Law Office of Joel Richard Rubin

My practice focuses on family law issues, generally involving matters of custody, visitation, support, property division and attorney fees and the different approaches to working with these issues. These are real problems that deeply impact those involved and persons related to those involved.

I have had a solo practice since 1979 after leaving the Sonoma County Public Defender's office and after working, briefly, for a small firm. I currently sublease from the firm of Clement Fitzpatrick and Kenworthy and enjoy the company of the attorneys in that firm and the other attorneys who also sublease from them. I have been selected as a Super Lawyer for Northern California. In addition, I now also teach at Empire College School of Law.

Having extenisve experience in trial work, as well as working as a mediator and in the collaborative process, I can assist my clients in finding what approach works best for them and by bringing my experience in other alternatives to the litigation model this can be approached in a manner that takes a more comprehensive view of the client's actual needs and interests

For more information please send me an email: jrrubin@sonic.net

One situation that comes to mind was a case where both parties were senior citizens, who wanted to end their marriage, but wished to avoid the contentiousness of the traditional court process and also provide for medical care for the more seriously ill partner. Those goals were achieved and at a far faster pace than would have been available in the traditional litigation model.

Another situation that comes to mind, in this instance, in the more traditional approach, involved a couple where one party had never been involved in the financial aspects of the marriage and upon separation had no information about what had really happened during the marriage and was not receiving cooperation from the other party regarding these issues. Through traditional discovery methods the relevant documents were obtained, the less involved party became aware of what had occurred during the marriage. Although the matter had to be set for trial to move things along, it did resolve prior to the trial.