Serving San Diego County since 2012 • English & Spanish
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You are not alone in this
When Everything Feels Uncertain, It's Hard to Know Where to Start
Family law isn't just paperwork — it's your home, your kids, your safety, your future. Between the stress, the confusion, and the urgency of it all, finding the right legal help can feel just out of reach.
Move Forward With Protection, Support, and Real Guidance
You don't need a guarantee. You need a guide — someone who shows up, reads the documents, makes the calls, and tells you the truth. Someone who keeps you informed instead of leaving you in the dark. Whether you're filing for divorce, defending yourself against a restraining order, or trying to bring a child home, you'll know where your case stands.
I don't believe in scare tactics or sugarcoating. I believe in preparation, clear communication, and representing you with integrity, from the first conversation to the final court order. I've been a family law attorney in San Diego since 2012, and I teach family law at California Western School of Law.
I hired Mr. Aguilar to represent me in my divorce case. Going through a divorce is stressful enough, and having to find a trustworthy attorney who you know has your very best interest at heart is no picnic. I was referred to Mr. Aguilar by a friend and was very pleased with his efforts. He worked diligently from day one and I was very pleased with the outcome of my case.
AlinaDivorce
5 out of 5 stars
I called Mr. Aguilar because I needed a restraining order against my wife. I had a feeling this would be an uphill battle because I am a big guy that does not look like victim. Unfortunately, behind closed doors my wife was verbally and physically abusive towards me and our 3 year old son. It got to a point where I could not continue letting her use corporal punishment against my son every time she was upset over very miniscule things. Mr. Aguilar was very understanding and he help me obtain all the evidence I needed in order to present a compelling case to the judge on the day of my hearing. I obtained a restraining order than includes my son. I was very hesitant to get the divorce and restraining order started because I thought there could be some bias since I am a guy. Luckily, Mr. Aguilar helped me overcome this situation.
BrianDomestic Violence and Restraining Orders
5 out of 5 stars
I felt compelled to write this due to some if the begative reviews I saw. My experience wasn’t anything like those experiences. I’m not sure if he is as aggressive as some people may like, but I thought he handled the opposing counsel quite well when we convened before court. Ben is 100% honest and realistic. He’s not going to tell you what you want to hear, he’s going to tell you what the likely outcomes will be. Family court is complicated and even when you think you have compelling evidence, the judge may shrug and not care (that happened to me). After court, my ex vegan violating the order immediately. I contacted Been and his advice was to document everything and then contact him down the road because contacting him with every incident eats up your retainer. So, if you want someone to placate to you, go throw away your money with a different attorney. If you want someone that is level headed, offering honest advice and giving you realistic outcomes, contact Ben. Chris W.
ChrisChild Custody
5 out of 5 stars
Thank you Ben for everything, for me and my son. I just got custody of my son after spending over 13k on attorneys and other legal fees over 10 yrs of hard work sweat and tears. I’m grateful to have found Ben and to have him on my team. I would recommend Ben to my closest friends and family members, so if you are thinking about retaining Ben, don’t think twice! -Efrain
EfrainChild Custody
5 out of 5 stars
I am forever thankful that a friend recommended Ben to me. Ben really took the time t listen to my side of the story. Ben went above and beyond. My ex was making really serious false allegations about my fitness as a father. Ben did not wait to get a mediator’s parenting plan recommendation instead he picked up the phone and set up appointments to talk in person with my son’s teachers. I was quite impressed that he was so hands on and really did everything he could to present the truth on the day we had our court hearing. Ben was able to show to the judge that my ex was lying because she did not want to deal with co-parenting. If you need an attorney that will listen and will play investigator and will do whatever it takes to show that you are a fit parent, you should definitely give Ben a call.
EricDivorce
5 out of 5 stars
Ben was recommended to me by family, and I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the exceptional consultation, professionalism, and valuable time you dedicated to me. I genuinely appreciate the time you dedicated to our discussions and the efforts you made to accommodate my schedule. Your responsiveness and availability made it easier for me to navigate through this legal process. Thank you again.
GustavoConsultation
5 out of 5 stars
Ben was very straightforward from the very first time we met. When I explained my situation to him, he immediately told me what would be realistic under the circumstances instead of telling me what I wanted to hear just to retain me as a client. I interviewed 4 other attorneys prior to hiring Ben and all other attorneys told me what they thought I wanted to hear. Ben’s honesty was what made me retain him as my attorney. Things turned out just the way he told me during that first meeting. No surprises.
JakeAdoption
5 out of 5 stars
My ex and children live in California. but I live out of state and could not travel to San Diego for the various court hearings. Mr, Aguilar arranged for me to appear over the telephone every time the court needed me to appear. Mr.Aguilar kept me informed about the status of my case and promptly notified me of any developments. I saved a lot of money by not having to travel to California for the various hearings. I truly believe the outcome of my case would have been the same even if I were present for the court hearings. I learned to trust Mr. Aguilar during the divorce/custody process. Mr. Aguilar really made sure that my rights as a parent were preserved despite the fact that I live out of state.
JCChild Custody
5 out of 5 stars
My divorce, custody and visitation case started in 2012. I spent over $80,000 in attorney fees prior to retaining Ben. Once I retained Ben, I told him what I wanted to accomplish. He made no promises, but he started working on my case as soon as I left his office. Ben was able to finalize my case in 3 months. I wish I had come across Ben back in 2012 when I filed for divorce. I would have saved money and time.
LoriDivorce
5 out of 5 stars
Ben was very honest from the moment I stopped by his office for a consultation. He told me what to expect and did not sugarcoat anything. He told me what he could do and could NOT do for me. He did not promise me an outcome, but explained potential outcomes based on his experience. The case resolved within a reasonable time and in a very cost-effective manner. I would certainly recommend Ben to a family member or a close friend.
LydiaConsultation
5 out of 5 stars
Mr. Aguilar helped me establish paternity and child support. My son was born out of wedlock and father refused to pay support. Father is self-employed and he does not report his earnings accurately to the IRS. Mr. Aguilar helped me show the court that my son’s father makes substantially more money than what he was reporting to the court. I really had no idea how to go about showing to the court that he was lying about his income. Once we established paternity, Mr. Aguilar also represented me in the custody and visitation aspect of this case and we were able to get a very favorable court order.
MollyChild Support
5 out of 5 stars
Ben helped me with my move-away order. I needed to relocate in less than a month and 2 weeks after I retained him, I had a court stamped order allowing me to relocate out of California with my 4 children. Ben was very responsive to e-mails and returned my calls within 24 hours. I found Ben on Avvo and I am glad I trusted the rest of the reviews because I called him based on the very positive reviews he received from other clients.
NathanMove-Away and Relocation
5 out of 5 stars
Ben Aguilar is a talented, whip-smart, and thorough attorney. He is all business in his interactions but he was very thoughtful and sensitive about my situation as a divorced Dad with a child whom I miss dearly. He writes impeccable correspondence. He brought a strategy to the table but he didn’t impose it on me. He is not overly aggressive; he is sensible. It was obvious to me how much he is respected by the judges at Family Court in Vista. Ben was recommended to me by a supervisor who had interacted with him in court. She said he was among the best family court lawyers she’d worked with and that he was hard-working and affordable. He is all that and more. I recommend him 100%.
NickyChild Custody
5 out of 5 stars
Having watched this Attorney as a public Observer, I was impressed by him and his due diligence toward his clients, primarily when he is representing them in Court. My observations were that the opposing Respondent was a Family Law Attorney whom he had the pleasure of filleting.
AnonymousCourtroom Observer
5 out of 5 stars
Ben was great at handling my divorce. I had a bit of a unique situation and was worried about finding the right lawyer. After consulting with a couple different lawyers, I decided to go with Ben. He really took the time to understand my case and helped me feel comfortable about the process. Trust me, I had just about a million questions. He was empathetic and really good about keeping me informed during every step of the process. Just a great guy in general, but definitely aggressive when he needs to be.
RachelDivorce
5 out of 5 stars
Ben took my case after I went to court for restraining order and the respondent had showed up with council, so I requested for extension to seek council and I found Ben and was I pleased with his representation. I met him right away and he made me comfortable and was very kind. He showed up on time and executed well. Due to having a toddler involved Ben performed graciously but also helped to make sure I didn’t leave without any written agreement for protection on my end signed by the judge. We came to an agreement for our toddler son and really was pleased and thankful I had Ben at my side. Thank you Ben your a great man.
AnonymousDomestic Violence and Restraining Orders
5 out of 5 stars
My divorce case had been going on for almost a year when I contacted Mr. Aguilar. At that point my wife had requested a restraining order against me that included our 2 sons. I felt desperate because I knew I could lose my job and professional license if the restraining order was granted. Mr. Aguilar got the restraining order dismissed and also requested changes in the custody and visitation orders because it was clear that my ex wife had been lying during the entire process. Now, I get to see my children regularly, unsupervised and we have moved on with our lives.
Reviews reflect individual client experiences. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Common Questions
Do I have to go to court?
Not necessarily. If both parties can reach an agreement, many family law matters — including divorce and custody — can be resolved without ever stepping into a courtroom. I always look for the path that saves you time, money, and stress.
Do mothers automatically get custody in California?
No. California courts look at the best interest of the child and the history of caregiving, not the parent's gender. If a father has been the primary caregiver, the court takes that seriously. The outcome depends on the facts, not assumptions.
Can you just draft documents for me?
No, and this protects you. I don't offer one-off document drafting for self-represented clients. If I'm involved in your case, I'm reviewing the full picture. That's the only way to give you real legal help, not just paperwork.
Do you handle cases in Spanish?
Yes, fully. I'm bilingual in English and Spanish, and I work with the entire cultural context, not just the language. Every service I offer is available in both languages.
How much will my case cost?
It depends on the complexity of your case. The best way to understand the likely cost is to book a consultation. I'll be upfront about fees and realistic about what your situation actually requires.
Counties We Serve
San Diego CountyMain office
Imperial County
Orange County
Riverside County
Los Angeles County
San Bernardino County
Based in San Diego, taking family law matters across Southern California.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Tell me what's happening. I'll tell you what's actually possible.
