Maria Estela De Orduña, ‘Estela’, is licensed to practice family law in California and Mexico. As a recognized top attorney, including having received the "Best Family Law in San Diego" award by the San Diego Union-Tribune, she has nearly two decades of experience in international family law matters. She provides clients with expert guidance through complex international legal issues that are present in many family law disputes, including division of assets across the border, enforcement of foreign custody and support orders. She is highly skilled in strategic planning for divorce cases, including property division, disclosure requirements, and custody and visitation matters. She has volunteered her work on occasion to assist the U.S. Department of State’s International Parental Abduction Unit(s).
A fluent Spanish speaker, Estela is able to help a wider audience. She has extensive experience addressing complex jurisdictional challenges in divorce and child custody cases. Estela is particularly adept at determining custody and visitation rights, navigating domestic violence matters, and representing clients working in coordination with immigration attorneys in related family law needs, such as VAWA and U Visa applications.
She earned her LL.M. from the University of San Diego in 2002 following her legal education at Iberoamericana University, where she completed her Juris Doctor in 1990. Her dedication to her clients and her exceptional legal skills have been recognized with numerous awards, including the recognition from the California State Bar’s Wiley W. Manuel Award for outstanding community service. She’s been named a San Diego Super Lawyer (2021–2025), receiving the Platinum Client Champion Award from Martindale-Hubbell, and being recognized as a Top 10 Best California Family Law Attorney by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys.
Estela’s achievements also include being voted one of the Top 100 Leaders in the Law by the San Diego Business Journal in 2022. As a proud member of the San Diego County Bar Association, she is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and achieving the best outcomes for her clients.
