edward-castro-headshot-wborder

Edward

Castro

Partner

Certified Family Law Specialist

Edward Castro has devoted his entire legal career to the practice of family law in San Diego County and joined Holstrom, Block & Parke, a Professional Law Corporation, in 2021 as a Partner. Mr. Castro currently manages the San Diego County office.

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Castro initially focused his practice in the area of domestic violence prevention. Early in his career, Mr. Castro worked with the nonprofit San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program (SDVLP) to supervise their domestic violence restraining order clinic at the East County Courthouse of the San Diego County Superior Court.

Thereafter, again in association with SDVLP, Mr. Castro supervised and coordinated the Family Law Access Project (FLAP) at the San Diego County Family Court. In San Diego County, FLAP served as a courthouse-based family law and mediation clinic providing legal advice and assistance to unrepresented litigants. During his tenure at FLAP, Mr. Castro increased the program’s capacity to assist unrepresented litigants severalfold. FLAP was ultimately displaced by the Family Law Facilitator, a public program that provided the same services.

After leaving FLAP, Mr. Castro joined the YWCA Legal Advocacy Program as a senior staff attorney and family law litigator. The YWCA Legal Advocacy Program’s core mission was the prevention of domestic violence through direct legal representation of victims in Family Court. During his six years at the YWCA, Mr. Castro represented clients in a diverse range of family law matters. Those matters included divorce and paternity actions, high conflict child custody disputes, disputed child and spousal support matters, division of complex marital estates, contested domestic violence restraining order applications, and appellate review of family court decisions. During his tenure at the YWCA, Mr. Castro developed substantial experience and expertise in trial practice given the challenge of finding common ground in cases touched by domestic violence.

In 2010, Mr. Castro joined the Law Offices of Beatrice L. Snider, A Professional Corporation (BLSAPC), where he served for 10 ½ years. BLSAPC’s clientele consisted largely of litigants having high net-worth estates. In 2014, Mr. Castro was elevated to partner. During his time at BLSAPC, Mr. Castro acquired substantial experience addressing issues uniquely routine to high net-worth cases. Those issues included business valuation disputes, complex income analyses of large business owners, tracing litigant claims through multiple transactions, asset protection trusts, and offshore interests. Mr. Castro also acquired particularized knowledge and experience regarding the retention and use of forensic experts in family court proceedings. Lastly, Mr. Castro acquired experience with numerous longer trials (5 days or longer) and continuing experience with appellate review of family court decisions (15 appeals/writs in the last 12 years).

Mr. Castro was awarded his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1993 and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1982. He is currently certified as a Specialist in the area of Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Castro professional recognitions include his selection as a Super Lawyers Honoree in 2022 and 2023 and his selection a San Diego County Top Attorney in 2015. Mr. Castro’s professional memberships include the California State Bar Association, the United States District Court–Southern District of California, the San Diego County Bar Association, the San Diego Family Law Bar Association, and the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists.

avvo-view-my-profile

Areas of Practice

  • Family Law
  • Same Sex Family Law
  • Child Custody
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Violence
  • Rights of Unmarried Parents
  • Father’s Rights
  • Visitation Rights
  • Parental Relocation (Move-away)
  • Restraining Orders
  • Post-Judgment Modifications
  • Prenups & Marital Agreements
  • Collaborative Law
  • Contested Divorce
  • Property Division
  • Spousal Support & Alimony

Associations

avvo-rating-10-edward-castro-top-attorney
avvo-reviews-edward-castro
Best-Lawyers
Certified-Famliy-Law-Specialists
logo-SDFLBA-230x49
State-Bar-of-California-seal-567x567
logo-SDCBA-230x43
logo-foothills-bar-association-of-san-diego-county
logo-american_bar_assoc-400x123-1
rated-by-super-lawyers-edward-castro-selected-in-2022
rated-by-super-lawyers-2022
reviewed-200
PEER-REVIEWED-WH-200

Education

  • University of San Diego School of Law
  • Juris Doctor, 1993
  • Yale University
  • Bachelor of Arts, 1982

Honors and Awards

  • 2022 Super Lawyers selection
  • 2022 Peer Reviewed (Martindale)
  • 2005 Certified Family Law Specialist
  • 1997 Wiley W. Manual Award for legal work with victims of domestic violence
  • 1996 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
  • 1996 Wiley W. Manual Award for legal work with victims of domestic violence
  • 1995 Wiley W. Manual Award for legal work with victims of domestic violence

Professional Positions, Associations, and Memberships

  • Served on Board of Directors of San Diego Domestic Violence Council from 1998 to 2001
  • Recognized as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 1996
  • Awarded the California State Bar Wiley W. Manuel Award (1995, 1996 and 1997) for legal work with victims of domestic violence
  • Served as Senior Staff Attorney and Family Law Litigator, San Diego YWCA Legal Advocacy Program for the prevention of domestic violence from 2001 to 2006
  • Served as Supervising Attorney, Family Law Access Project, Family Courthouse, San Diego Superior Court from 1997 to 2001
  • Served currently as Temporary Judge and Judge Pro Tem, San Diego Superior Court, family law and small claims from 2000 to present

Bar Admissions

  • California, 1993