Cara Lynn Santosuosso

PRO

Cara Lynn Santosuosso

3.8
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 27 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at Westlake, OH
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Uncontested Divorce ... +2 more

1991 Crocker Road, Suite 600, Westlake, OH

Virtual Consultation Available

About Cara

Biography

Marriages can end in contentious litigation, with spouses unable to make even the simplest of decisions jointly. It does not have to end this way. The right counsel can help you manage the turbulent times that come with a divorce, and provide options for a cost-effective and creative path forward.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 50%

27 years

50%
Child Custody 30%

27 years

30%
Uncontested Divorce 10%

10%
Family 5%

27 years

5%
Marriage and Prenuptials 5%

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Licenses

Licensed in Ohio for 27 years

State: Ohio

Acquired: 1998

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Cara L. Santosuosso, LLC

1991 Crocker Road, Suite 600, Westlake, OH, 44145

www.clslawohio.com

Online Presence

Other places you can find Cara online.

Cara Lynn Santosuosso's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

3.8 /5.0

15 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (15) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews | Child Custody

Posted by Adam | February 21, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Outstanding Lawyer! Highly Recommended!

Cara and her paralegal, Allison, did a phenomenal job handling my dissolution and were there to guide me every step. Both were organized, efficient, thorough, and highly professional throughout the process. I would recommend Cara and her team to friends and family and would recommend her to anyone ne...eding help with their divorce or custody matter. She made a very difficult time in my life much less painful and even called to see how I was doing after the dissolution was finalized. Thank you so much!

Posted by anonymous | April 06, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Professional, Supportive, and Knowledgeable of Domestic Violence Intricacies

Cara came highly recommended to me and I am so happy that I hired her to work on my divorce/custody case. Throughout this lengthy and difficult process, she always remained confident and professional. My case involved a long history of domestic violence and Cara guided me through this process in a ...way to ensure the best outcome for mine and my child's safety. She was devoted to getting my case resolved and in a realistic manner. Cara was always available to discuss my case and to ease my fears and anxiety by always having a plan and being prepared for any circumstance presented by opposing counsel. I am grateful to have had such a great team supporting my case and getting it resolved successfully.

Posted by anonymous | March 04, 2015 | Child Custody

Excellent Choice for Family Law

I have been involved with Cara for many years as part of an ongoing custody battle. Cara has done a tremendous job representing me. She not only thinks about the specific matter at hand but about the long term implications of decisions coupled with the well being of my child and me. My case is a b...it unusual, but Cara has gone above and beyond securing the proper resources and support system to deal with the long term difficulties of the situation. She makes sure I am informed, involved in the decision making process and always keeps budget and quality of life in mind when working together. Cara is extremely responsive and conducts herself professionally always. I'm fortunate to have her representing me and would recommend her to anyone with a need for a family law attorney.

Posted by anonymous | November 26, 2012 | Child Custody

Excellent Attorney- Well respected in her field and conducts herself with integrity

Cara does an incredible job. Not only was I confident in her abilities as an attorney, she made herself available to me for emergencies and odd hours when my schedule made it difficult to communicate. She was ALWAYS there when I needed her to be, has excellent relationships with counsel in the area... and understood the court system well. She handled my divorce and custody case and navigated some unusual circumstances with strength and finesse. The thing that stands out most about Cara is that she is tough but fair and conducts herself with the utmost integrity. I felt comfortable with her representing me and knew she would conduct herself in a positive way. She always kept my interests foremost in her mind and kept my child's best interests at heart as well. She was mindful of the budget I was working with and made recommendations to me based on what was fair, affordable and realistic. I am so grateful that I found her and that she was by my side during a very difficult time. She is also very compassionate and patient. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone or to use her again if needed. I have no doubt that without Cara as my attorney, the outcome of my case could have been vastly different.

Posted by Christie | November 21, 2012 | Child Custody

Simply the Best!

Cara went above and beyond to represent me and my child's best interest in our case. She was level headed, reasonable, understanding, and honest with me about what to expect and how things would probably play out in the end (she was right). She did everything in her power to ensure my child was the... main priority and focus on both sides and she was effective in her tactics. I do not have one negative thing to say about Cara or her firm... they were amazing! I would absolutely refer her to my friends and family and I would absolutely hire her again if I ever needed legal assistance.

See All Client Reviews

Cara Lynn Santosuosso's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Cara
Denise Nancy Rini headshot
Denise Rini

Family lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Cara's knowledge of the law and sense of justice makes her an incredibly strong advocate. I enjoy working with her and the challenge of being opposing counsel."

Steven Edward Wolkin headshot
Steven Wolkin

Family lawyer | Dec 24

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Ms. Santosuosso is extreamly knowledgeable in the area of family law. She is a strong advocate for her clients. I have had a number of cases with her and she always impresses me with her ability to manage the case for the benefit of her client."

Cathleen Marie Bolek headshot
Cathleen Bolek

Litigation lawyer | Dec 23

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Cara is an outstanding lawyer! She is smart, tough and knows the legal community well. I would recommend her to anyone requiring legal representation."

View All Endorsements
Cathleen Marie Bolek headshot
Cathleen Bolek

Employment and labor lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

SuperLawyer, "SuperLawyers®"

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2020

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2019

Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2013

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2012

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2011

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2020 - Present

Attorney, Law Offices of Cara L. Santosuosso, LLC

2008 - 2020

Partner, Laubacher & Co.

2005 - 2008

Associate, Rotatori, Bender, Gragel, Stoper & Alexander Co., LPA

2003 - 2005

Judicial Attorney, Eighth District, Ohio Court Of Appeals

1999 - 2003

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office

Associations

2024 - Present

Center for Principal Family Advocacy

President

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

Justinian Forum

West Shore Bar Association

Sample of Legal Cases

In Re P.L. 2019-Ohio-4681

Decision affirmed.

Angela Hamper v. Kenneth Dobrski, 2015 -Ohio- 1381 (2015)

Judgment Affirmed.

Ohio Carpenters' Fringe Benefit Fund v. Krulak, 2008-Ohio-220

State ex rel. Dreamer v. Mason, 115 Ohio St.3d 190, 2007-Ohio-4789

In re D.B., 2003-Ohio-2304

In re Washington, 143 Ohio App.3d 576 (2001)

Collins v. Collins, 2007-Ohio-283

Johnson v. Olmsted Township, et al., 102 Fair Empl. Prac.Cas. (BNA) 482, 2007-Ohio-6487

See More Legal Cases

Education

1998

Cleveland State University

JD - Juris Doctor

1995

John Carroll University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

1991

Magnificat High School

Speaking Engagements

2020

Legal Ethics: Candor in Evidence, Briefs and Trial Arguments

Legal Ethics: Candor in Evidence, Briefs and Trial Arguments

2018

Smartphone, Social Media and Email Evidence in Divorce Litigation

Legal Ethics: Smartphone, Social Media and Email Evidence

2017

Advanced Custody and Support Issues

Recent Developments in the Rights of Same Sex and Unmarried Couples: Practical Implications

2014

Women in the Law

Featured Speaker

2012

Advanced Family Law

Non-Tradiional Family Structures And Paternity Disputes

2011

Your Family Law Practice in the 21st Century

Domestic Violence and Civil Protection Orders

Publications

2022

IdeaStream: Sound of Ideas Interview - Divorce on the Rise

2019

IdeaStream: Sound of Ideas Interview - New Developments in Divorce Law

Languages

English

Activity

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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution