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 9 reviews | Case Results

Posted by anonymous | April 06, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

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 Janette | November 28, 2012 | Divorce & Separation

Janette Gortz's review

Cara represented me through a very difficult lengthy divorce. There were many challenges along the way. I would call Cara in a panic and by the time I got off the phone, I was confident the matter would be handled. She was my strength when I was not feeling strong. She was supportive when I felt ...like I couldn't get through it. She is very professional and prepared for any change that arose in court and between. When I needed a restraining order she was on the ball. I can't say enough in support of her skills and knowledge.

Posted by anonymous | November 26, 2012 | Divorce & Separation

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 anonymous | November 30, 2011 | Divorce & Separation

Divorce

Cara is a wonderful lawyer who seems to care about you as a person - I truly felt that she cared about the outcome of my divorce and did everything she could to help me. She truly gave my case her all and I could not have gotten through my divorce without her and the other great people at her firm. ... I would highly recommend Cara Santosuosso to everyone - she is caring, kind and will do everything humanly possible to get a great result for you.

Posted by anonymous | December 23, 2009 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Highly recommend

Cara did an excellent job with our case. She is very knowledgeable and understanding. She knows she is seeing people during a very difficult and expensive time and does all she can to offer support and keep costs to a minimum without comprimising your case. The entire staff at the firm are very helpf...ul and kind. Her partner, Eric, helped out as well. Great firm.

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

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
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