I am Joel Tranter. I practice family law exclusively, and I have done this work for 20 years. My goal is to support people through trying times and circumstances and help them move forward.
Many people going through a divorce want to win! They want to go to court, and they want a judge to declare them the winner! That’s how I approached things when I started this work.
And sometimes you do win, at least on certain issues.
But ... No one really “wins” in family law cases. Court proceedings and judicial decisions can be unsatisfying and traumatic even for the “winner.” These cases are not usually zero-sum; there is rarely a clear-cut winner and loser.
So. I always try to keep my cases from going to court. I try to reach resolution through negotiation and settlement. I am convinced this is optimal for everyone in the long run.
I also know this isn’t always possible; I’m optimistic, but not naive. Negotiation and settlement require both parties—and sometimes both attorneys—to be on board. That's not always the reality, in which case court may be unavoidable. But I will do my best to obtain the best possible result for my client.
I also practice divorce mediation, which can help people resolve these issues on their own, without litigation or separate attorneys. As a mediator, I don’t represent either party, and I have no agenda. I try to help the parties reach a resolution that allows both of them to move forward with their lives.
I grew up in Berkeley, so I am particularly grateful for the chance to live here again and to work throughout the Bay Area.
