Advanced California Family Law Practice for Paralegals
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed 24-48 business hours before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 10-15 minutes before start time.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
8:30 am – 4:00 pm EDT
Agenda:
Artificial Intelligence as a Resource for the Family Law Practitioner
Presented by Samantha Weissman
How artificial intelligence (AI) works
What AI can (and cannot) do
Reviewing popular AI applications
Using AI to prepare documents
Using AI for research
Using AI for document review
Assisting with Preparation of Parenting Plans
Presented by Steven Hittelman
Providing for support
Allocating medical expenses
Assigning parenting rights and duties
Calculation of parenting time
Providing for conflict resolution
Other optional provisions
Obtaining, Enforcing and Modifying Child Support Awards
Presented by Brandon Kelsey
Current status of California child support law
Applying the child support guidelines
Obtaining relevant information from your client
Investigation and formal discovery
Using the child support calculator
Preparing the child support order
Completing withholding and medical support orders
Public and private enforcement of child support
Modifying child support orders
Handling Transgender Issues in Family Law Cases-2026 and Beyond
Presented by Christine Gille
What changed July 1, 2026 and why your firm cannot afford to be behind the curve
The bias you didn’t see coming
The paralegal’s practical toolkit: Litigation strategies and evidentiary skills specific to
transgender family law cases
When your client is transgender
When your child is transgender
Minor’s counsel, your client and you
Assisting in Matters Involving Allegations of Abuse or Neglect
Presented by Rebekah Frye
Defining abuse and neglect
Reviewing recent case law
Investigating allegations of abuse and neglect
Obtaining/opposing protective orders
Identifying and Resolving Ethical Issues in Cases Involving Children
Presented by Pamela Ross
Defining and promoting the best interest of the children
Understanding the scope of client confidentiality
Working with family law clients while preventing the unauthorized practice of law
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 10 or higher, macOS 11 or higher, Linux, Google Chrome OS
Web Browser:
Google Chrome (most recent 3 versions)
Microsoft Edge (most recent 3 versions)
Internet connection: 1 Mbps or better
Hardware: 2GB of RAM (minimum), 4GB or more of RAM (recommended)
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Paralegals
6.5 CLE Hours
NFPA - National Federation of Paralegal Associations
6.5 CLE Credits
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 CLE hours, including 1.0 ethics hour, for paralegals in California. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this course.
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) has approved this course for 6.5 total CLE credits, which includes 5.5 general CLE credits and 1.0 ethics CLE credit.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).
*On-Demand Credits*
The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format is not pre-approved by any licensing boards and may not qualify for the same credits; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate.
Speakers
Rebekah Frye, CFLS
The Law Offices of Rebekah A. Frye, PCMs. Frye is a Certified Family Law Specialist with nearly 30 years of experience navigating the most complex and consequential family law matters. Her practice focuses on high-conflict custody litigation, domestic violence cases involving coercive control, and sophisticated financial matters including fiduciary breaches and high-net-worth asset division. Appointed by the court to represent children for over two decades, Ms. Frye has extensive experience developing individualized parenting plans—particularly for neurodiverse children—in highly polarized custody disputes. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and holds an LL.M. in Taxation, equipping her to handle the most challenging property and business valuation issues with precision and strategic clarity.
Christine Gille
Gille Kaye Law GroupMs. Gille is a partner with Gille Kaye Law Group. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist. She is committed to providing excellent legal service to each client the firm represents. Because of her background in finance, as well as her education in children’s issues, she is able to effectively provide representation for high asset cases as well as those involving the difficult aspects of raising children. Ms. Gille is an author who frequently writes on major issues in family law for lawyers and psychotherapists. She also speaks to Bar Associations and Paralegal programs on evidence issues pertaining to family law. In the last five years, she has spoken on such topics as psychotherapist privilege, evidence gathering for property issues, child move-away orders, child interviewing for minors’ counsel, parenting responsibilities, and ethical financial litigation. She is the immediate past editor of “The Specialist,” a journal published by and for the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists.
Steven G. Hittelman, CLFS
President at Hittelman Family Law Group in Newport BeachMr. Hittelman started his career in Orange County, California, as the first Deputy District Attorney dedicated solely to family law cases. He was quickly recruited into private practice at one of Orange County’s premier law firms and became Managing Partner of his own Newport Beach family law firm in 2011. Today, with over 25 years of experience, he and his team at Hittelman Family Law Group continue to handle all facets of family law for clients throughout Southern California.Mr. Hittelman’s depth of family law experience and passion for guiding his clients to a successful outcome is the hallmark of his practice. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California, a distinction only 1% of all California attorneys achieve. He understands the difficulties clients are going through when they face the end of a marriage, the change in the relationship as a parent to a child, and the numerous other challenges in family law matters. Mr. Hittelman knows that each case is unique, and calls on his extensive family law background to determine the best approach to receive positive results for his clients. Designated a Super Lawyer since 2005, Mr. Hittelman’s expertise in family law has led to his election as the President of the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association twice, service on the Orange County Bar Association Board of Directors for six years, membership on the Executive Board of the State Bar of California Family Law Section to review California family law legislation, and position as an Executive Board member of the California Lawyers Association. Mr. Hittelman donates his time to run domestic violence legal clinics at the Human Options shelter and has served as a Judge Pro Tem in both Los Angeles Superior Court and Orange County Superior Court. He also enjoys educating new attorneys on family law issues such as custody and visitation at the annual “Bridging the Gap” conference run by the Orange County Bar Association and supporting his alma mater, Southwestern Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1994.
Brandon Kelsey, CFLS
Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLPMr. Kelsey’s practice is focused on family law trial litigation. Mr. Kelsey is experienced in all types of family law matters, from simple support actions to complex high net worth marital estates. Mr. Kelsey, a native of the Chicago area, graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Minor in Music Performance. Mr. Kelsey then completed his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of San Diego School of Law in 2012. Mr. Kelsey was admitted to practice law in California in 2012, and federally in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in early 2013. Following his admission to the California State Bar, Mr. Kelsey began his practice conducting trial work in family law and criminal matters for a boutique firm in Orange County, before moving on to become a Senior Attorney for one of the largest family law firms in Orange County, where he practiced family law exclusively. Mr. Kelsey then worked as in-house counsel for State Farm before returning to the exclusive practice of family law. Mr. Kelsey is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Kelsey’s practice is limited to family law exclusively, and focuses on trial of complex matters involving business valuation, complex support scenarios, high-net worth individuals and families, and domestic violence matters. Mr. Kelsey has successfully litigated dozens of trials and evidentiary hearings in Orange County and beyond, and continues to dedicate his practice to exceptional trial work. Mr. Kelsey also serves as an in-house mentor and teacher for the firm’s associates, together with Managing Partner Saul Gelbart. Mr. Kelsey is actively involved in the Orange County family law community, and regularly attends continuing education events designed to refine family law trial skills and support the practice of family law in Southern California. Mr. Kelsey recently served as a Guest Lecturer for the Orange County Bar Association: Young Lawyers’ Division on the topic of Discovery. During his law school education, Mr. Kelsey excelled particularly in written and oral advocacy, achieving Honors in Lawyering Skills I & II, Honors with the USD Criminal Clinic, and Honors in Evidence Advocacy Lab. Mr. Kelsey also received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for his outstanding performance in the school’s most advance trial skills course, Advanced Trial Advocacy. Mr. Kelsey further participated as a competing member the USD National Mock Trial Team. Mr. Kelsey continues to serve as a guest judge for mock trial competitions.
Pamela Ross
All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc.Ms. Ross is the founder and Managing Attorney of All for the Family Legal Clinic, Inc. a Bay Area nonprofit focusing on family law and restraining orders. She also has a private firm, Pamela Ross Legal Services, PC where they assist modest means clients with Family law, Immigration, Labor/Employment, and Estate Planning/Probate issues. Ms. Ross served as the 2022 President of the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA) and previously served as the Chair of the ACBA Family Law Section. She has been named a California Rising Star by Super Lawyers over various years since 2016. In May of 2015 she was honored by VLSC as their Volunteer of the Year and in March of 2014 she was honored by Assemblyman Bill Quirk’s office as the District 20 Woman of the Year in Law. Her background also includes six years working for Purchasing Management International, a purchasing firm for hotels and casinos and acting as a visiting professor at Westwood College in Dallas where she taught courses in English Literature and Ethics. Ms. Ross holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of San Diego. She also holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and received her Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.
Samantha Weissman
Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLPMs. Weissman is an associate attorney with Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP. Ms. Weissman’s practice is devoted exclusively to Family Law. Ms. Weissman is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Originally from Los Angeles, Ms. Weissman completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine where she graduated cum laude with a degree in English. Thereafter she attended law school at the University of San Diego, School of Law. While in law school Ms. Weissman focused her studies on International Law, receiving high marks in every international law class. In the summer of 2013, she studied abroad in both Barcelona, Spain, and London, England. Thereafter, in 2014, she was selected for a pupillage at 11 Stone Buildings Barristers’ Chambers at Lincoln’s Inn in London. During law school, Ms. Weissman was an active member of the school’s community. She reinstated the McCormick Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta and served its Justice. She served as a Senior Associate on the Journal of Climate and Energy Law and as an Article Contributor to the Law School’s newspaper, Motions. Ms. Weissman served as a 1L section & class representative, as a member of the Student Bar Association – Executive Budget Committee, and, as a mentor in the first-year mentorship program. She continues to volunteer as a guest judge for first-year oral arguments. After graduating and passing the California Bar Exam in 2016, Ms. Weissman turned her focus to family law. From 2016 to 2021, Ms. Weissman served as the sole family law associate for a boutique law firm in Orange County. While there, she assisted in a wide variety of family law matters and was lauded by clients for her compassion, diligence, and thoroughness. Ms. Weissman is a member of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law section and the San Diego Family Bar Association. She is also a graduate of the National Family Law Trial Institute; the premier litigation skills course dedicated exclusively to Family Law.
6.5 Knowledge Points
Purchase this course using Knowledge Points by clicking the button below.
(Account login required. Knowledge Points can only be redeemed by the owner of the points. Cannot be combined with any other forms of payment)