Catherine J. Navarro
Partner & Trial Lawyer
Ms. Navarro is a partner at Fontes Law Group and supervises the Family Law and Probate department. She was named to the 2022, 2023, 2024 2025, and 2026 Southern California Rising Stars list, an honor that is determined by Super Lawyers and recognizes no more than 2.5% of the attorneys within California. Throughout her career she has represented families in family court and probate court, and has represented immigrants and their families before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and in Immigration Court. Her practice focuses on family law, probate law, and immigration law.
- Whittier Law SchoolJuris Doctor, magna cum laude, 2016
- University of California, Santa BarbaraB.A., Global & International Studies and Chicana/o Studies, 2011
- Fontes Law Group since 2011Legal assistant, law clerk, attorney, partner
Recognition
Named to the Southern California Rising Stars list, 2022–2026
An honor awarded by Super Lawyers to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in California, four years running.
A practice built on family law and probate
Early years
Ms. Navarro was born and raised in Orange County, California, and earned two bachelor’s degrees — in Chicana/Chicano Studies, and in Global and International Studies with an emphasis in Latin America — from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2011. Throughout her undergraduate career she took leadership roles in various Latina/o organizations.
Joining the firm
Upon graduation, Ms. Navarro joined Fontes Law Group in 2011 as a legal assistant working under the direct supervision of Managing Partner and Founder Martin C. Fontes. She continued at the firm as a law clerk while attending law school.
Law school
Ms. Navarro graduated magna cum laude from Whittier Law School in 2016 and was admitted to the California Bar the following year. During law school she received the Dean’s List and Honor Roll awards and the CALI Award for the Immigration Law Practicum, and served as President of Whittier’s Hispanic American Law Student Association and Treasurer of its Immigration Advocacy Society.
Named to the Southern California Rising Stars list every year since 2022 — an honor Super Lawyers extends to no more than 2.5% of California attorneys.
Admitted to practice
Ms. Navarro is admitted to practice law before all California state courts. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Areas of practice
Family LawDivorce, custody, support, division of assets/debts, and domestic violence matters
Probate LawGuardianship and limited conservatorship
Immigration LawFamily petitions and removal defense
Bar admissions
CaliforniaAdmitted 2017
U.S. District CourtCentral District of California
Education
University of California, Santa BarbaraB.A., Global & International Studies with an emphasis in Latin America, and Chicana/o Studies, 2011
Awards & honors
Southern California Rising Stars2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
OCHBA Wallace (Wally) R. Davis Memorial Scholarship
OC HEEF AlvaradoSmith Raymond G. Alvarado Scholarship
Dean’s List AwardWhittier Law School
Honors AwardWhittier Law School
CALI AwardImmigration Law Practicum
Associations
Hispanic Bar Association of the Inland EmpireBoard Member, January 2022 – December 2023
Laura’s HousePro bono attorney
The rest of the team
Partner
Of Counsel
Let’s discuss your case
Confidential and in your language. Tell us a little about your situation and we will reach out within one business day.