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Salomon Quintero
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Salomon Quintero
Quintero Family Law Services
601 Brewster Ave
Suite 100
Redwood City, CA 94063-1505
Phone: (650) 365-5145 | Fax: (650) 365-6399
http://www.dsol.com
Bar Certified since 1980. Multiple languages spoken.
Legal Topic
Family Law
Preferred New Clients
All family law cases.
Sub-Categories
Family Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Name Changes
- Restraining Orders
- Enforcement Actions
- Child Abuse
- Domestic Violence
- Child Support
- Custody
- Paternity
- Visitation
- Civil Unions
- Domestic Partnerships
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
- Living Together/Cohabitation
- Marriage
- Power of Attorney
- Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
- Grandparent Rights
Legal Topic
Divorce
Preferred New Clients
All divorce law cases.
Sub-Categories
Divorce
- Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
- Annulment
- Child Support
- Custody/Visitation Rights
- Delinquent Support Payments
- Division of Property
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
- Restraining Orders
- Uncontested Divorce
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights
Bar Admissions
CA, Jun 1973
Bar Number: 56023
Specialty Certifications
Certified Specialist in Family Law.
Other Court Admissions
California, U. S. Supreme Court, U. S. District Court, and Northern District of California.
Association Memberships
California State Bar, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, and San Mateo County Bar, Family Law Section.
Continuing Education
I have taught seminars in various family law subjects and published articles on family law topics. I also regularly attend seminars sponsored by California Family Law Reports.
Papers and Publications
"50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" - an article discussing recent cases on the date of separation.
"Diosdado" - an article analyzing enforceability of marital agreements.
Example Cases
Case A: My client became involved with his wife's sister. He and the sister had three children together while all were living together. His oldest child had to call his mother "auntie" in public because the father and sister held themselves out as married for the sake of the younger children when they attended school. In the end, they split the house three ways. I wound up handling the divorce of three of the children years after the initial divorce.
Case B: My client had filed for divorce 12 years earlier and obtained a default decree. Meanwhile he and his "ex-wife" continued living together until Husband got a new wife from China. Wife tried to have the initial divorce decree set aside for fraud. We prevailed and the initial default divorce was upheld. In the settlement, my client agreed to acquire a new expensive piece of original art for his ex-wife to replace her expensive antique heirloom dishes that he had smashed during an argument at the time of the original divorce. Wife claimed that her dishes were valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars. This was not disputed by my client.
Education
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
School:
University of California, Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1969
Honors:
1968 UC Lightweight Boxing Champion
Focus and Accomplishments:
History
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1972
Focus and Accomplishments:
Research and Writing and Moot Court.
Number of Attorneys
3
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Our firm is focused on all aspects of family law. Property division includes valuation of assets, business valuation, separate property tracing, valuing and dividing stock option grants, and division of retirement and pension funds. Custody includes visitation, joint custody, supervised visitation, and move away cases. Support includes child and spousal support, support termination, and parentage actions. In domestic violence cases, we seek restraining orders for domestic violence victims and we defend against restraining orders when they are sought for an improper purpose or when they are based on false accusations.
The firm started in November 1995 as Divorce Services Group and Divorce Services On-Line. We have evolved into Quintero Family Law Services as it exists today.
Previous Employment Summary
Previously, I was one of the founders of Goodman, Quintero, Lubin and Frederick, an Association of Attorneys. My previous practice included extensive civil litigation and jury trial practice in cases involving all aspects of real estate law, including brokerage law, fraud and misrepresentation, construction defects, soil contamination, and architectural and engineering negligence. I also had jury trials in cases involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, and psychiatric injuries.
Activities and Awards
I have been listed by Northern California Super Lawyers Magazine for 2008 and 2009. I have served as Judge Pro-Tem of the Superior Court in the Family Law Department and for Small Claims Appeals. I regularly serve as Arbitrator in the San Mateo County Judicial Arbitration Program and for the San Mateo County Bar Association in attorney fee disputes.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I consider it of utmost importance for the client to understand every issue involved in his or her case. The better understanding the client has of the issues, the better prepared the client will be to assist in the presentation of the case.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
We do this as a regular part of our practice.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Again, we make ourselves available to assist clients who wish to represent themselves in court. We can assist with document preparation and preparing a client for making his or her own court appearances.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I was originally motivated by a desire to pursue social justice causes. As my career developed, I gravitated to family law because I have always felt that I have the ability to work with people at a time of crisis. In divorce work we deal with people at their most troubled times, when life changing decisions are made and when a balance between empathy and strategic thinking are important. As professionals, we need to be able to understand the client's needs and condition and at the same time we need to rise above the fray to see what will be important in the court's legal setting and to design the presentation of a case for the best possible outcome for the client.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have a very broad perspective and extensive resources available to bring to bear on each case. My background in jury trial work helps me understand the decision making process and to see what facts or arguments would best advantage a client. Many family lawyers lack this basic experience as trial lawyers. I also have a strong understanding of finance and accounting, which is important in the preparation of a case and understanding what outcome will advantage a client best. Having raised my own children, I understand the struggles of parenting from infancy to adulthood. I have extensive experience in psychology and understand the psychological testing that is often used in custody evaluations. As a formerly licensed real estate broker, I gained extensive understanding of issues involving real property and transactions.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I feel very comfortable working with individuals dealing with real life problems. I enjoy life coaching that goes along with the process. I enjoy the problem solving approach to settlement negotiations, and I enjoy the tactical battle in those cases when a contested trial becomes necessary.
What do you like best about your career?
I have a great deal of freedom to choose the cases that appeal to me. I get an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge that I have gained over a lifetime of practicing family law and other areas of the law.
Tell us about your law firm:
Both of my associates, Amy Yiemi Gu and Julie Zhalkovsky are excellent lawyers and a joy to work with. All three of us draw on our ethnic backgrounds to bring in a variety of clients from every walk of life.
What are your strengths and style?
My strengths start with my compassion and ability to connect with people and to understand the human condition. In college, I started out as an English major so I have always enjoyed writing and research. As a trial lawyer, I learned the art of designing a strategic plan for trial presentation and I learned a lot about how decision makers make their decisions based on their emotional response to the parties before them more than the facts and law presented. I have the ability to remain composed in stressful situations and to never allow emotion to cloud thinking and decision making.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy time with my wife, hiking, and exploring nature. I enjoy music including world music, blues, and classical. I enjoy yoga and chi gung exercise. I have been a lifelong student of history and politics.
Office Manager/Assistant
Dina
Fax
(650) 365-6399
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Russian.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
There are no fixed prices in divorce work. Each case is unique and it is impossible to foresee what the other party may do.
Hourly Rates
$350. $250 for Associates.
Free Initial Consultation?
We charge $120 for an initial consultation that usually lasts approximately one hour. During that time we are able to analyze the case, advise the client, and discuss retainer arrangements.
Typical Retainer
Each case is evaluated based on the issues involved, but $3,500 is a common retainer.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
