stan would show up with fierce expertise to protect us. This is exactly what Stan did. What sets Stan apart: * Genuine compassion combined with expert family law knowledge * Clear strategy focused on protecting children's wellbeing * Collaborative and professional even when opposing counsel escalated situations While my ex's counsel engaged in courtroom theatrics, Stan and his team never lost sight of what truly mattered: my child's wellbeing and our family's future. Stan and his team are everything you want in legal representation: skilled, strategic, compassionate, and committed to protecting what matters most. Big shoutout to Hannah Probets and everyone in the office (Maria, Sylvia, Chloe!) They truly understand families, not just legal procedures. After a year of unwavering support, strategic guidance, and steady presence through the storm, I'm free to move forward. Stan gave me my life back. With deep gratitude. read more

Was referred to Vanessa by a consulting attorney due to issues that could not be resolved by mediation. After having a consultation with Vanessa she sounded very nice and compassionate about helping me. She very strongly recommended to file an ex parte order which I agreed to as I trusted her judgement. Fast forward a few weeks later to when her law office filed the ex parte order, she couldn't be in court because she was to busy so she told me Lorena Garcia would be able to be there for this upcoming court date. If not she said it would look bad if I waited for her to be available. Ever since then I never heard a word from Vanessa, she was the one I wanted to be working with originally, but it felt as though she had no time to deal with me or my case and just pushed me off to someone else. She should have been up front about this from the beginning instead of handing me over to Lorena. When it came to the actual court date Lorena was not good, very soft spoken and did nothing! She said she was going to bring up all these points to the judge but literally said 2 things and was done. After court when we were talking she even went as far as to say I should "Look up my husbands ex girlfriends to see if I could get information out of them and get them to write a statement." Why would I ever do that?? This is the advice that you give me? This place does NOT care about their clients, they only care about making money off you! After court I told Lorena that I wanted to drop the ex parte order. She then proceeded to charge me an extra $3K when she specifically said she could not work on my case any further. The one thing I asked her to do was to drop the order and she did not do it! WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY DO NOT GO HERE! read more

Stan and Hannah of Candelaria provided such Excellent service to me throughout the divorce. Their expertise, time and consideration throughout the entire period enabled me to move on in a healthy, peaceful manner. I highly recommend both Stan and Hannah & very grateful to the 2 of them along w/ the Candelaria team. Stacy Sullivan read more

I had a video consult with Stan today and had looked forward to our meeting given the reviews from other mothers going through the same kind of toxic divorce. From the start, he was standoffish and would not let me talk before asking me over and over if I was open to mediation after my husband blindsided me with a litigated divorce during our mediation. I am not familiar with law at all and was so confused. Not a match. Not sure he really understand victim of trauma?, read more

I agree with others on here - they totally don't care about clients, just looking to rip you off. I talked with Nicole Ramos Takemoto and she gave us absolute inaccurate information - she actually presents herself as an expert and then I find out it is wrong. Do not align yourself with this firm. I followed up with them they just don't care. They don't know their stuff, just want your $ and will lead you astray. read more

My husband and I used this firm for our estate plan. We are satisfied with the quality of the final documents and the cost was approximately what was estimated when we got started. Our attorney, Nicole T, helped us through our options to achieve what we wanted to achieve. While it wasn't a fast turnaround, I would say that the added time turned out to be a benefit as we were able to really think things through and make changes based on our evolving solution. read more

Just called to try and retain their services with cash in hand. The RUDE receptionist was like we're booking consults 3 weeks out. I said I'm ready to book I've got cash, she said "it doesn't work that way good luck" and hung up. Fuck you receptionist bitch. read more

I reached out to the Law Offices of Vanessa Candelaria, P.C. for representation for my prenuptial agreement. I am so glad I did! Alice Cheng was my drafting attorney. She was professional, thorough, detail-oriented, and on time - all qualities that are extremely important in searching for a family law attorney! I felt confident that she was representing my best interests, and she took the time to explain all of the confusing state laws. She made sure that we hit our deadlines. We could not have gotten it together without her, and now I am starting my marriage with a strong contract in place that discloses all of our assets and debts and describes our priorities. I know it will make our union even that much stronger. I was also impressed by the support staff at the law firm. Brianna was very helpful in getting my documents submitted and reviewed. They use cloud technology so it's easy to upload important documents securely. Billing is upfront and transparent. The whole process was smooth and easy. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! read more

So I wrote a review when my wife and I start our divorce process cause I was impressed with Vanessa and her team professionals and their ability to be neutral through our mediation. However, since that time and by the grace of God, my wife and I have found our way back to one another. During the entire process, Vanessa and her team were always so helpful, gracious, understanding and most importantly supportive in all ways. I don't plan on needing Vanessa's services again but I know I will recommend her to anyone that does. read more

This place and experience started out fine but quickly I realized they were only in it for the money and could care less about me as a client or any objective or concerns i had. They kept sending me bills way past i asked them to stop representing me any longer and to stop billing me. They have over charged me for work i asked them clearly in writing to stop. I have spent over 30k with this firm with zero care or concerns for my timing or needs and nothing accomplished. I felt the ladies were not reasonable with time frames, they are very expensive and over charged in items they should of never charged! I would not recommend this firm to anyone! stay clean! read more

My particular case was complex, that needed a team of professionals to manage, I found that team with hiring Candelaria, they proved to be professional, focused, driven and prepared at all times with representing me. Alice Cheung (Managing Attorney), Nicole Ramos Takemoto (Special Counsel, Trusts and Estates) and Emily Olsen (Paralegal) worked on my case; an exquisite team of expertise and mindfulness. There are so many moving parts to a litigation matter like mine that require the right instruments to use that will ultimately orchestrate such a passionate symphony. Music, that in the end will bring a feeling of freshness and clarity but will also bring the realization of fury, passion and moments passed in the blink of an eye. It must be well written, carefully planned and executed with grace and relevance. Although the case was a difficult one, as I'm a fairy private individual, they were very supportive and made it immensley easier to go through by consistently proving strength and experience with kindness, thoughtfulness and a "boat load" of patience! I highly recommend Candelaria, should you be in search of a legal firm to represent you through a difficult situation. Mind you, there will be a mountain of work required for all involved, but I do know the overall result brought me to a realistic settlement that I was happy with and have no regrets with hiring this team. One word best describes my experience, "sublime". read more

I don't know how on earth this office has 5 star reviews! I've never been more dissatisfied by a service and non professional character in all my life! They are total thieves! If you want them to steal your money, not know what's going on in your case and treat you badly then go with their office. I don't ever write reviews but I'm so appalled at how I've been treated by them it's sickening! I can't emphasize enough to keep looking for a divorce attorney who isn't in it to just ripe you off when you're going through one of the toughest times in your life!!!!! read more

My lifelong friend recommended this practice. I can't thank her enough. I made a phone call and within minutes Daisy helped me schedule my first consultation. Throughout my case they were responsive and efficient. Highly recommend! read more

Summary: Highly Recommend Molly Laughlin with Candelaria PC I'm a father of 4, two of which, from a previous marriage. Our daughter was struggling to cope with her environment and dealing with preteen/teen mental health issues. With mother's initial approval, our daughter decided to come live with me. Then her mother involved the courts in the attempt to force my daughter to return to her custody, even though our daughter strongly objected. As long as our daughter was safe and healthy, I allowed her to make her own decision as to where she chose to live. Attorney Molly Laughlin helped me through the whole legal process, ensuring that my daughter had her voice heard. As a father, I felt that the courts may be biased and would not understand my concerns. However, Molly also ensured that my interest in protecting my daughter's mental and physical wellbeing was known and understood by the Judge. With Molly's help, we were able to show the benefits of me receiving legal custody of my daughter. I'm not sure I alone would have been able to show the court that my daughter needed me to protect her. I believe that because of Molly's legal assistance, the court allowed me to have custody. In my opinion, it saved my daughter's life. Dayna and Zoe also frequently assisted Molly throughout the process. They ensured I always had an open line of communication. I also had great interactions with other members of Candelaria PC but fail to remember their names. I highly recommend their services. read more

I highly recommend The Law Offices of Vanessa Candelaria! The staff was always so friendly and helpful. They were so professional and Vanessa was so prepared she made he other attorneys look like they were a mess!! I genuinely felt cared about, respected and worth fighting for! In my most vulnerable time she was uplifting and supportive. Vanessa and her team went ABOVE AND BEYOND for me and I am eternally grateful! read more

Myself and my business partner Lisa Caldwell are local Real Estate Agents and we worked with Ms. Candelaria on a divorce sale for a property in Walnut Creek mid 2018. Divorce sales are usually tricky and this was no exception. Ms. Candelaria was great to work with. She was very professional, helpful and delightful to talk to. We all worked together to get this property sold and felt very appreciative to have Ms. Candelaria working with us and representing our client. We will be recommending Ms. Candelaria to any of our future clients who may need legal services. Lisa Caldwell & Mark Alexander, MBA aka Lisa & The Aussie at REMAX Accord. read more

I don't even know where to start here. I came to this law firm from a cheap attorney who was constantly messing up but luckily the person taking me to court had no case so I would win but never because of the attorney. When I was looking for a new firm I had a free consultation with Vanessa and after speaking to many others Vanessa really stood out with compassion and a professional caring attitude. When my court case went to family court months later i immediately thought of this firm. When I called to book Vanessa she was all booked up after some disappointment I was told that there is a whole team here and another attorney was available... Sara Driesen took my case and she was beyond amazing! She was a fighter in court... and my personal therapist haha. I can't express how important Sara has been to my children and myself and everything we went after we got in court! Far exceeded what I thought was possible. My kids don't have to deal with the issues they were put through for so long. Sara also helped me come up with payment arrangements when court started to stretch out, not to the fault of Sara but to a compulsive liar we were dealing with in court. I had a great job at a architectural firm and unfortunately the pandemic left me strapped financially Sara was always understanding. Lawyers are expensive and often court stretches longer than expected and you should be prepared for that.... just a tip. I will say that the billing was a bit inconsistent in terms of when I was receiving statements this could be the pandemic and the like and sometimes reading the bill was confusing but after a quick email they did great explaining it and helping me understand what I was looking at. Sara, Molly, Brianna, and daisy are all amazing these ladies are all responsible and great at communicating and I felt like I had an army by my side I love and thank you all! You all helped in more ways than you know. I am forever grateful. read more

Well I really don't know how to start but I'll say Sarah and Vanessa at the Law offices of Vanessa Candalaria were amazing even though it took some time to get my divorce final they help me so much I would've never been able to do it on my own or even near it it's been an ongoing thing for almost 2 years and it's good that it's over but I almost feel like I'm losing Another family.they worked tirelessly and are amazing and I wouldn't have changed a thing. They were so patient with me and with the whole case. I had a very difficult husband. I highly recommend them. read more

I'd recommend this attorney! I believe her to be very skilled and knowledgeable. Unfortunately attorneys run into clients who lie and manipulate to suit their advantage, They want to get out of paying their bill and blame others for their problems! Vanessa gives good advice! Follow it! read more

I would highly recommend seeking legal representation from Vanessa Candelaria. She has the insight, experience, and knowledge of family law which impacted the results of my case. Aside from her expertise, you can sense off the bat that Vanessa is passionate about what she does, and as a mother herself, she is genuine in her words, expressions, and it shows in her work. Additionally, she has a great reputation among the family law community, and in court. I feel this has it's advantage as Vanessa is known for being ethical, and a highly respected lawyer. Other's speak very highly of her. She also makes the divorce process easier to cope with, and truly, it's a peace of mind knowing you have someone to advocate for your experience all the while getting down to business. Just trust her, and let her do her thing. She's pretty great. read more

The worst mistake I ever made was to hire Vanessa Candelaria as my attorney for my divorce. At first, she was very understanding and willing to help me, but when we had the first hearing, it was horrible. That day she told me to be 15 minutes early to discuss the last details of our case. I waited and she just showed up when the hearing started. Then when I asked her if she had the documents and evidence I gave her to present in my case she didn't have them, she forgot to take them. We went inside the court empty-handed. And finally, when the attorney from the opposite side asked the judge to postpone the hearing because they needed more time she agreed without even asking me first. I had everything to win that day, but she didn't stand for me at all, she agreed with everything the other party asked for. My husband ( an aggressive and alcoholic got all he wanted) exposing my son to be with a sick person. They charge an insane amount of money for things they didn't even do. Of course, I decided to change to a different attorney and she saved my case. read more

I had the pleasure of working with Vanessa and her team. They are amazing and I would highly recommend them. I found them with very little time before my court date. In crunch time they helped me to prepare all necessary documents, organize myself and get ready for mediation. Family court is never a fun process; it is mentally and emotionally exhausting. Thanks to Vanessa and her team I was never overwhelmed by the process. They are very professional, attentive compassionate. She was never to busy for even the most trivial questions. There was constant contact and support from beginning to end. The best part about working with Vanessa was the connection she makes with her clients. She genuinely cared about me and my son and had our best interest in mind. She puts the "family" back into family law. There was a moment when I was feeling extraordinarily overwhelmed with everything and was close to giving in. She reminded me what this fight was for. It was for my son. It was to be able to loon at myself in the mirror and know that I did everything that I could. I'm grateful to Vanessa and her team and all the work they put into my case. And I wish them the best in the future. JD read more

Vanessa and her team were professional and responsive when I needed to recalculate child support. I provided the necessary paperwork for Vanessa and she sent over the new calculations in a timely manner. Thank you for making this process easy for me. read more

Candelaria PC team are amazing, and they provide great quality service. They were extremely professional, empathetic, and understanding of my traumatic situation. I felt very confident in Vanessa, Sara, and the rest of the team for representing me and fighting for the best possible outcome for me. They saved me a lot of money and time. I am beyond happy and grateful to have them on my side. I couldn't imagine having anyone else represent me as this phase of my life was very difficult. The team gave my case all the time and attention that was needed to be successful in court. Both Vanessa and Sara were a calming and confident presence during the court proceedings. My divorce was recently finalized, and I am extremely relieved and ecstatic of the outcome. I am forever grateful, and I will only recommend Candelaria PC. read more

If i could give them more stars i would. From day one they gave me great service. The care they showed me was so comforting and assured me i was in good hands. They were very quick to answer any questions or concerns i had regarding my case. They also made it really easy for me to give them any paper work they needed from me by just uploading it onto their business portal so i didn't have to come in at all really. I highly recommend this Law firm to anyone needing family law services they were absolutely great working on my case and always looked out for my best interest. I loved the way these ladies handled everything and worked together as a team read more

I have only praise for Candelaria law offices! I was given really thorough and detailed attention to my case. My time was respected and I felt supported and confident that my attorney Alice Cheng was representing my best interests throughout. She provided me with the knowledge I needed and explained all the necessary information to help me navigate my very complicated divorce case and work within my means to do so. I would highly recommend them to anyone. read more

A firm that is all femme and super lawyers. They know what they are doing. The family court system is so scary and this firm will do all they can to help you navigate it and succeed! read more

I write this review with all sincerity and from the heart! Vanessa and her team are amazing!! I have full respect for all of their entire team. I wrote once before about having a declaration that gave me the power to proceed into court with confidence!! It's been a long battle since my last review. My situation went from bad to worse, such that I was even given a temporary restraining order, on my own son!! The TRO was initiated by the first daughter of my ex wife and was filed from Sacramento too!! Needless to say Giselle, Venessa and her team were not intimidated and gave me to tools to fight for my rights and prove the accusation false. I won!! The Restraining Order was not granted!! But I still had the situation with my ex wife. The last declaration written by Vanessa/Giselle was given to our mediator. The wording, the professionalism, the whole thing was impressive and won the mediators attention! The mediator granted my request! Full sole custody!! The recommendations is in our favor!! I realize everyone's situation is different and no two cases are alike. But I seriously believe what ever you're situation might be Vanessa and Company will fight and win for you! You will not feel alone in this battle. They are all heart, honest people! May our God bless each one for the work they each do!! Forever grateful!! I read some where here " they are in it for the money". They couldn't be more wrong! They are badly mistaken!! I know for a fact money is not what drives them. It's compassion and professionalism. They truly care about your case... you would be so blessed to have them represent your case. Honestly they are more than any expectation one could ever had !! Thank you Vanessa and your wonderful team!! My wife Melanie and my kids will never forget what you have done for us!! Thank you! Honestly thank you all! From the Arias Family! read more

I don't have enough words to express my gratitude to Vanessa and her team for helping me with my divorce. When I approached Vanessa, I was completely lost. My case was quite complicated as it was internationally involved, and I was scared that no one would take it. After my initial meeting with Vanessa, I felt much more grounded and breathed with relief. Not only are Vanessa and Alice so knowledgeable at what they do, they are also kind, and really supportive emotionally. They provided truthful and practical advice on how to proceed and were very patient every step of the way. I trusted them through every step of the process and I am extremely grateful for the outcome? Thank you Vanessa, Alice, and Kaitlin! I highly recommend this law firm to anyone seeking advice and help with family law. read more

As others have mentioned, divorce is both painful and difficult to go through. Vanessa and her team made all the difference. Her knowledge and ability to handle difficult situations is key to her success. I had tried to start a divorce on my own and was lost immediately. Luckily I realized my inability to handle it right away and I decided to use her firm. Vanessa gave me hope when I thought I would lose everything. As a guy, I expected to lose everything even though I had initiated the divorce. She showed me that I too had a future after divorce and that I didn't have to give up. Hope is key to surviving a divorce, and she provided it. She always had answers to my questions and helped me understand every step we took together. Compassionate, kind, and an ability to make things that seem hard or insurmountable like a walk in the park truly set her apart. Hopefully you never have to use her services, but know that if you do, you are in good hands. read more

Great team, Vanessa is the best. Hire her and listen to her.

Vanessa and her legal team are some of the most competent and dedicated legal professionals I have ever met. She worked so hard to help me and my family through a very dark time. She will above and beyond for he clients. read more

I would recommend Vanessa as anyone attorney she is someone that is on top of all California laws and she is very professional and also friendly as a person, she has helped my son with his issue for his child situation for visitation rights and just rights as a father. For me I can say she can help you for what you may need. read more

I have consulted with Vanessa Candelaria on various family law issues and have referred clients to her. She is knowledgeable and passionate about her work. She cares a lot about her clients and the community. I highly recommend Vanessa and her office! read more

Vanessa is an incredible lawyer who knows just exactly what her client needs. I was in a very dark place, lost, and wanted to get help especially not knowing how to handle or where to even start with divorce. She made sure I understood everything clearly and has helped me with my divorce proceeding in a timely manner. She is very quick with responses and finds the best solution. I was very satisfied and content with her service and would highly recommend her. She also has a great team behind her who are just as skilled and knowledgeable. Her paralegals would also keep up to date with you to make sure you are up to date. I am very lucky and happy to have her as my lawyer. You won't be disappointed. What a great firm!! read more

I researched various attorneys and finally pick these good folks. I am so glad I did. They are the absolute best. My attorney, Sara, went well above and beyond to always make sure my interests were protected and to obtain the best possible outcome for me. The office is filled with professional, knowledgeable, kind and thoughtful folks who will do whatever is required to see you through this difficult time. You could not possibly find a better crew. They will gently hold you in the hollow of their hands until you get through this in the best possible way for you. read more

I have known Vanessa for several years, and can safely attest that she is a is a wonderful and compassionate attorney who understands the ins and outs of all areas of family law and divorce. If you are looking for an attorney who will help you navigate the court system efficiently and compassionately, she is the one to do it. She is a pleasure to work with, and I cannot recommend her more highly! read more

I had an unusual legal situation. I asked Vanessa for a referral since I wasn't sure my issue was within her scope of Family Law. She researched my situation, educated me as to what my options were and then offered to write a letter to the attorney. I was thrilled that she had done this on my behalf. I not only learned more about what I was dealing with, but after she wrote the letter, I received the information I was asking for from the other party. I was beyond thankful to Vanessa for her help in this matter!! I personally know Vanessa's team and I know each of them does the very best they can for the clients and take great pride in the work they do. They are much more than a law firm. They are more like family for the clients they assist. Thank you to Vanessa, Kerri and Kaitlyn! read more

Ms. Candelaria represented me for my divorce case from late 2017 to Oct. 2018. I found her on Yelp and saw many positive reviews. She was compassionate, professional and charming during our first meeting when I was deciding whether to hire her. So I hired her. At first she was acting on my behalf (it seemed), getting me out of a bad agreement made with the opposing side by my previous lawyer and getting me a vocational evaluation. As time went on and my case got more complicated, she started to press me to make compromised and yield to the opposing side's demands. During the two-day trial for property division, she lost every single issue to the other side, resulting in an unfair division. She violated the rule and let the opposing attorney sit in during her meeting with my expert witness CPA Leslile Dawson, and gave her access to confidential information. Altogether I paid her about $90K. In Oct. 2018 I dismissed her service and started to represent myself. She then conspired with the opposing attorney, Laura Pfeiffer, to transfer money out of my trust account to pay her so called "outstanding bill", without my agreement. The dishonesty is beyond belief! It took me a long time to decide to write this review. Divorce is very sad and good, honest family law attorneys can make the process easier. Ms. Candelaira and her friend, Ms. Pfieffer, made me see the ugly side of human hearts. read more

The BEST DECISION I ever made . I was in such a bad position and Vanessa helped me get through the hardest time of my life. You can tell she really cares about her client. Hire her and get the job done. My sister referred me to her and thank god! read more