About the Authors
Katie Burke is an associate with The Wald Law Group, P.C. in San Francisco. She is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from Fairfield University (Connecticut), her Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Christine N. Donovan is a Family Law Commissioner at the Solano County Superior Court. Previously, Ms. Donovan was a Child Support Commissioner for Contra Costa County Superior Court and a senior staff attorney with Solano County Superior Court, where she handled family law and probate matters. She served on the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee from 2013 to 2016. Ms. Donovan has been published in the Harvard Women’s Law Journal and in other Continuing Education of the Bar publications, has served as faculty for several continuing education programs for the Judicial Council of California and other organizations, and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She received her B.A. (with highest honors) from the University of California, Davis, in 1999 and her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2002. Ms. Donovan is a coauthor of California Child Custody Litigation and Practice (Cal CEB).
Hon. Barrett J. Foerster was an Imperial County Superior Court Judge (and formerly served as that court’s Presiding Family Law Judge). His judicial service began in November 2003, following service as a Probate Referee and Inheritance Tax Referee. While in private practice, he was a Judge pro tem in family court, became a Certified Family Law Specialist, and was the attorney of record in several published appellate decisions. In 2004, he was recognized for outstanding service as a Family Law Specialist and Superior Court Judge by the Board of Legal Specialization. In 2009, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the California Judges Association. He received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Governing Committee of the Center for Judicial Education and Research for his service on the Continuing Judicial Studies Education Committee of the Judicial Council (2009). He served on the Judicial Council’s Family Law Curriculum Committee. He wrote for scholarly journals and was a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB) and Jefferson’s California Evidence Benchbook (4th ed CJA-CEB) (and was an editorial board member for that book). He also served on the editorial board of The Bench (the official journal of the California Judges Association). Judge Foerster earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, his J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law, and an LL.M. in Labor and Employment Law from the University of San Diego School of Law. Judge Foerster died in 2010.
Neil M. E. Forester is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a shareholder at Forester Purcell Inc. in Folsom. His experience in family law custody matters includes obtaining initial custody orders, modifying custody orders pre- and post-judgment, and working with international custody clients on cases under the Hague Convention. He received his J.D. (with Distinction) from Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 2004, where Mr. Forester currently serves as an adjunct professor teaching Family Law Trial Skills. He is a contributing author of California Child Custody Litigation and Practice (Cal CEB) and Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB), as well as a member of CEB’s Family Law Advisory Committee.
Raymond R. Goldstein is the managing partner of the Center for Enforcement of Family Support, a private law firm in Culver City dedicated to the collection of past-due child and spousal support and related marital obligations. Mr. Goldstein served as the chair of the Family Law Section Executive Committee of the State Bar Association (FLEXCOM) during the 2014–2015 term, and presently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Goldstein is a frequent lecturer for state and local family law bar and associations, law schools, and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is active in legislative reform and has contributed to various print, radio, and television programming as an expert in judgment enforcement. He is the author of numerous California State Bar and CEB articles and publications, including Enforcing Civil Money Judgments (Cal CEB Action Guide), and served as an update author of numerous chapters in Debt Collection Practice in California (2d ed Cal CEB). He received his J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles in 1993.
Christopher C. Melcher is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a partner with the law firm Walzer Melcher & Yoda, LLP, with offices in Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills. Mr. Melcher’s practice is focused exclusively on family law. He is a current member (and Vice-Chair elect) of the Executive Committee of the State Bar’s Family Law Section (FLEXCOM) and a member of the Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Mr. Melcher has lectured extensively on family law topics, presented numerous programs for the State Bar’s Family Law Section, and served as a continuing moderator for CEB’s annual Family Law Conference. He is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). He earned his undergraduate degree from California State University, Northridge, and his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.
Shanon K. Quinley maintains a solo law practice in Pasadena, with an emphasis on family law. She is an active member of the Family Law Sections of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and the State Bar. Ms. Quinley is a member of CEB’s Family Law Advisory Committee and is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law.
Esther Rosenfeld is the owner and principal of Rosenfeld Family Law, P.C. in San Jose, and practices family law exclusively in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. She handles a full spectrum of family law issues, offering traditional litigation as well as mediation and co-mediation services. She is a member of the San Mateo and Santa Clara County Bar Associations, a past president of the San Mateo County Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and a member of the San Mateo County Family Court’s Family Law Advisory Committee. She serves on the Santa Clara County Judge pro tem panel and is a volunteer mediator in the family court. She is also a member of the State Bar’s Family Law Section and formerly served on its Family Law Executive Committee (FLEXCOM). She has been featured on radio station KALW’s “Your Legal Rights” program speaking about California family law issues, and on the internet-based radio program “Business Leaders Spotlight” speaking about divorce. She is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, was voted a “Northern California SuperLawyer” and one of the “Top Women Attorneys of Northern California” by California SuperLawyers magazine, and “Top Lawyers in California” by American Lawyer Media. Ms. Rosenfeld is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from Columbia University and her J.D. from the University of California, Davis, School of Law.
Jennifer F. Wald is a member of the Lakin Spears, LLP Family Law Group and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Her practice is devoted exclusively to family law with an emphasis on complex financial issues. She practices in both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Before joining Lakin Spears in October 1992, Ms. Wald practiced at Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe in San Francisco. She was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America for 2010, and has been named a “Northern California SuperLawyer” every year since 2005. Ms. Wald is a contributing author of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She also is the coauthor of the article “Equitable Apportionment of a Separate Property Business,” published by the State Bar’s Family Law News. Ms. Wald also speaks at family law seminars. She earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University.
Terry S. Wheeler practices law in Oakland as an associate of the Law Office of Sylvia Woods, with an emphasis in family law. She is a contributing author of Dissolution Strategies: From Intake to Judgment (Cal CEB) and of Family Law Financial Discovery (Cal CEB). She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of San Francisco and her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law.
About the 2023 Update Authors
Christine N. Donovan is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Family Law Commissioner at the Solano County Superior Court. She served on the Judicial Council’s Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee and as a Child Support Commissioner at the Contra Costa County Superior Court. Ms. Donovan is the update author for chapters 6 and 12. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Neil M. E. Forester is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a shareholder at Forester Purcell Inc. in Folsom. Mr. Forester is the update author for chapter 11. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Christopher C. Melcher is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a partner with the law firm Walzer Melcher & Yoda, LLP, with offices in Woodland Hills and Beverly Hills. Mr. Melcher is the update author for chapters 7–8. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Shanon K. Quinley maintains a solo law practice in Pasadena, with an emphasis on family law. Ms. Quinley is the update author for chapter 2. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Esther Rosenfeld is the owner and principal of Rosenfeld Family Law, P.C. in San Jose, and practices family law exclusively in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Ms. Rosenfeld is the update author for chapter 4. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
Jennifer F. Wald is a member of the Lakin Spears, LLP Family Law Group and is a Certified Family Law Specialist. Ms. Wald is the update author for chapter 3. For a full bio, see the About the Authors section.
