My name is Stephanie Story (formerly Stephanie Barbata). I grew up in West Covina, CA and graduated from Nogales High School in 1989. I attended the University of California, Riverside, where I was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority for 4 years. I also lived in Washington, D.C., for a semester working as a Congressional Intern for Congressman William Thomas of Bakersfield. I graduated from UCR in 1993 with a B.A. in political science/law and society. I then attended McGeorge School of Law, part of the University of the Pacific, in Sacramento. I was the Vice-President of the Latino Law Students' Association for 2 years. While a law student, I worked with the California State Public Defender and the Sacramento County Juvenile Public Defender. I graduated from law school in 1998, and moved back to Sourthern California and got married in 1999.
In 2004, I started working for Attorney Andrew L. Ellis in El Segundo as a law clerk until I obtained my license in 2009. I worked with Mr. Ellis in his personal injury law firm for over 6 years before joining L.A. Law Group in 2011. My legal career began with general civil litigation in personal injury, including car and motorcycle accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, and other similar cases, and even employment and civil rights cases. Beginning around 2012, I began expanding my practice to include family law, and gradually began focusing on family law cases exclusively, prompting me to start my own firm in October, 2014, with the sole focus on family law.
My practice is focused on father's rights, including child custody, child support, modifying existing orders, as well as representing clients in child support court. I also handle divorces, both initiating filings and responding to filings, and all issues that pertain to these cases, including division of property, custody, visitation, spousal support, attorneys' fees, etc. I understand that the legal issues involved in these family cases carry high emotions, and I strive to make my clients feel at ease through this troubling time, as well as zealously representing their interests in a professional and competent manner. My goal is to obtain the most favorable outcome possible for my clients while also making them feel as comfortable with the legal process as possible.
I have done volunteer work with the L.A. County Barrister's Domestic Violence Project, helping people obtain temporary restraining orders; Public Counsel's Adoption Project, helping foster parents adopt their foster children; and The Alliance for Children's Rights Adoption Project. I am also very active in helping to raise funds and awareness as part of the "Avengers Against Cancer" Relay for Life team.
Right after I graduated from college, I met the man who would become my husband. We were married in 1999, and had our first child, Samantha, in 2006. Sam is now a 5th grader and a Junior Girl Scout, who is into art classes, and volleyball, and is a Barbizon graduate. Running my own practice allows me the flexibility to be involved in her life, attend all of her classes and events, all while still being able to focus on my clients.
Our second daughter, Audrey, was born in 2012, and is a precocious and thriving 5 year old about to start kindergarten. My family means everything to me, and I strive to help other families get through whatever difficulties they are facing by helping them navigate the legal process, which can sometimes seem daunting, but is actually available to all. My hobbies include (besides spending as much time with my family as I can), playing softball on a great team in Burbank, which I have been a part of for over 15 years, and have no plans of stopping!
Stephanie’s areas of practice:
Child Custody
Child Support
Divorce And Separation
Post-judgment modifications; filing for and responding to dissolution petitions
Uncontested Divorce
University Attended:
McGeorge SOL Univ of the Pacific, CA
Law School Attended:
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, J.D., 1998
Year of First Admission:
2009
Admission:
2009, California; 2021, Texas
