When I called Jesse for my initial consult, I was scared and in fear for the safety of me and my children. He made himself available immediately that day. From the moment I showed up at his office for our first meeting I knew I was in the best hands. Jesse and his entire team have stuck with me through the ups and downs, divorce, custody, and multiple restraining orders. He has gone above and beyond to protect me and most importantly my children. He never gave up and never backed down. He is respectful in court even in a high conflict situation. Jesse will tell you things straight, direct and keep you on track. Going through the trauma of abuse is hard. You don't always think straight, and emotions can get in the way of making rational decisions. Trust me you need Jesse, who is not afraid to redirect you and keep you focused. He knows what needs to be done and he does it. Jesse is also willing to listen and collaborate. He is conscious of time and cost and honest about it. He will tell you right out of the gate that he is not a life coach, however, HE TRULY DOES CARE. Most importantly I trust him and his entire team. They make themselves available no matter what. The smartest thing I did was hire Jesse and I am beyond grateful to him for everything he has done for me and my children. Jesse and his team have decades of experience, they are ethical and moral and tough as nails. Jesse gets results and he sets real expectations. My heart goes out to everyone dealing with high conflict divorce cases especially when children are involved. I would not have wanted anyone else by my side than Jesse and his team. I am forever grateful Jesse and team for always sticking by me and focusing on what is right. read more

I can't say enough about the level of professionalism, dedication, and integrity Jesse and his team showed throughout my custody case. This wasn't just legal work - this was a fight for my daughter and my future as a father. I was given clear and honest guidance, and Jesse remained focused when things got difficult. Because of their work, I was able to protect my relationship with my daughter, and that's something I will forever be grateful for. read more

Going through this was one of the hardest experiences of my life, but Jesse made it manageable. He responded the same day I reached out and immediately got to work. He moved my case forward quickly and helped finalize my divorce without unnecessary delays. He is clear, direct, and doesn't sugarcoat things, which I truly appreciated. Jesse knows the law, sets realistic expectations, and gets results. Most importantly, he genuinely cares and understands how fragile and emotional the process can be, especially when children are involved. I always felt protected and supported throughout the entire process. I'm very grateful I found him and would absolutely recommend him. read more

Abrasive and condescending. He was late to each of two, in person meetings. Disrespectful and controlling from the get go. Having come from a family of attorneys I can honestly say this person is not a good representation of the oath. read more

Jesse's expertise has been invaluable in understanding what is possible in family law cases in Santa Cruz. Jesse has both patiently listened and cut in with no-nonsense, realistic appraisals of my situation. He has put the interests of my kids at the forefront of decision making in every interaction. I am incredibly grateful for the peace of mind Jesse has brought me in the most stressful of circumstances. read more

We were frantic trying to find a lawyer that would take my sisters case asap. We called lawyers in Watsonville, San José, and many in Santa Cruz. It wasn't until we reached Jesse that our luck changed. The case involved divorce, custody, domestic abuse and lots more difficulties. My family has been working with Jesse for a few years now and I'm amazed at how devoted Jesse and his team are to resolve all the cases as soon as possible. Thank you Jesse, I'm very grateful you said yes to my sisters case when everyone else said no. read more

If you ever need a sharp, no-nonsense lawyer in Aptos, Jesse Ruben is the guy you want in your corner. He's calm under pressure, straight to the point, and knows how to get things done without all the legal fluff. He actually answers calls and emails (which feels like finding a unicorn), explains everything clearly, and somehow manages to mix professionalism with a sense of humor that keeps you sane through the chaos. Local, reliable, and refreshingly real -- Jesse's the kind of attorney who makes you feel like your case actually matters. Highly recommend him -- five stars, and then some. read more

Jesse is a true family man with a clear focus on the child's best interest and the well-being of everyone involved. He has a rare ability to cut through distractions and uncover the truth, even when others try to cloud it. He did exactly what he said he would do, making a tough situation much easier to navigate. In heated moments, Jesse stayed calm and professional, quickly defusing tension and keeping things on track. He's highly respected in the court and community, and hands down the best attorney I've worked with--even compared to those I hired during my divorce. We gave him the nickname "Pit Bull," and he earns it every step of the way--relentless, sharp, and fiercely committed. At the same time, he's an incredible person with a big heart. If you're facing a custody or divorce battle, Jesse Ruben is the one you want in your corner. read more

Excellent lawyer! Upfront and honest. An extremely caring individual with a big heart. Handled all the difficult issues with ease. Very professional having a good rapport with the judge and associates. He and his staff are quality people. I would definitely seek his counsel again should I have a need. Thank you Jesse!!! read more

Best attorney I have ever worked with. I found him by asking all the attorneys I knew who they would hate to go up against in divorce court. Each attorney gave me his name and each one respects him. He is extremely efficient, knows everyone in the court and family law system and is actually very enjoyable to work with. He will not let you go down rabbit holes and waste your time and money. I highly recommend you get him on your team before the other party does. read more

Jesse Ruben is a misogynist. I hired him at the recommendation of a friend but regretted it as soon as I sent my retainer. Every time we spoke on the phone he "reprimanded" me for talking or asking questions. He did not like to be interrupted! He saw himself as the "authority" while doing little to explain to me the procedure or how he was helping me. When the day came to go to court, he didn't show up! He sent his associate who I had never met or worked with, who didn't even know the respondent from the petitioner. It only got worse as he "counseled" me to accept unacceptable terms...advising that my daughter see her abusive father. Then he accused me of being the type of person my ex-husband had accused me of being. It was as if he was on my ex-husband's side and was not even interested in representing me, despite the fact that I had given him $10,000.00 up front. After I fired him and sought legal help elsewhere, I realized that he hadn't even done the job that he was supposed to do, that is filing financial disclosure forms with the court. His office was poorly staffed and run and it was difficult to get a straight answer in a timely manner. Do not hire this person unless you like abuse. read more

The worst PTSD still from Jesse Ruben. Extremely verbally abusive, caused me extreme anxiety. Cost me nearly $30k and didnt even get me divorced. Does not fight for his clients wants, just keeps the check book open! read more

I would strongly recommend Jesse to anyone in Santa Cruz grappling with a contentious divorce. I've worked with him for 4-5 years now. (Before that, I worked with two mediators and two different local divorce lawyers, none of whom were capable of dealing with the issues I was facing, but who all ultimately recommended Jesse, given the challenges in my case). If you are in a situation where an easy divorce is likely, Jesse might not be the right fit - per the other comments here, his style is very assertive. But if for any reason an easy divorce isn't feasible, he is one of the few who is capable of handling the challenges. Jesse has excellent insight into the judges, the norms, and what is and isn't likely to hold in Santa Cruz family court. His realism and pragmatism has saved me thousands of dollars and months of my time, while at the same time helping to improve our family dynamics considerably. read more

I would highly recommend Jesse Ruben and his team! I made the huge mistake of getting a DUI a month after starting a divorce with my wife. I retained 2 separate family law attorneys who both told me that 50-50 custody of my children would take a long time. After switching to Jesse Ruben, I had 50% custody of my two daughters in about six months. Jesse is also very efficient with his time, which saved me a lot of money in legal fees. He is well respected by other divorce lawyers, and has positive relationships with family law judges. I am incredibly happy with my decision to have Jesse represent me. Do yourself a favor and give him a call. read more

Going thru a divorce is a devastating and traumatic experience--especially if it is not amicable. It is super important to partner with the right attorney. I highly recommend Jesse if you are in need of a divorce attorney. Jesse not only knows California Divorce law, he importantly has local knowledge of the Santa Cruz legal system, process and people. Jesse also has extensive trial experience in the unlikely event that it is needed. Jesse also has a great team including an excellent forensic accountant. Jesse is also very conscientious about his time and sets clear boundaries about what he can help with and what would be better for someone else to support (accountant/therapist) while still being empathetic ( occasionally sharing his personal experiences) to the stress, frustration and heart break that occurs when going thru a divorce. read more

I was referred to Jesse Ruben after my x-husband and I failed meditation. I was told that if I ended up in court, he was the one to have. He offered me two courses of action, explained potential costs of both. He was very efficient with his time and made suggestions as to things I could do to keep my costs down. I felt taken care as a client, and I feel I got the best outcome possible in my divorce. I would highly recommend him! read more