Antonyan Miranda is a San Diego divorce lawyer firm built for high-stakes family law — 40 attorneys deep, with in-house forensic accounting and Certified Family Law Specialists leading every case. When your marriage involves complex assets, contested custody, or a spouse who is hiding money, you need a firm with the bench strength, financial sophistication, and trial-ready posture to fight for the outcome you deserve. We don't just handle divorce cases in San Diego County. We aggressively preserve your family's financial future, protect your parental rights, and deliver the resolution that lets you move forward. Protect Yourself at All Times®.

Antonyan Miranda, LLP is not a boutique firm that outsources its toughest problems. We are a 40-attorney family law powerhouse with three Southern California offices — San Diego (headquarters), Newport Beach (Orange County), and Temecula (Riverside County) — and an in-house forensic accounting department that investigates hidden assets, traces commingled funds, and values complex business holdings without the delays of third-party coordination.

Our founding partners bring credentials no other San Diego divorce attorney team can match. Ilona Antonyan became the youngest person in California to earn the Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) designation from the State Bar — a distinction held by fewer than 1% of California attorneys. Timothy Miranda, a former corporate executive turned litigation strategist, brings a business-first perspective to every case that involves financial complexity. Together, they built what we call the "Triple Shield" — a combination of CFLS-certified legal strategy, in-house forensic accounting, and a dedicated Appeals Department that protects favorable rulings after trial.

This means our clients never coordinate between separate law firms, outside accountants, and appellate counsel. Every resource operates under one roof, one strategy, and one team of Concierge Attorneys who provide the high-touch, direct-access communication that high-net-worth clients demand.

Every divorce case at Antonyan Miranda begins with a strategic assessment designed to identify the fastest path to the strongest outcome. We prepare every case as if it is going to trial — because that posture creates leverage, whether the case settles at mediation or proceeds through litigation.

Our process starts with a deep financial analysis. Within the first two weeks of engagement, our forensic accounting department conducts a preliminary asset investigation to identify what is known, what is missing, and where the financial risks lie. For high-net-worth divorce cases in San Diego, this early forensic work often uncovers discrepancies that change the entire trajectory of the case — hidden LLCs, understated business income, or retirement accounts that have not been properly disclosed.

From there, your Concierge Attorney — the dedicated attorney who manages your case and provides direct, 24/7 communication access — builds a litigation plan tailored to your specific goals. Whether that means protecting a family business, securing primary custody, maximizing spousal support recovery, or achieving a "clean break" property division, the strategy is outcome-driven from day one.

We don't bill for administrative busywork. We bill for results-producing strategic work. That distinction matters to clients who have been nickel and dimed by a previous attorney and are looking for a firm that treats their case like a business problem with a definable solution.

Antonyan Miranda handles every dimension of family law in San Diego County — from contested high-asset divorce to complex custody disputes, spousal support and child support litigation, and property division involving millions in assets.

Our family law practice covers child custody disputes in San Diego, including contested custody trials, move-away requests, and international custody matters governed by the Hague Convention. San Diego's significant military population means we handle a high volume of military divorce and custody cases involving PCS moves, deployment, and military pension division.

We represent clients in spousal support and child support matters, including initial determinations, modifications, and enforcement actions. Our forensic accounting team is particularly valuable in cases involving self-employed spouses or business owners whose reported income does not reflect their actual earnings — a common scenario in San Diego's entrepreneurial economy.

For property division under California community property law, our team manages everything from straightforward real estate splits to complex business valuations, stock option division, QDRO preparation for retirement account division, and Moore-Marsden claims involving separate property reimbursement. We provide proprietary tools — including our Spousal and Child Support Calculator and Moore Marsden Property Division Calculator — to help prospective clients estimate their position before the first consultation.

We also maintain a dedicated Appeals Department for cases where trial court rulings need to be challenged. This is a capability most San Diego family law firms do not offer in-house, and it provides a critical safety net for clients whose cases involve novel legal questions or unfavorable trial outcomes.

Divorce attorney fees in San Diego typically range from $300 to $600 per hour, with total costs varying from approximately $3,000 for uncontested cases to $40,000 or more for complex contested divorces involving business valuation, forensic accounting, and custody trials. The filing fee in San Diego County is $435 as of 2026.

We understand that cost is a real concern — particularly when you feel like your financial world is already under threat. But the cost of hiring the wrong attorney is far greater than the cost of hiring the right one. Clients who have been burned by a cheap attorney — who ran up hours without producing results, or who missed hidden assets because they lacked forensic accounting resources — often arrive at our firm having spent more money on the "affordable" option than they would have spent on comprehensive representation from the start.

Do you know why divorce is so expensive? Because it's worth it. The outcome of your divorce determines your financial reality for the next decade or more. Our firm provides value for money because every dollar goes toward strategic, outcome-producing work — not administrative busywork. For a full breakdown of divorce costs in San Diego, including filing fees, retainer structures, and cost factors by case type, see our detailed analysis.

Protecting yourself during divorce starts before you file — and the decisions you make in the first 30 days determine the trajectory of your case. Here are the steps our attorneys recommend to every prospective client.

1. Consult a Certified Family Law Specialist before taking any action. A CFLS-certified divorce attorney in San Diego can assess your situation, identify immediate risks, and prevent mistakes that are expensive or impossible to undo — such as moving out of the family home or making large financial transactions that create adverse inferences.

2. Document your financial picture immediately. Gather bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, business records, investment account statements, and retirement account summaries. If you suspect your spouse is hiding money, our forensic accounting investigation to uncover hidden assets can begin tracing funds from day one.

3. Secure separate accounts and credit. Open an individual bank account and establish credit in your own name. California community property law does not prevent you from accessing marital funds, but having a separate account ensures you have resources available during litigation.

4. Preserve digital and physical evidence. Emails, text messages, financial records, and photographs can all become critical evidence. Do not delete anything — and do not access your spouse's private accounts without legal guidance, as improperly obtained evidence can be excluded.

5. Understand your restraining order options. California Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders (ATROs) take effect when divorce papers are served, preventing either spouse from hiding assets, canceling insurance, or taking children out of state. Additional protective orders are available for situations involving domestic violence.

6. Prepare for Family Court Services mediation. In San Diego County, custody disputes require mandatory mediation through Family Court Services (FCS) before a judge will hear the matter. FCS counselors write custody recommendations that San Diego judges follow at a high rate — making preparation for FCS mediation one of the most important steps in any custody case.

San Diego County operates five family court locations, and your zip code determines which courthouse handles your case. The San Diego County Superior Court requires all divorce petitioners to file the Family Law Certificate of Assignment (Form D-49) alongside their initial petition — a local procedural requirement that verifies correct venue.

The filing fee is $435 as of 2026. A significant procedural change took effect on January 1, 2026: California Senate Bill 1427 created a new joint petition for dissolution using Form FL-700. Under the new 2026 joint petition option under SB 1427, both spouses file together as co-petitioners, eliminating the need for formal service and reducing combined filing fees from $870 to $435. The joint petition is designed for couples who agree to proceed cooperatively.

For the step-by-step divorce process in San Diego County, including form requirements, filing locations, and timeline expectations, our comprehensive process guide walks through every stage from initial filing through final judgment.

Each San Diego courthouse offers a Family Law Facilitator who assists self-represented parties at no charge. For cases involving significant assets, business interests, custody disputes, or any contested issues, professional legal representation is essential. The complexity of California family law — combined with San Diego's local procedural requirements — makes expert guidance the difference between a favorable outcome and a costly mistake.

Divorce is not a negotiation you want to lose. When your family's financial future, your children's stability, and your own well-being are at stake, the difference between a good outcome and a devastating one is the team you choose to fight for you.

Antonyan Miranda brings 40 attorneys, in-house forensic accounting, CFLS-certified leadership, and a trial-ready litigation posture to every San Diego divorce case we handle. We serve clients across the San Diego – Newport Beach – Temecula corridor, and we don't stop fighting until the job is done.

Schedule a consultation with our Concierge team to discuss your situation. Protect Yourself at All Times®.