Carrie Block, Managing Partner

Carrie S. Block joined Dishon & Block as an associate in 1998. She became partner in the firm in 2005. Ms. Block’s expertise is in family law, including divorce, adoption and pre-marital agreements. Many of her cases involve complicated property divisions or contested custody disputes. Ms. Block is a Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

“Ms. Block is a strong proponent of the power of mediated settlements to minimize the harmful effects of divorce on parents and children.”

Family Law Experience

Ms. Block has extensive experience in all aspects of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, paternity, adoption and premarital rights. She also represents clients in agreed-upon divorces, post-divorce modifications, enforcement of existing orders, paternity cases and premarital agreements. She works closely with the firm’s clients to educate them and keep them abreast of changes in the law.

Ms. Block is the firm’s resident Qualified Domestic Relations Order expert, experienced with resolving the special problems that 401(k)’s, pensions and other financial strategies present in divorce. Her expertise allows her to complete most QDRO’s without having to use outside experts. This streamlines the process in most cases, allowing difficult negotiations regarding retirement funds to be completed earlier in the divorce process. Learn more about Qualified Domestic Relations Orders.

Client Relationships

Since graduating Loyola Law School in 1993, Ms. Block has only practiced family law. This sole focus has given her deep knowledge in all aspects of family law, allowing her to provide her clients with unparalleled representation.

Ms. Block prides herself on her ability to listen to clients and understand what they are experiencing, which she attributes to her undergraduate studies in psychology. She is first and foremost someone for her clients to talk to, regardless of the circumstances; the term “counselor at law” holds special meaning for Ms. Block.

When meeting with clients for the first time, Ms. Block makes it clear to clients that they will be intimately involved in their cases. She encourages her clients to have a say in what actions are taken, keeping them informed and aware of actions at all stages of the process. Ms. Block always keys her approach to any case to the particular needs of each client.

“Anytime clients have an issue, they are encouraged to call or email me. Being a family law attorney is not a 9 to 5 job.”

Passion for Protecting Children

Ms. Block recognizes the delicate nature of divorces involving children: “It affects their lives more than anything else.” She enjoys working on cases with custody issues and focusing on what is most important to clients with children. Ms. Block understands the level of emotional investment necessary to successfully resolve these cases and makes herself available to clients when issues arise. “Anytime clients have an issue, they are encouraged to call or email me. If it’s an emergency, I’ll call you back immediately. Being a family law attorney is not a 9 to 5 job.”

Professional Memberships & Accomplishments

Ms. Block is a member of professional and legal associations, including:

• Orange County Bar Association – Member Family Law Section
• Los Angeles County Bar Association - Member
• State Bar of California – Member
• American Bar Association - Member

Education

Ms. Block received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1990. She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School in 1993, and graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. She and the other attorneys at Dishon & Block continue to educate themselves each day through continuing education classes that involve all aspects of family law, so that they can stay abreast of the law.