Ralph Santoro, CFLS

Contact
Phone: 951-339-3826
Office: 18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, CA 92612

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Ralph Santoro, CFLS, is a Senior Trial Attorney at Reel Fathers Rights in Irvine, California, where his practice focuses on representing men and fathers in California Family Courts. Admitted to the State Bar of California in 2002, he has practiced family law in California since then and represents fathers in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego Counties in divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence restraining order matters. He has been a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, since 2015.

About Ralph Santoro

Ralph Santoro represents fathers during some of the hardest moments they will face in family court. He handles divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence restraining orders for men throughout Orange County and Southern California. His cases range from simple divorces to high conflict custody, support, and property division disputes. For many fathers, the first goal is to protect their relationship with their children. Ralph also works to protect the assets a father has built and to make sure support orders rest on the facts and the law.

Ralph was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2002 and earned the Certified Family Law Specialist designation from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in 2015. He began his career as an associate at three San Diego family law offices and later ran his own family law practice in La Mesa for nearly ten years. He then served as Managing Attorney for Family Law Litigation in Riverside, where he hired, trained, and supervised six family law attorneys and oversaw client representation in four California counties. From 2022 through 2024 he worked as a family law consultant, training attorneys statewide and running weekly case reviews. He has presented to other family law attorneys on the proper use of experts in domestic violence cases. Over his career he has handled cases in Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda Counties.

Ralph prepares every case as though it will go to trial. That preparation puts a father in a strong position whether he is negotiating a settlement or presenting his case to a judge. From the first meeting, Ralph gives clients a straightforward assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of their case, the likely timeline, the expected cost, and the options that are realistically available. He focuses on the issues that matter most and avoids needless conflict to help keep legal fees under control. Ralph works from the Irvine office, one of eleven Reel Fathers Rights offices throughout California.

Representative Matters

Ralph Santoro has represented clients in the following types of family law matters:

• Divorce cases, from simple dissolutions to complex, high conflict litigation
• High conflict child custody and visitation disputes
• Requests to set or modify child support, including defense against excessive support requests
• Domestic violence restraining order hearings
• Settlement negotiations and family law trials
• High net worth divorce with multiple real properties, brokerage accounts, and deferred compensation
• Community property disputes over a family business operated throughout the marriage

Every family law matter is decided on its own facts. Past matters do not guarantee a similar outcome in any other case.

Courts Where Ralph Santoro Appears

Ralph Santoro represents fathers in the family courts of San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. Ralph serves Orange County fathers from the Reel Fathers Rights Irvine office and also represents fathers in San Diego in custody, support, divorce, and restraining order matters.

In San Diego County, family law cases are heard at the Central Courthouse, 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101; the East County Regional Center, 250 East Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020; the South County Regional Center, 500 Third Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910; and the North County Regional Center, 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081.

In Riverside County, family law cases are heard at the Riverside Family Law Courthouse, 4175 Main Street, Riverside, CA 92501; the Menifee Justice Center, 27401 Menifee Center Drive, Menifee, CA 92584; and the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

In San Bernardino County, family law cases are heard at the San Bernardino Historic Courthouse, 351 North Arrowhead Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92415; the Barstow Courthouse, 235 East Mountain View Street, Barstow, CA 92311; and the Joshua Tree Courthouse, 6527 White Feather Road, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.

In Orange County, family law cases are heard at the Lamoreaux Justice Center, 341 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868.

In Los Angeles County, family law cases are heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; the Pomona Courthouse South, 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766; the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse, 275 Magnolia Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802; the Whittier Courthouse, 7339 South Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA 90602; and the Pasadena Courthouse, 300 East Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91101.

Certifications

Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, 2015

Languages

English

Publications and Speaking

The Use of Experts in Domestic Violence Cases, presentation to family law attorneys

Frequently Asked Questions About Ralph Santoro

What types of cases does Ralph Santoro handle?

Ralph Santoro practices family law at Reel Fathers Rights, representing men and fathers in divorce, child custody, child support, property division, and domestic violence restraining order cases. His cases range from simple divorces to high conflict custody, support, and property disputes. He prepares every case as though it will go to trial.

Is Ralph Santoro a Certified Family Law Specialist?

Yes. Ralph Santoro has been a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2015. The certification is granted by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Is Ralph Santoro licensed to practice in California?

Yes. Ralph Santoro has been licensed by the State Bar of California since 2002 and has practiced family law in California since then, Bar No. 219695. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. He earned his J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2002.

Which courts does Ralph Santoro appear in?

Ralph Santoro appears in family court in San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties. San Diego County family law cases are heard at the Central Courthouse in San Diego, the East County Regional Center in El Cajon, the South County Regional Center in Chula Vista, and the North County Regional Center in Vista. Riverside County family law cases are heard at the Riverside Family Law Courthouse in Riverside, the Menifee Justice Center in Menifee, and the Larson Justice Center in Indio. San Bernardino County family law cases are heard at the San Bernardino Historic Courthouse in San Bernardino, the Barstow Courthouse in Barstow, and the Joshua Tree Courthouse in Joshua Tree. Orange County family law cases are heard at the Lamoreaux Justice Center in Orange. Los Angeles County family law cases are heard at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, the Pomona Courthouse South in Pomona, the Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse in Long Beach, the Whittier Courthouse in Whittier, and the Pasadena Courthouse in Pasadena.

Where is Ralph Santoro’s office?

Ralph Santoro works from the Reel Fathers Rights office at 18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, CA 92612. The office serves fathers throughout Orange County.

Does Ralph Santoro offer free consultations?

Yes. Reel Fathers Rights offers a free case evaluation for fathers facing divorce, custody, support, or restraining order matters. Call 951-339-3826 or request a case evaluation online.

Contact Ralph Santoro

Ralph Santoro works out of the Reel Fathers Rights Irvine office, 18881 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1600, Irvine, CA 92612. Call 951-339-3826 or request a free case evaluation online.