Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP
Open Hours:
Monday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, Closed
Sunday, Closed










Introduce
Navigating the complexities of family law requires not only deep legal expertise but also a profound understanding of the emotional challenges involved. For individuals and families in California, particularly across the Bay Area, Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP stands out as a beacon of compassionate and effective legal representation. This San Francisco-based firm is entirely dedicated to family law matters, offering a comprehensive suite of services ranging from divorce and child custody to prenuptial agreements and LGBTQ+ dissolutions. Their philosophy centers on treating each case "as if you were a member of our family," ensuring clients feel heard, respected, and well-cared for throughout what can often be a stressful and difficult time.
The firm is led by Certified Family Law Specialists, a distinction granted by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization to only a small percentage of attorneys who demonstrate advanced education, examination, specific experience, and positive peer reviews. This commitment to excellence is echoed in client testimonials, where the team is consistently praised for their professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine humanity. As one client shared, the firm "treated my case with professionalism, care, and an incredible amount of dedication. I always felt like a priority." Another specifically commended Ariel, who "guided me through the process and never doubted she had my best interests, and the best interests of our son, in mind." This blend of high-level legal acumen and empathetic client support makes Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP a highly trusted and sought-after firm for family law matters across California.
Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP is conveniently located at 601 Montgomery St #540, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA. This address places the firm in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District, a bustling and highly accessible area that is ideal for clients traveling from various parts of the Bay Area and other California counties. The building itself provides a professional and discreet environment for sensitive legal discussions.
The firm's location offers excellent accessibility through San Francisco's comprehensive public transportation network. It is just a short walk from the Montgomery Street BART station, a major transit hub that provides direct connections to the East Bay, Peninsula, and San Francisco International Airport. Numerous Muni bus lines also serve the immediate vicinity, making it easy to reach the office from different city neighborhoods. For those who prefer to drive, while parking in downtown San Francisco can require planning, there are several public parking garages available in the surrounding blocks of the Financial District. The strategic placement of Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP in such a central and well-connected part of the city ensures that clients can easily access their expert legal services, reflecting the firm's commitment to being reachable and accommodating for all their clientele.
Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP is exclusively dedicated to family law, offering a comprehensive range of services designed to guide clients through the complexities of marital and domestic partnership dissolutions and other family-related legal matters. Their approach combines legal expertise with a deep understanding of the emotional aspects involved. Key services offered include:
- Divorce / Dissolution of Marriage: Guiding clients through all stages of divorce proceedings, from initial filing to final judgment, including complex property division, asset allocation, and debt distribution. They handle both contentious and amicable dissolutions.
- Child Custody & Visitation: Representing parents in establishing and modifying child custody and visitation orders, always prioritizing the best interests of the children. This includes addressing legal and physical custody, co-parenting plans, and parental relocation issues.
- Child Support: Assisting in the calculation, establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support orders, ensuring fair and appropriate financial arrangements for children. They handle cases involving complex financial pictures.
- Spousal Support / Alimony: Providing experienced negotiation and, if necessary, litigation for spousal support orders, covering both temporary and long-term alimony, as well as modifications based on changes in circumstances.
- Property Division: Expertly handling the complex division of community and separate property, including high-asset cases involving businesses, investments, real estate, and retirement accounts.
- Registered Domestic Partnerships & LGBTQ+ Dissolutions: Offering specialized legal guidance for the formation and dissolution of registered domestic partnerships, including LGBTQ+ dissolutions, addressing the unique complexities in this evolving area of law.
- Premarital / Prenuptial Agreements: Drafting and reviewing prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect assets and define financial arrangements before or during marriage, handled sensitively to secure relationships.
- Mediation Consulting & Collaborative Divorce: Actively engaging in alternative dispute resolution methods. They provide mediation consulting for clients seeking to resolve disputes amicably and are trained in collaborative divorce, a non-adversarial process where parties pledge not to go to court, focusing on mutual settlement.
- Enforcement & Modification of Orders: Assisting clients in enforcing existing court orders or seeking modifications of support, custody, or other arrangements due to significant changes in life circumstances.
The firm emphasizes a strategic approach, often preparing vigorously for trial even while encouraging settlement, recognizing that this readiness can lead to better and quicker resolutions.
Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP distinguishes itself through several key features and highlights that position it as a leading family law firm in California:
- Certified Family Law Specialists: Both founding partners, Sarah Van Voorhis and Ariel Sosna, are certified as Family Law Specialists by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. This rare and prestigious designation signifies the highest level of expertise and dedication to family law.
- Client Testimonials of Excellence: The firm consistently receives glowing reviews, highlighting their "professionalism, care, and an incredible amount of dedication." Clients praise individuals like Karen (for compassion, responsiveness, and thoroughness), Lynda (for care and transparency in billing), and Ariel (for being incredibly responsive, communicative, and guiding clients with their best interests in mind, particularly in collaborative divorce).
- Compassionate & Human Approach: A recurring theme in client feedback is the firm's ability to combine "professional excellence with genuine humanity." They are noted for making clients "feel heard, respected, and well cared for" during highly stressful times.
- Results-Oriented & Strategic Litigation: While promoting settlement, the firm’s experience has proven that "vigorously preparing for a trial through strategic litigation often leads to a better, quicker settlement and prepares you for trial, if necessary." This readiness ensures strong advocacy.
- Expertise in Collaborative Divorce: Ariel Sosna is specifically trained in collaborative divorce, a testament to the firm's commitment to offering diverse resolution pathways that can foster healthier co-parenting relationships post-divorce.
- Extensive Experience: The firm boasts over 100 years of combined experience among its competent team, providing peace of mind that cases are in the hands of proven professionals.
- Recognition from Super Lawyers: Attorneys at Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP, including Sarah Van Voorhis and Ariel Sosna, have been consistently recognized by Super Lawyers, a testament to their top peer recognition and professional accomplishments.
- Tailored Solutions: The team is dedicated to understanding each client's unique situation and applying the law accordingly, ensuring personalized and effective legal strategies.
These features collectively underscore a firm that not only possesses deep legal acumen in family law but also prioritizes the emotional and financial well-being of its clients throughout their legal journey.
As a highly respected and specialized family law firm, Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP focuses on providing unparalleled legal expertise and compassionate support, rather than engaging in traditional consumer "promotions" or "special offers." Their value proposition is built on the quality of their legal services and the positive outcomes they achieve for clients navigating sensitive and often complex family matters. Legal fees for such specialized services are typically structured based on the complexity, time, and resources required for each unique case.
However, prospective clients can benefit from key aspects of their service model that provide significant value:
- Complimentary Telephone Consultations: Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP offers "complimentary telephone consultations." This is a significant advantage, allowing individuals to discuss their situation, learn about the firm's approach, and determine if it's the right fit for their needs without any upfront financial commitment. This initial conversation helps clients understand their options and the path forward.
- Transparency in Billing: As highlighted in client testimonials, the firm, particularly through individuals like Lynda, handles billing with "such care and transparency." This commitment to clarity ensures clients understand what to expect financially, alleviating one common source of stress during legal proceedings.
- Focus on Efficient Resolution: While prepared for trial, the firm emphasizes efforts to resolve disputes through negotiation, mediation, and collaborative divorce whenever possible. This commitment to efficient, out-of-court resolutions can often lead to reduced legal costs and faster, less contentious outcomes for clients.
- Peace of Mind: The most significant "offer" is the peace of mind derived from having Certified Family Law Specialists with over 100 years of combined experience advocating for you. This level of expertise and client care can prevent costly mistakes and secure favorable long-term outcomes, which far outweighs any short-term "discount."
For specific inquiries regarding fee structures for divorce, child custody, spousal support, or other family law services, it is always recommended to contact Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP directly to schedule your complimentary telephone consultation and discuss your individual legal needs.
To connect with Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP for expert and compassionate legal guidance on your family law matters, please use the following contact details:
- Address: 601 Montgomery St #540, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
- Phone: (415) 274-2530
- Mobile Phone: +1 415-274-2530
You can also visit their official website to explore their practice areas in more detail, learn about their team, and submit an online inquiry. Reaching out directly is the best way to schedule your complimentary telephone consultation and begin the process of addressing your family law concerns.
For Californians, particularly those in the San Francisco Bay Area, Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP offers an exceptionally suitable and empathetic solution for navigating the complexities of family law. Located conveniently at 601 Montgomery Street in San Francisco's Financial District, the firm's central position ensures easy accessibility via public transportation, making it simple for local residents to seek crucial legal counsel during challenging times.
What truly sets Van Voorhis & Sosna LLP apart for Californians is their exclusive dedication to family law and the presence of Certified Family Law Specialists among their ranks. In a state with diverse family structures and often intricate legal frameworks surrounding divorce, custody, and domestic partnerships, having attorneys with this specialized certification provides unparalleled assurance. Client testimonials consistently highlight the firm's ability to combine professional excellence with genuine humanity, making clients feel "heard, respected, and well cared for" even in "high conflict" situations. For any local Californian facing a divorce, child custody dispute, or needing prenuptial planning, the firm's commitment to transparent communication, strategic advocacy (including collaborative divorce options), and a compassionate approach makes them an ideal and highly trusted partner. Their focus on the "best interests of you and your family" truly resonates with the community's need for supportive and effective legal resolution.
Location & Map
601 Montgomery St #540, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
Customer Reviews
(11 reviews)
I cannot say enough wonderful things about my experience with this law firm. From the very beginning, the entire team treated my case with professionalism, care, and an incredible amount of dedication. I always felt like a priority, and the attention to detail they gave every step of the way was truly impressive. I especially want to recognize Karen, who went above and beyond to support me throughout the process. Her compassion, responsiveness, and thoroughness made such a difference during what could have been a very stressful time. She was truly a rock for me, and I’m so grateful for her. I also want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lynda, who handled the billing side of things with such care and transparency. She made everything clear and manageable, always making sure I understood what to expect. It was a huge relief to feel so respected and supported financially throughout the process. This team not only provided excellent legal representation, but they also made me feel heard, respected, and well cared for. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of a law firm that combines professional excellence with genuine humanity.
I am so glad I chose to work with Ariel on my divorce as part of a collaborative divorce process. She was incredibly responsive and communicative, guided me through the process and never doubted she had my best interests, and the best interests of our son, in mind. We got it done within 10 months, start to finish, and we walked out of the process stronger as co-parents than i could have imagined.
My experience with Sarah Arnott and Van Voorhis & Sosna was extremely disappointing. I sought their guidance, but instead of receiving clear strategic advice, I often felt left in the dark. Here are some of the key issues I faced: Costly Communication: I was repeatedly warned about legal fees due to excessive emails, but the lack of actionable guidance forced me to follow up often. Despite my efforts to keep costs down, I felt I was paying for vague responses rather than meaningful progress. Lack of Strategy: Instead of providing a clear path forward or taking proactive steps, much of the advice felt reactive. At times, I felt I was being steered into long email exchanges rather than receiving concise, effective direction. Failure to Coordinate Forensic Accounting: There was a significant miscommunication regarding financial tracing, despite me explicitly bringing it up multiple times. This delay was costly and created unnecessary frustration. Inflexibility on Closing Out the File: When I decided to change legal representation, the process to close my file felt more complicated than necessary, adding another layer of stress during an already challenging time. Ultimately, I fired Sarah Arnott and moved on to different counsel who immediately offered more clarity and professionalism. I cannot recommend her services and advise others to seek more responsive and strategic legal support.
The guidance and counsel I received was exceptional, and the peace of mind it provided me during the rough patches in my divorce process was priceless. I’ll always think of this legal practice if I — or anyone I know — ever needs family law services in the future .
Going through any legal process, especially a divorce, is always challenging. However, having the right attorney by your side makes all the difference. For my case, I consulted with Ariel Sosna at Van Voorhis & Sosna, and I was met with the honesty and clarity that I needed. Ariel kept me grounded, ensuring that I had realistic expectations about potential challenges that could arise. What I appreciated most was her unabashed honesty. She didn't sugarcoat things or give false hopes. Instead, she provided a clear and straightforward perspective on every aspect of the case, guiding me through the turbulent waters of divorce with immense professionalism. If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing a family law attorney, I wholeheartedly recommend Ariel.
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