Paul Jimenez Ryan

Divorce and separation Attorney at Walnut Creek, CA

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Oustanding Service!

Counsel you can trust

I called Paul for advice regarding visitation with my grandson. After I explained the circumstances of my case, Paul shared With me the options available and offered professional advice on how to proceed. I was encouraged by what he said and how he said it. He gave me confidence in a very emotional situation. After a consultation with Paul I feel that he is the right attorney to move forward with my case. In addition, Paul was willing to adjust his retainer fee. Granted, this review is only after. consultation, however this is a critical step in choosing an attorney who will Represent and guide me through a very complicated Jungle. I have confidence Paul will do that and recommend that you do the same. Talk to him, he will give you confidence when you may need it most. A more complete review will follow after we proceed with my case.

About Paul

Learn Paul’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

READY TO FIGHT FOR YOU WITH FOUR LOCATIONS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Experienced With Many Types Of Family Law Cases

Our Contra Costa office is open to serve you. We have four locations in Contra Costa, Rancho Bernardo, Mission Valley and Carlsbad, CA.

Family Law attorney Paul Ryan and his team of divorce and family law attorneys have decades of experience in divorce, child custody, alimony, property division, military family law & more.

Mr. Ryan uses his extensive knowledge of family law to help clients resolve every issue related to their divorce or other family law dispute. In addition to his general family practice, he also assists clients with their high-asset divorce and property division cases.

At Ryan Family Law, we dedicate ourselves to client care and unparalleled satisfaction. Our firm represents people who are facing family law disputes across Contra Costa County and San Diego County. We have four offices to serve you.

Paul Ryan, our founding attorney, has over two decades of California family law experience and many legal organizations have recognized him for his contributions to family law. As your legal representative, he will put your needs first and create a personalized case strategy that allows you to get the best possible outcome for your family law case.

Awards

Client's Choice

2018 2014

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Licensed for 31 years

State CA

Status Active

Acquired 1995

Updated 11/30/2022

State NY

Status Currently Registered

Acquired 1991

Updated 11/17/2022

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

Contact Paul

Ryan Family Law Group

(925) 255-7265 Office

2121 N California Blvd

Suite 290

Walnut Creek, CA, 94596

www.ryanfamilylaw.com

Message Get Directions

Ryan Family Law Group

(925) 255-7265 Office

11440 W Bernardo Ct.

Suite 300

San Diego, CA, 92127

Message Get Directions

Ryan Family Law Group

(925) 255-7265 Office

2173 Salk Avenue

Suite 250

Carlsbad, CA, 92008

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Ryan Family Law Group

(925) 255-7265 Office

8880 Rio San Diego Dr

8th Floor

San Diego, CA, 92108

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

28 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Paul received a significant number of 4+ stars in 2018

Posted by Donnie | September 9, 2021

Oustanding Service!

I hired Mr. Paul Ryan to represent me during my divorce proceedings, when I found out that he was a Marine Veteran I knew he will take care of me. Mr Ryan and his staff are always available to assist and have answer to my questions with a minimal wait, they are very responsive and detailed. Mr Ryan is very affordable compared to other lawyers that I talked to. Thank you for your service Mr. Ryan.

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Posted by Gary | August 10, 2021

Counsel you can trust

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Posted by SL | December 7, 2018

Amazing lawyer

I don't write reviews often, and I never write a review before it ends, but Mr. Ryan, Paula and the staff of the Law office of Paul J Ryan have been so amazing that I can't wait to share my experience in the middle of my case. Mr. Ryan and Paula think ahead of me, they prepare ahead of me, and they take the case more serious than I do. Mr. Ryan does not only respond fast, he responds with a solution prepared for you. I retained him about a week before my review hearing in which the opposing party was asking a 55% deduction in the spousal support. With such short notice, Mr. Ryan and Paula put in a lot of effort for the preparation and successfully defended it for me. They made me feel solid and made me worry free. I just received a draft of discovery, just by reading it, I feel the "power" of it. It covers the important details that won't allow the opposing party to take advantage of the loopholes. My heartfelt thank-you to everyone of them.

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Posted by Joe | December 4, 2018

EXCELLENT AND ON POINT ASSISTANCE PROVIDED

As a retired Marine, I reached out to Paul, on behalf of a young active duty Marine stationed in AZ. After providing specifics on what was needed in a guardianship case, Paul quickly and efficiently provided the information that was required in this situation. To say he went above and beyond the call of duty is an understatement........he graciously gave his time and assets to assist this young service member. Highly recommended! R/, Joe C.

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Posted by Dan | November 19, 2018

Excellent lawyer!

I contacted Mr. Ryan from other recommendations and his backround experience. He immediately paved the way for securing my child custody rights. Mr. Ryan went above and beyond my expectations to secure my complex custody situation. He provided complete and full follow-up calls and emails timely. If he did not know an answer he would consult and get me the best possible answer and follow-on scenarios. Mr. Ryan was always prepared for each court appearance and did more than a commendable job to get me the best outcome without having to go to trial. Though my custody situation drew out over 10 months before a planned emerged favorable to me due to much opposition from the other party, Mr. Ryan was able to put forth my best defense. Since my situation is still ongoing, I have still retained Mr. Ryan as my legal counsel.

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Response from Paul Ryan November 19, 2018

Thank you Dan! We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with great clients like you to get a favorable outcome for you and your child. We hope that the opposing party in your case is more willing to work with you on future custody, visitation, and child support issues, but we stand ready to help you whenever you need us.

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Posted by scott | June 13, 2018

Great consult

Paul was fantastic for my consult. I needed some fundamental questions regarding my divorce decree and the California rules (I'm out of state). He was knowledgeable, pleasant and provided some key insights that will help me in dealing with my ex's likely request to re-evaluate our court agreement. Definitely the attorney I'd go with!

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Posted by anonymous | February 10, 2018

Couldn't be more pleased

In what is undoubtedly the worst time in your life, Mr. Ryan has the foresight and knowledge to prepare you for the battles you are about to face. My personal situation involved domestic violence, restraining orders, custody, supervised visitation for my children with their noncustodial parent, who was also pro per. Mr. Ryan and his staff were timely and executed every hearing and motion with professionalism, and won time and time again. I could not be happier with the result of an awful situation.

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Posted by Charles | August 23, 2017

Brilliant Attorney and True Advocate!

I've been working with Paul Ryan on a difficult case for over a year and he has been a God-send. He is smart, personable, very down to earth and a fighter. I had two terrible experiences previously with different SD firms, and hiring Paul has been a welcome breath of fresh air. I would highly recommend Paul, especially for active duty military and veterans.

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Posted by Liz | July 5, 2017

Friendly and Amazing Lawyer

Mr.Ryan advice is amazing. He is friendly and good person. I highly recommend Mr.Ryan to anyone.

Posted by anonymous | May 15, 2017

Great expereince

I spoke with Mr. Ryan for about an hour and he was very straight forward and had an excellent plan. He spoke with me in a way where I was able to understand.

Posted by Bill | May 9, 2016

Paul is the best Attorney in San Diego

Paul is an Excellent Attorney and did a Great job on my Divorce. Everything was handled efficiently and the cost was reasonable. I highly recommend Paul to anyone getting a divorce.

Posted by Heidi | January 29, 2016

Honest and friendly consultation

Although I didn't hire Mr Ryan as my attorney, his paralegal was prompt in answering my e-mails and Mr Ryan spent 1/2 hr talking to me on the phone. He answered my questions in a nice and friendly way. He was very personable and didn't speak as if he was above me in anyway, as some other attorneys I have dealt with have done. He was able to give me the advice I need and I didn't end up hiring his firm because he was straight forward and honest in telling me that I really didn't have enough to take my custody case back to court. If in the future I am in need of a family law attorney, I wouldn't hesitate in hiring Mr. Ryan.

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Posted by Victor | June 16, 2015

LAWYER WITH A HEART

I was advised by military base legal to meet with and consult Paul J. Ryan because my pending divorced was going to be very nasty and my former spouse was going to contest everything so they could not be of assistance. I did so and from our first conversation and telling him my story he treated every interaction I had with him professionally and was very knowledgeable about military and civilian law. He set me up on a broke service member, wife took everything including the dog country song payment plan and we went to war. Throughout the whole ordeal and set backs Paul was always cool in his demeanor and approached every situation with an open mind and supportive heart. This all took place in 2010 and I can still say I keep in contact with Paul and have referred many of my coworkers and friends requiring legal services to him. Thank you Paul for making my divorce a success and protecting me and my rights. Very respectfully, Victor

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Posted by Deb | March 4, 2015

Genuine and Honest

Mr. Ryan spoke to me in a way I could understand the legal points. He looked at my Post Judgment issue very thoroughly and gave me options. Mine is a case of an omitted asset which I never would have known about if not for Mr. Ryan's help. PLEASE! HIRE AN ATTORNEY FOR YOUR DISSOLUTION. I think Mr. Ryan is a good choice. I didn't and now 5 years later, I'm still dealing with, (practically starting over) with what should have been done 5 years ago.

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Posted by Lauren | January 1, 2015

Our Family Law Savior

We were going through a very tough time when my children's father came back into the picture after being gone for 8 years and during that stressful time, Mr. Ryan became our rock. He was very knowledgeable in every aspect of family law and was able to educate us on what to do next. To make a long story short, Mr. Ryan led us in the right direction, fought for us in court, and helped put a very stressful situation to rest. A very sincere thank you to Mr. Paul Ryan, from our family to yours!

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Posted by Aaron | December 28, 2014

Great Lawyer

Paul was an excellent lawyer that was very knowledgeable, did a great job preparing me for the process and the day in court. Was on top of everything on that day in court, and did a laudable job of representing me. He and his staff could be a little difficult to get a hold of, but once in contact did a great job of answering all my questions and reassuring me through a difficult custody situation. I would seek his council and representation again should I need it.

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Posted by Mike | December 26, 2014

Great advice!

Paul Ryan gave me great advice on a question I had regarding some personal finance issues. He was extremely professional and very through in his explanations. Thoughtful awareness of the matter, and a great, jovial nature made the whole experience a very good one. Thanks, Paul!

Posted by James | December 20, 2014

Excellent Attorney

I screened and called about a dozen attorneys before deciding that I would have Paul help represent me during the course of my child custody case. This was not a decision that I made lightly, as there is little else I cherish on this Earth as much as my child. It was a very dark and uncertain time in my life, but Paul did an excellent job of making me feel like I had someone truly concerned with representing and fighting for me. As a result, I am able to spend even more time with my child; which is really all I wanted. I would like to also acknowledge the hard work that all of the staff under Paul did; even if Paul was tied up there was always someone that I could talk to and get advice from or revisions on paperwork. Overall, for the price, time and effort I do not believe I could have found someone half as competent or dedicated to my case. If you are someone looking for real support in a custody case, please do not hesitate to contact Paul Ryan.

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Posted by Amanda | December 14, 2014

Compassionate, Caring, and CLEVER!

Upon the initial phone call with Attorney Paul Ryan I instantly felt relief- knowing I had FINALLY found an Attorney with seasoned experience, rare to find class, and genuine concern. The catalyst to this much needed relief and comfort during a very unpleasant divorce is his friendly, candid, and honest nature. During our first meeting I was pleased to learn that not only did Attorney Paul Ryan meet my expectations, but he SUCCEEDED my expectations in countless ways. Throughout some very contentious matters, he has been a supportive counselor, encouraging attorney, a ferocious advocate and a top of the line expert. Additionally, he has a great sense of humor which makes the much needed smile and laugh very appreciated! He took his time to explain everything to me. I never felt as though he rushed through our meetings or my case and we thoroughly discussed my options. He gave me his legal opinions on my case whether they were good or bad for me - and not just what I wanted to hear or what his "wallet" would enjoy hearing. Please save your time, money, and efforts in searching for the BEST attorney in SD, as his name is easy to remember: Paul Ryan..Pretty Remarkable!! ..Thank you for dedicating your valuable time to reading - what I hope is helpful- feedback from a gracious client of Attorney Paul Ryan.

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Posted by Bryan | November 23, 2014

Outstanding Attorney

* I recommend Paul Ryan * I hired Paul 2 years ago * Paul handled my divorce * I have previously worked with 2 Attorneys Paul took on my case almost two years ago. I never had any issues with his communication. The only reason I could not reach him would be if he was in court (No calls allowed). He promptly returned my phone calls and put me at easy in a very tense situation. Paul is a great attorney deserving of my highest recommendation! THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK PAUL!

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Cost

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

Sole Proprietor
The Law Office of Paul J. Ryan
2010 - Present

Director
Legal Assistance Office, MCAS Miramar
2001 - 2009

Civil Litigator
California Civil Litigation Firms
1996 - 2000

Judge Advocate
United States Marine Corps
1992 - 1995

View all work experience

Education

National Conflict Resolution Center
Mediation Skills Training (32 Hours)
2010

New York Law School
JD - Juris Doctor
1991

Fordham University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1988

Associations

Aztec Club, San Diego State University
Board Member
2009 - Present

Military Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association
Co-Chair
2010 - 2012

Family Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association
Member
2009 - 2012

Rotary Club of Del Mar
Member
2003 - 2011

New York Law School Moot Court Association
Moot Court Member
1990 - 1991

New York Law School Judicial Board
Chief Justice Judicial Board
1990 - 1991

View all associations

Languages Spoken

English

Honors and Awards

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2022

Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
2021

Meritorious Service Medal
United States Marine Corps
2010

Recognized for Contributions to Military Family Law
American Bar Association, Family Law Section
2005

View all awards

Speaking Engagements

DFAS Seminar for Navy & Marine Corps Judge Advocates at Marine Corps Recruit Depot
DFAS Seminar with DFAS Director re Division of Military Pension & Child Support
2018

DFAS Seminar for Navy & Marine Corps Judge Advocates at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
DFAS Seminar with DFAS Director re Division of Military Pension & Child Support
2017

Lake County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, Annual Family Law Conference
Child Support Calculations in California
2013

Coordinated & Moderated Training with SDSC Commissioner for Local Judge Advocates
Online Support Calculator Training
2012

Training for San Diego Navy & Marine Judge Advocates
Issues in Famiy Law for Military Practitioners
2011

DFAS & SCRA Training for San Diego County Bar Association
Coordinated & Moderated DFAS & SCRA Training
2011

Coordinated & Moderated training with SDSC Commissioner & Local Practitioner for Local Judge Advocates
Online Support Calculator Training
2011

Camp Pendleton Judge Advocate Bi-Annual Training
Dissomaster Support CalculatorTraining
2011

San Diego Attorney Panel Presentation For Local Judge Advocates
Family Law Issues
2010

MCAS Miramar Reserve Support Unit Conference for Reservists
USERRA BRIEF TO RESERVISTS
2010

Camp Pendleton Judge Advocate Bi-Annual Training
Dissomaster Support Calculator Training
2010

Presentation to San Diego Family Court Judges
Issues Servicemembers Face In San Diego Family Court
2008

Family Law Institute San Francisco Conference for Judges & Mediators
Military Family Law Issues
2007

View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (9)

Given (4)

Endorse Paul

Gerald Bohart

Family Attorney | Mar 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Paul for several years and have referred several of my clients to him for family law matters. Paul is both knowledgeable and experienced and I endorse him without hesitation."

Douglas Borthwick

Family Attorney | Nov 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Michael Waddington

Family Attorney | May 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Paul. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

James Dicks

Family Attorney | Nov 29
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"This attorney works very hard for the clients and keeps up with the law by attending legal seminars to assist them in this regard. I endorse this attorney."

Michael Shemtoub

Alimony Attorney | Sep 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Your resume speaks for itself and I consider you a valuable member of the attorney community. I would recommend you to anyone and everyone who needs your services. I whole heartedly endorse this lawyer!"

Samuel Gazzo

Family Attorney | Nov 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Paul Ryan for several years now -- since his time as Director of Legal Assistance for MCAS Miramar. I have worked closely with Paul over the last two years as co-chair of the San Diego County Bar Association's military law section. Paul is a true professional and pleasure to work with. He is an expert, recognized by his peers and within the legal community, in all family law matters. Paul is exceedingly generous with his time, and has devoted countless hours to various organizations to provide family law assistance, training, and guidance. Paul is a leader in the legal community, an experienced and effective family law advocate, and all around great human being. Enthusiastically recommended and endorsed!"

Timothy Miranda

Family Attorney | Nov 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I met Attorney Ryan while we were both attending a day-long family law continuing education course, which in-and-of-itself speaks to his dedication to mastering his craft, and providing the best possible representation for his clients."

John Sorensen

Family Attorney | Nov 05
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the opportunity to refer several clients to Paul over the years. Without exception, Paul had done an outstanding job for them and the clients have thanked for the referral to such a knowledgeable and effective attorney."