Robert A. Benavente

Mr. Benavente’s law practice has been exclusively devoted to family law since 2000.  He has been a board Certified Family Law Specialist since 2007.  He has been named a “SuperLawyer” by LA Times Magazine each year since 2014.  Prior to being named a SuperLawyer, he was included the SuperLawyers magazine “Rising Stars” edition in 2004 and 2005.

In addition, each year since 2014, Mr. Benavente has been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America” for Family Law published by U.S. News & World Report.

Mr. Benavente is a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists.  From 2008 through 2015, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association.

In May 2015, Mr. Benavente was featured in the “Ask the Expert” column in Orange Coast Magazine wherein he discussed various family law issues including criteria for selecting a divorce attorney and factors impacting child custody and spousal support.

Mr. Benavente enjoys traveling to tropical destinations.  When he is not traveling, he stays active with his two sons.

• Co-Presenter, “Attributes of the Difficult to Litigate Business Appraisal: Dealing With the Variables and Complexity” – 2023 Annual Spring Seminar, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, March 2023
• Co-Presenter, “Audio/Visual Presentations in Hearings and Trial” – 2023 Trial Advocacy Institute, AAML Southern California Chapter, January 2023
• Presenter, “Audio/Visual Evidence at Trial,” “Cross-Examination” and “Closing Arguments”- Trial Basics Seminar, AAML Southern California Chapter, June 2022
• Co-Presenter, “Income Available for Support: It’s Not What You Think” – 2021 Speaker Series, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, June 2021
• Presenter, “Audio/Visual Evidence at Trial” and “Cross-Examination”- Trial Basics Seminar, AAML Southern California Chapter, April 2021
• Co-Presenter, “Litigating Premarital Agreements Post-2020 UPA Amendments” – 2021 Trial Advocacy Institute, AAML Southern California Chapter, January 2021
• Presenter, “Litigating Contempt Hearings in Family Court”- Guest Lecturer, Western State University College of Law, Family Law Course, April 2020
• Presenter, “Litigating Contempt Hearings in Family Court,” Guest Lecturer – Western State University College of Law, Family Law Course, April 2020
• Presenter, “The Bell Curve (Using Statistics in Trial),” 2019 Trial Advocacy Institute, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, January 2019
• Co-Presenter, “Important Cases of 2019,” AAML Southern California Chapter General Meeting, December 2019
• Co-Presenter, “Marriage of Bonvino – Undue Influence…Who Cares?”  Riverside County Bar Association, Family Law Section, September 2019
• Presenter, “Cross-Examination of Lay Witnesses” and “Introducing Written Discovery Into Evidence,” AAML Trial Basics Seminar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, April 2019
• Presenter, “Trial Tech – Cross Examination of Forensic Accountants,”  Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, May 2018
• Presenter, “Cross-Examination and Closing Arguments,” AAML Trial Basics Seminar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, April 2018
• Presenter, “Cross-Examination and Closing Arguments,” AAML Trial Basics Seminar, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Southern California Chapter, April 2017
• Presenter, “See the Mix-Up: Practice Tips for Litigating Tracing Issues,” CLE Series, 2015
• Presenter/Co-Chair, “Show Me the Money…Child and Spousal Support From A-Z,” OCBA, Family Law Section, 2014
• Moderator:  “Affordable Care Act and Highlights of the Tax Aspects of Divorce.” OCBA, Family Law Section, 2014
• Presenter/Co-Chair, “From Intake to Hearing”, Child Custody Practice Symposium, Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association, October  2013
• Presenter, “Marriage of Alter – Did It Alter the Law of Parental Gifts as Income?,” CLE Luncheon, 2010