Nicole L. Schmidt

Ms. Schmidt has experience in a plethora of issues arising in the general area of family law, including prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, child custody and visitation, spousal support, child support, divorce, and complex asset and debt division. She specializes in cases involving non-traditional sources of income and self- employment. Ms. Schmidt is also a member of the Orange County Superior Court Family Law Alternate Defense Panel and has been appointed by the Court to represent minor children in a variety of cases.

Ms. Schmidt obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UCLA. She received her Juris Doctor degree from UC Law San Francisco, California, in 2009, where she graduated cum laude and was in the top 12% of her class. During law school, Ms. Schmidt earned two CALI-Witkin awards. She also served on the board of the 501(c)(3) organization Hastings Public Interest Law Foundation, as well as Hastings Homeless Legal Services. She was an executive articles editor for the Hastings Race & Poverty Law Journal, and her article related to public housing deficiencies was published in the Spring 2009 issue.

Ms. Schmidt is a Certified Family Law Specialist and is a member of the State Bar of California and the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar Association. She is on the Board of Directors of the Robert A. Banyard Inn of Court. Ms. Schmidt is a graduate of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s rigorous civil advocacy program. Ms. Schmidt was proud to receive the Marjorie Day Civility Award from her Inn of Court in 2014, the Angelo Palmieri Civility Award from Banyard Inn of Court in 2024, and is being recognized by Best Lawyers for her work in family law in 2025. Ms. Schmidt resides in Long Beach with her husband and daughter, and enjoys painting, coffee, weightlifting, and the beach.