Our Family Law Specialists
We have over 150+ years of combined family law experience. We are cerified family law specialists who handle effectively and efficiently.
ABOUT MICHAEL MONARCH
As a managing partner of Castle & Monarch, Michael Monarch has nearly 25 years of family law experience. Mr. Monarch was admitted to the California State Bar in 1991, and joined the firm of Millard & Castle shortly after. He became partner in 1998 and was appointed to the role of managing partner in 2003.
Mr. Monarch specializes in all aspects of family law including divorce, property division, business evaluation, paternity matters, child support, spousal support, contempts, domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and modification of support and custody/visitation orders. He is also an experienced mediator with great success in settling even the most complicated cases. Mr. Monarch's skills as a trial lawyer have resulted in a nearly perfect success rate at trial. His reputation for success provides his clients with an advantage when working to settle cases without going to trial.
Notably, Mr. Monarch has created new law in the area of Family Law by affirmation of his trial results by the California Appellate Court, Fourth District. His professional memberships include the Orange County Chapter of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists and the National Association of Distinguished Counsel (NADC), which recognizes “attorneys who elevate the standards of the Bar and provide a benchmark for other lawyers to emulate.” With his recognition as a member in the NADC, Mr. Monarch joins the top one percent of attorneys in the United States.
Michael Monarch is “AV-rated” by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for attorneys. This rating is based upon an extensive survey of attorneys in the field and a survey of the actual judges who observe the trial skills of the attorneys first hand. He also has a “Superb” rating on AVVO, an online service that connects consumers with attorneys and encourages consumers to rate and review their lawyers.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MATRIMONIAL LAWYERS
2020-2023
NATION’S TOP ONE PERCENT BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DISTINGUISHED COUNSEL
2015-2023
AV RATED BY MARTINDALE-HUBBELL
2006-2023
CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST BY CALIFORNIA BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
2012-2023
ABOUT DALE CASTLE
As a founding member of Castle & Monarch, Dale Castle has been practicing law for more than 40 years. Mr. Castle was admitted to the bar in 1973 and has been an active member of the Orange County legal community. He is recognized as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Additionally, Mr. Castle is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a former president of the Orange County Bar Association-Family Law Section.
Dale Castle specializes in all aspects of family law including divorce, property division, business evaluation, paternity matters, child support, spousal support, contempts, domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and modification of support and custody/visitation orders.
For more than 20 years, he has been AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for attorneys. This rating is based upon an extensive survey of attorneys in the field and a survey of the actual judges who observe the trial skills of the attorneys first hand.
Mr. Castle has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” each year since 2005 for his high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Additionally, Los Angeles Magazine named him a Southern California Super Lawyer in 2008.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION-FAMILY LAW SECTION
2003
MEMBER OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
1973-2019
SUPER LAWYER BY SUPER LAWYERS MAGAZINE
2008-2019
10 YEARS EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE BY SUPER LAWYERS MAGAZINE
2015
TOP ATTORNEY BY LOS ANGELES MAGAZINE
2014
20 YEARS AV PREEMINENT RATED BY MARTINDALE-HUBBELL
2013
CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST BY CALIFORNIA BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
1988-2019
ABOUT DANIEL MONARCH
Daniel Monarch joined Castle & Monarch Family Law in 2003, as he finished his J.D. He was admitted to the California State Bar and Orange County Bar Association in 2007. In 2014, the California Board of Legal Specialization deemed Mr. Monarch a Certified Family Law Specialist.
Daniel Monarch specializes in all aspects of family law including divorce, property division, business evaluation, paternity matters, child support, spousal support, contempts, domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and modification of support and custody/visitation orders. Clients range from common divorce with modest estates to many of the county's elite, including professional athletes, celebrities, and those with multimillion-dollar estates.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
PRESIDENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY FAMILY LAW
2020
CERTIFIED FAMILY LAW SPECIALIST BY CALIFORNIA BOARD OF LEGAL SPECIALIZATION
2014-2023
MEMBER OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
2006-2023
ABOUT NISA FARHANGI
Nisa received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2012 and her Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law in 2016. While in school, Nisa was an executive board member of the Nexus Journal, a member of the mediation clinic, and was on the honor council.
Notably, during her second year of law school, she was given the opportunity to serve as an extern for the Honorable Nathan Scott at the Orange County Superior Court. This experience sparked her interest in family law, and more specifically, in dispute resolution. She graduated in May 2016 with her JD, and an emphasis degree in Advocacy and Dispute Resolution [ADR]. Shortly after passing the California Bar that same year, she joined Castle & Monarch as an associate attorney.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
MEMBER OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
2016-2023
Michael Monarch
Senior Partner
Dale Castle
OF Counsel
Daniel Monarch
partner/president OCBA Family Law
Nisa Farhangi
Associate
Castle & Monarch is the premier family law firm in Orange County, California. Our firm specializes in all aspects of family law including divorce, property division, business evaluation, paternity matters, child support, spousal support, contempt, domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and modification of support and custody/visitation orders.
Our primary goal is to obtain the best outcomes for our clients while minimizing the impact on their families and everyday lives. We believe it is nearly always in the best interest of our clients to negotiate a settlement as opposed to taking on the cost and stress of litigation. By obtaining all of the background information, compiling necessary documentation, and anticipating the demands of the other involved parties, we strive to achieve a settlement that addresses our clients’ needs. Our reputation and history of success at trial provides our clients with an advantage when attempting to negotiate settlements.
However, we also understand that settlements are not always possible. With five decades of trial experience, Castle & Monarch strategizes our cases to obtain the best possible outcome for our clients. We are prepared to aggressively litigate cases through an ever-changing variety of circumstances.
The lawyers at Castle & Monarch have helped with divorce proceedings for elite clients, including professional athletes, celebrities, and those with multimillion-dollar estates and extraordinarily high incomes.
Our Mission
At Castle & Monarch we believe that it is our responsibility to provide advice to our clients that is in their own and their children’s best interests. Our firm has gained a reputation for excellence by adhering to the following practices:
HONEST LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVICE
Often, it costs more to litigate issues than it does to settle them. We feel that it is our responsibility to provide our clients with an honest analysis of the benefits and costs associated with both settling and litigating issues. It is our belief that settlement is always the best option for amicable resolution without expending unnecessary attorney’s fees and costs.
IN–DEPTH AND ACCURATE DISCOVERY
It is impossible to make the best decisions for you and your family without a complete understanding of the background and facts surrounding each issue. Our attorneys conduct in-depth discoveries to gather the necessary information and provide advice. This allows the client to make fully informed decisions.
KEEPING YOU FULLY INFORMED
We ensure that our clients are kept fully informed and aware of the status of their case at all times. Our attorneys always remain open to communication by telephone, email, or office appointments. As changes arise, we alert our clients immediately, so we can remain prepared in our strategy.
UNDERSTANDING THE EMOTIONS INVOLVED
By its nature, family law involves complex emotions for the involved parties. We understand how emotional issues can impact our clients’ ability to make decisions, and we are sensitive to the fact that they are experiencing life changing events. The attorneys at Castle & Monarch strive to provide empathetic guidance.
