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David Ryan Monarch

Divorce and separation Attorney at Irvine, CA

5.0   40 reviews
Virtual consultation available
Virtual consultation available
  • Licensed for 17 years
    State CA
    Acquired 2006
    Status
    Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About David

Learn David’s areas of practice.

David Monarch was admitted to the California State Bar in 2006. Shortly after, he joined the team of Castle & Monarch Family Law. David was deemed Certified Family Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization in 2012. David is a member of the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists.

In 2021, David began his own law practice, Monarch Family Law.   

David specializes in all aspects of family law including divorce, property division, business evaluation, paternity matters, child support, spousal support, contempts, domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and modification of support and custody/visitation orders. Clients range from common divorce with modest estates to many of the county's elite, including professional athletes, celebrities, and those with multimillion dollar estates.

David received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating possible and which rating is based upon an extensive survey of attorneys in the field, but more importantly a survey of the actual Judges who make the decisions and observe the trial skills of the attorneys first hand. David was listed as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers every years since 2014 and was recognized as a Top Young Lawyer for 2014 by Los Angeles Magazine and Orange Coast Magazine. No more than 2.5 percent are named to Rising Stars.  On AVVO, David is rated Superb (10 out of 10) and was awarded Client's Choice Award for 2012, 2014 and 2020.

You can contact David at

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
Client's Choice 2015,2014,2012,2011
Client's Choice
2015 2014 2012 + 1 ...

Contact David

Monarch Family Law
One Park Plaza, Suite 760
Irvine, CA, 92614

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  40 customer reviews
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Client's Choice 2015
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by Scott | August 14, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Outstanding, results oriented divorce attorney
I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with a very contentious ex-spouse during my divorce in 2012. After 11 years and 4 attorneys, I had found myself in a situation where I needed the definitive outcome of terminating spousal support and finalizing my divorce once and for all. I was referred to David Monarch by a close friend of mine who had a positive experience with him. I gave him a call and decided to retain him as my new counsel. Within 4 months, a final stipulation was negotiated with opposing counsel and my spousal support was terminated through a fair settlement offer. David knew what my goal was upon his hiring, and every action he took was moving towards achieving that goal. He was straight forward and direct with his communication with me, as well as to opposing counsel. He was highly reliable and responsive in my request for updates. I always knew where I stood in the case, and I felt very comfortable with every suggestion he made for next actions. David achieved my desired outcome sooner than I expected and within budget. I was extremely satisfied with my decision to hire David Monarch, and I would highly recommend him for anyone needing a results oriented attorney who is easy to work with, reliable, and highly responsive.
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Posted by Keith | March 21, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Incredibly Professional & Reliable
Mr. David Monarch did an excellent job being my legal advocate/attorney during a very difficult divorce process. He is an exceptional lawyer, who is very experienced navigating the family law system. Mr. Monarch comes from a strong linage of strong, competent, and experienced attorneys. His reputation and work ethic is widely known in the industry. He is incredibly professional during tumultuous legal communications and/or hearings. Trust me, nothing rattles him and he will be your best advocate while following the law. I would recommend Mr. Monarch to all my family and friends.
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Posted by Chad | April 1, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Recommend
David was able to get me the best possible outcomes in my divorce actions. He repeatedly was able to assist me in gaining more time in seeing my children and lowering unfair support burdens.
Posted by PG | January 26, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Very Happy
David is great. He's truly an expert in family law. he is full of great ideas.
Posted by Kristina | January 15, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Constant support and voice of reason in a high conflict divorce.
I came to David after my first attorney was constantly failing me and David was a breath of fresh air. David is wonderful at managing and navigating through the high emotions of a divorce. He is strategic and always available to discuss the pros and cons in all situations. Divorce is an awful business and mine was a high conflict case and David was a wonderful support and I always felt that he was on my team and had my best interest in mind.
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Posted by Patrick | January 14, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Highly Recommend!
David was an amazing and easy to work with attorney! He handled my divorce case like he cared about the outcome. I had a high conflict case, and David was there for me whenever I needed, responding to me sometimes on weekends or during other non-business hours. He tried to settle the case to stop the costly financial impact on both ends, but when the other side was not reasonable, he was there to represent, and fight for me in Court. I would highly recommend David Monarch for any person in need of a family law attorney!
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Posted by Faith | December 9, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great attorney, strong in court, knowledgable, kind.
David was amazing during my divorce. He is a bulldog in the court room but very kind and empathetic regarding our needs and my child and his best interests. In my divorce there was a substance abuse problem and he knew exactly how to handle it so that me and my son were safe and my x got the help he needed. He is extremely knowledgeable, was always available to discuss any issues. I would highly recommend him and am grateful that we found his law firm and hired them.
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Posted by Corey | December 7, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Save yourself the time and hire Mr Monarch!
David is hands down the best lawyer I have come into contact with. He not only solved 2 years worth of drama that another lawyer had created, but got me exactly what I wanted. Without David I would’ve continued to be a victim and screwed over by the court system. David is extremely smart, gets stuff done, and very responsive with his clients. I can’t thank him enough for all of his hard work.
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Posted by Gary | September 25, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent Lawyer
David, Was very responsive to my questions. He proposed solutions and was very thorough. He was also very upfront with opposing counsel and pushed hard for resolution. I respected his advice and approach.
Posted by Chad | August 14, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best attorney experience I could ever hope for.
David Monarch was an awesome asset to my case. I have been going through a divorce for 6 years with my previous attorney (who was also excellent but retired). David worked on the tail end but was able to get all of my ex's complaints dismissed. The latter part was during COVID, and was able to seal the deal through telephonic court. I can now breath easier and sleep better knowing the case is finally over.
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Posted by anonymous | January 6, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
David’s the best!
David came highly recommend by friend and after my first meeting I had a complete peace and I knew there was something different about him. He was genuinely concerned and sensitive to my situation. Having a newborn and going through a divorce was very challenging and I can honestly say he helped ease the burden. Not only was the outcome more than I could ever ask for, he also didn’t rob me financially! If you want someone that is real and is genuinely looking out for you and your child’s best interest I highly recommend David Monarch!
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Posted by Mike | December 31, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Divorce Decree Modification
David and his office were simply amazing. I was looking for a strong principled attorney and found it in David. I was seeking a modification to my original divorce decree which had been handled by another attorney who failed to look after my best interests. David took the time to understand the intricacies of my case and developed a strong understanding. He was always there when I called or emailed and he kept me appraised of the progress all along the way. He even made several unsuccessful attempts to settle prior to court but the other party was unwilling to consider any reasonable offer. Ultimately, my case went to court and David's trial skills were excellent. I was most impressed by his closing argument which I believe accurately encapsulated the entirety of my case. I can't tell you how satisfying it was to have my attorney accurately, skillfully and completely argue my case, even before the final outcome was known. The judgement was ultimately in my favor. I won in the end, based upon the truth and the merits of my case while maintaining my character in the unpleasant realm of family court. Anyone who has been to court knows the value of good representation. I know I could have spent more but I am confident that I couldn't have had better representation at any price. I highly recommend David Monarch and encourage anyone seeking an honest, hardworking, straight shooting attorney to consider him.
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Posted by Chad | August 8, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Performance
I was particularly happy with the extent that David and his team worked for me during a difficult time. He guided me through what was possible within my means, resources, and evidence available along with what was not possible. As a result, I am at ease with the outcome.
Posted by VC | January 16, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A Superb Attorney and very pleasant office
Look no further and hire this attorney for any family law matters. Prior to hiring David, I interviewed two other attorneys for my custody modification that was brought on unexpectedly by my ex. As soon as I interviewed David, I knew I found the attorney I was looking for to represent me in my case. Not only did he make me feel at ease, he also made me feel that I mattered and that he honestly cared about my needs and case. I am so glad I hired him, I was so happy and grateful for the outcome at my hearing (I cried happy tears), plus he also made me feel so reassured, and calmed my nerves, and that is a big plus for me when going through a nerve-racking ordeal! Even though I still need to go to court again in a couple of months, I know David will have the best interest at heart and that I will be in good hands. Please do your self a favor and hire Castle and Monarch, you will not regret it! His office and staff are also very pleasant and comforting to work with, they answer your calls and questions right away, not common at other law firms! The only biggest regret I have is; I wish I would of found Castle and Monarch for my divorce case.
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Posted by Jason | December 14, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
BEST ATTORNEY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Prior to retaining David, I had gone through three attorneys within a three year period. During that time we had several mediations without any resolution, three scheduled trials which were all continued, partial 730 evaluations ordered by my ex and through this all my prior attorneys failed to modify visitation orders with my children. Additionally, my ex was very spiteful, making false allegations and unnecessarily dragging the divorce out. I truly felt like it was never going to be over. A month before what was supposed to be the 4th trial date set, I made a difficult decision to change my attorney yet again. I knew this could potentially be difficult since most attorneys don't want to clean up a mess. During my initial consultation, I was literally brought to tears by the compassion that this Law Firm has for their clients. I was impressed by their knowledge and eagerness to bring this divorce to closure; because they sincerely cared. Although I interviewed other attorneys, I immediately knew I was going to retain their Firm and hired them that day in July 2016. David was extremely comfortable in the court room, knowledgable and always had a backup plan and was always well prepared. To say my divorce and custody battle was high-conflict would be an understatement. At the initial soft-trial in September 2016, he was able to get me more custody time with my kids, this had not been changed in over a year. At the actual trial in November 2016, he successfully was able to bring my divorce and custody to closure. What my prior attorneys couldn't do in 3 years, this man did in less than 4 months. I am so grateful for David and his amazing and hard working staff. I truly owe him everything. Thank you David, you are a true "Hollywood Super Star"!
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Posted by JP | December 7, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
There is no better family law attorney out there. I highly recommend my attorney David Monarch!
David was recommended to me by a family friend, a local and highly respected real estate attorney who knew of David by reputation alone almost 5 years ago. Since then, David has been my hired attorney, and I am so grateful. I cannot regard him more highly. David has navigated multiple agreements, modifications of support and custody, a 730 evaluation, a move away case, and several council changes from the opposing side on my behalf. In the time I have been David's client, it's become increasingly clear that David's knowledge of family law and custody court far surpasses the average attorney. Family law is, and has been, his family's business. So not only does he hold information that law school cannot teach, he navigates a courtroom with a steady comfortable confidence. He is tough, prepared, and always one step ahead. David is also generous with his time, making himself available to communicate with me by phone or email at almost any hour. Also unlike the the average attorney, and most appreciatively, David is honest, fair and reasonable. He doesn't waste time or money on nonsense proposals that wouldn't be acceptable by a judge, or get caught up in in ego fueled posturing with opposing council on my dime. He has always been clear about what is possible and what to expect, whilst holding my, and my daughter's, best interest as his priority. Going through any custody dispute is emotionally taxing at best. Through each new challenge David has been everything I would want in an attorney, even providing needed comic relief in the more difficult moments. He has truly gone above and beyond to make the process easier on me and my daughter, and I could not recommend him more highly.
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Posted by Mike | January 6, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Very Knowledgeable and Supportive
David was wonderful and helped me through a tough divorce. Quick to respond to questions and knew his stuff. Also not too aggressive with billable hours. Highly recommended.
Posted by Ryan | November 18, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Custody battle
Mr. Monarch is very professional and has incredible knowledge about family law and the court system. He was able to increase my custody and arrange a better schedule with my daughter. I would highly recommend him to my friends, family and colleagues.
Posted by Doug | August 26, 2015
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best case scenario
I hired David to represent me in my divorce. David was knowledgeable, professional. and communicated well from the beginning to the end. There were a few times my ex wife and I disagreed about the divorce procedure and without fail the information David had given me was the way it worked. David's support staff are also excellent. I couldn't have asked for better representation during a difficult time.
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Posted by Bonnie | July 2, 2015
Would Give Ten Stars!!!
David, handled my divorce modification ( filed by my Ex) with the knowledge of the law and care for me. He went beyond what others would have done! i was having treatment for a medical condition at the same time. I was able to have treatment knowing David was handling all my legal issues so i could focus on my care. He did the impossible, he got a settlement!! Because of David, my health is improving. He took care of me and I can't thank him or his staff enough. There is no better Lawyer and he will take care of you!..
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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 450-450 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • President
  • Law Offices of David R. Monarch, APC
  • 2021 - Present
  • Partner
  • Castle & Monarch
  • 2016 - 2021
  • Associate attorney
  • Horton Oberrecht Kirkpatrick & Martha
  • 2006 - 2006
  • Associate
  • Castle & Monarch
  • 2006 - 2016
  • Law Clerk
  • Orange County District Attorney Office
  • 2005 - 2005
  • Judicial Law Clerk
  • Judge Robert D. Monarch
  • 2005 - 2006
  • Legal Intern
  • Orange County District Attorney Office
  • 2003 - 2003
View all work experience

Education

  • Trinity Law School
  • JD - Juris Doctor
  • 2005
  • California Lutheran Univ
  • BS - Bachelor of Science
  • 2003

Associations

  • Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
  • Member
  • 2013 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • Member
  • 2007 - Present
  • Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
  • State Bar of California, Family Law Section
  • Member
  • 2006 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2017
  • Rising Star
  • SuperLawyers
  • 2017
  • AV Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2016
  • Rising Star
  • SuperLawyers
  • 2016
  • Southern California Rising Stars
  • Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2015
  • AV Preeminent Rated
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2015
  • Clients Choice
  • Avvo
  • 2015
  • Southern California Rising Stars
  • Southern California Super Lawyers
  • 2014
  • Superb Rated Attorney
  • Avvo
  • 2014
  • Top Young Lawyers
  • Orange Coast Magazine
  • 2014
  • Top Young Lawyers
  • Los Angeles Magazine
  • 2014
  • Clients Choice
  • Avvo
  • 2014
  • Superb Rated Attorney
  • Avvo
  • 2013
  • Clients Choice
  • Avvo
  • 2012
  • Certified Family Law Specialist
  • California Board of Legal Specialization
  • 2012
  • Evidence, Contracts, Property, Criminal Procedure
  • Trinity Scholar Awards
  • 2004
View all awards

Attorney endorsements

Received (42)
Given (59)
Endorse David
Family Attorney | Jan 04
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
"David is the best at what he does. He is very well respected in the field & overall extremely likable."
Family Attorney | Nov 28
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Feb 17
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Mar 04
Relationship: Friend
"Mr. Monarch is an Attorney from a long line of legal scholars. I fully endorse this lawyer to provide excellent representation in your legal matter."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jun 30
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Apr 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Apr 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Mar 25
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Mar 25
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Mar 25
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Jan 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Child custody Attorney | Dec 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I highly recommend this lawyer he is a true professional"
Family Attorney | Jul 25
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Unknown Attorney | Jun 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Child custody Attorney | Jun 10
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Apr 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Mar 24
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. I have found David to be reasonable and forthcoming in his handling of cases. He is an asset to his clients and the legal profession as a whole."
Unknown Attorney | Jan 14
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Was able to work together to resolve a difficult case with positional clients."
Family Attorney | Oct 04
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. David is an excellent lawyer who gets great results for his clients. We have worked together on cases and I would highly recommend him."
Family Attorney | May 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
View more endorsements