Sean Patrick Joyce

Sean is just the absolute best combination of kind human and educated/polished attorney. I sadly only worked with him briefly, but he was extremely honest, knowledgeable, responsive, and supportive, and I couldn't recommend him more highly for a family law case. You can feel confident that you are in amazing hands and are not being taken advantage of financially - he is very conscious of the financial toll that this takes on his clients, and his rates and his billing reflects fairness all around.

Sean is an EXCELLENT attorney. I interviewed several family law attorneys and he was by far the best. I was so relieved that I was able to retain him, he has never steered me wrong. He knows several approaches on how to go about winning your case. It depends on your style and what you want. He is able to be the lawyer you need. LAW: Sean is an expert in family law. There are so many times when my ex's counsel didn't know the law or was trying to do something shady, and Sean was spot on. He makes sure that the judge and other attorneys do the right thing. He fights for you and knows exactly what he is doing. If there is something he doesn't know or remember or a law changed, he pauses and does his research. He never makes anything up. He is humble and really great at his job. JUDGEMENT: Sean always guides me in the right direction. He knows and pays attention to whatever judge is ruling. Knows how they think and weighs the options for what has been done historically. He offers a few options, walks you through the risks and gains, and then off you go. He is clear-headed and sharp. WISDOM: Sean has seen so much and can offer advice on many fronts. He knows exactly what he is doing. He knows when to push and when to back off. CHARACTER: Sean has outstanding ethics. He will always guide you in the right direction. And he is always supportive, much like a therapist. PARALEGAL: Aaron is an absolute pleasure to work with. He always helps me and guides me. If I make a mistake in a form, he is always so kind and makes sure I do it right. They are a strong team. I couldn't have done this without Sean and Aaron. After being in court for so many years, I get to see a lot of attorneys at work and I know that I am lucky to have Sean Joyce in my corner.

I originally worked with a high end firm in SF and was assigned a lawyer with less then 2 year experience. Long story short the lawyer over charged me and gave me very bad advice. I was able to find Sean and he has been my lawyer for last 7 years. Long story short Sean was able to help me win my case and I now have 100% custody of both my kids. I can not say kind things about Sean and it's been very emotional for me to see my kids everyday. Sean's rates are more then reasonable, he has many years of experience and is there for his clients. I will always recommend anyone I know who needs a divorce lawyer to Sean.

If you ever find yourself in need of a family lawyer, please call Sean. In 2019, my husband and I went through a bizarre crisis with his daughter's mother that, under the circumstances, ended as positively as possible -- with a win. (In an attempt to win legal custody of their daughter, the mother accused my husband of rape, manslaughter, domestic violence, and threats.) Over the course of six months and a total of 11 hearings, during which we both testified, Sean kept the smallest details of an incredibly convoluted case, including 30 witnesses, straight in his head to the point that he could write briefs on the fly and argue off the cuff. He is an excellent litigator, a strategic thinker, and an excellent and responsive communicator. Best of all, he is compassionate, personable, well-liked, and well-respected by everyone in SF Family Court from the bike messengers to the judges. We loved him and will be forever grateful for our great good fortune in finding him to help us through an incredibly trying time.

When I came to Sean I knew nothing about family law and as a result had been through hell for years. Unbeknownst to me I was about to face the greatest challenge of my adult life. Extremely long story short, Sean saved my life. Sean's deep knowledge of family law and human nature, boundless energy, meticulous attention to every detail in a huge complex case, universal respect in the family law community, and incredibly ethical and values driven approach all made him the perfect choice to partner with in this grand, unpleasant, and ultimately triumphant ordeal. I cannot say enough about how good he is at his job or how much I respect him. No one wants to end up in family court, but with Sean in your corner you will know you are going to get the best possible outcome for you and your loved ones. Every day I am grateful for the peace and stability he has brought to our family.

Sean has been an excellent resource and representative. He is able to quickly distill complicated issues and present a reasonable approach for resolution. He has a very level-headed approach, which is exceptionally beneficial in heated family issues that can run very deep.

I found Sean through a referral. Someone overheard me talking about my situation with a counselor at the courthouse. He said "Hire this guy. He's really good, fair, and will be upfront with costs". After speaking with a half dozen attorneys I felt most confident with Sean's approach and his willingness to guide me through the legal paperwork. My ex and I chose the mediation route for our divorce. A few months into the process I realized that mediation is not for everyone. My situation turned into a nightmare. My ex filed several motions just weeks after my divorce was settled. I felt exhausted & defeated but I was not hopeless. I had been working with Sean for and we had built a good rapport. He knew my situation and I felt confident I would land on my feet. I felt supported. Choosing your attorney is a VERY personal choice. You need to be transparent. Its also an expensive choice regardless of who you work with. Sean is very upfront with all his costs. He always returns emails and calls in a time manner. I am grateful for this down to earth, family forward, well seasoned professional who I can trust.

I cannot recommend Sean enough as divorce counsel. He has been an ally and a protector for me, without sacrificing his or my integerity, and without tearing down my ex. Sean has Integrity. He tells the truth, and expects you to tell the truth. This matters a LOT when you are going through a tough divorce; keeping your integrity will mean a lot to you a few years down the road. Sean is wise with cost. Because of his integrity, Sean will not run up your bills or the bills of your ex. He will do a rigorous, thorough job in representing you, but will keep you informed of costs and options every step of the way. Sean saved me and my family. I realize this sounds dramatic, but it is not hyperbole. I was in the middle of a difficult divorce, representing myself against my ex’s notoriously aggressive counsel in a failed attempt to save money for the kids, and was, as a consequence, depressed and not caring for my kids well. Against all odds, Sean took my case (where others would not) after listening carefully to my situation, and after carefully questioning me to ensure I was a man of my word, and was not misleading him in any way. Over the past 2 years, Sean has successfully represented me, and brought an equitable settlement to my divorce, correcting the imbalance that was created when I represented myself. As a result of this partnership, my stress level is so much lower and my confidence has increased. It might sound like an exaggeration, but this has improved my performance at work, and has improved my ability to be a dad to my kids. Sean faced a very aggressive opposing counsel, and did not sink to their level, or allow me to sink to their level. Not only did he maintain his integrity and mine, but he also prevailed. To those of you facing the emotional pain of a divorce, I am sorry - I’ve been there, and it is so hard. But, having come out on the other side, I can safely and sincerely say that preserving your integrity (or finding it, in my case) is the single most important thing you can take our of a challenging divorce. And Sean can and will help with that.

Sean P Joyce is the best choice if you need a family lawyer. He is professional and takes time to learn your case and give you your best options at this stressful time. He is extremely talented and passionate about family law. I was dealing with previous attorneys that did nothing but take my money and make things worse. I can't say enough good things about Sean and his staff and how great full I am. I would not of been able to win my custody case without him. Sean worked really hard to know the details of my custody case and let me know by best options for my family. Thank you Sean. I highly recommend him.

I worked with Sean on a child custody issue in which I wanted to move out of state. It was complicated, frightening, and among the most emotionally taxing experiences of my life. Sean was an oasis of calm, managed my expectations about the process, allowed me to do as much of my own work as possible to manage expenses, and most important: He did not fill my head with unattainable fantasies of what I could accomplish. He kept my feet on the ground and my head out of the clouds. He was kind, compassionate, realistic, and when it came to be in front of the judge he was respectful, courteous, and professional. He also did not use a bunch of incendiary language to work up opposing counsel. He was just as polite and professional in working with my opposition. He did not pour gas on an already large fire. Calls and emails were returned promptly and all of my questions were answered thoroughly and in ways I could understand. I whole heartedly recommend Sean for any legal needs. He is simply superb and I am grateful that I found him.