Carla Boyd Terre - a Santa Rosa, CA Family Law Lawyer

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Santa Rosa Family Law Lawyer

Updated: 04/15/2026

Areas of Practice

Family Law
Mediator, Parenting Coordinator, or Individual Representation
Private Judge / Judge Pro Tem
Adoptions, including Confirmatory Adoption, Second-Parent Adoption, and Stepparent Adoption
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Child Support and Spousal Support (Alimony)
Custody & Visitation
Divorce
Paternity
Property Division
Registered Domestic Partnerships
Same Sex / LGBTQ Family Law

Attorney Information

Overview

Carla's Credentials:

Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
Named to the exclusive list of Northern California Super Lawyers five years in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025)
Named one of Northern California's "Rising Stars" ten years in a row by Super Lawyers Magazine from 2010 to 2019
Past President of Sonoma County Bar Association
Past Chairperson of the Sonoma County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Past Member of the Family Law Advisory Commission of the State Bar of California

Carla's Background:

Carla Boyd Terre, family law attorney and mediator, is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and is rated an "AV Preeminent" attorney by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. Carla was the President of the Sonoma County Bar Association (SCBA) in 2015. She was one of the founding members of the Mental Health Liaison Committee, a subcommittee of the Family Law Section of SCBA. She served as a Commissioner on the Family Law Advisory Committee of the California State Bar from 2013 through 2016.

Carla is currently a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of California, SCBA, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Women in Law, and the Family Law Section of SCBA. Carla was selected to the Northern California Super Lawyers for the past 5 years. Before being named to the Super Lawyers list, she was named one of Super Lawyers Northern California's "Rising Stars" ten years in a row from 2010 to 2019.

Carla is a 2003 graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law, graduating in the top 25% of her class. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with honors, from Mills College in Oakland, California. During her third year in law school, Carla served as an Extern for Justice Maria Rivera of the California Court of Appeal and then as a Law Clerk for the Sonoma County Department of Child Support Services.

Carla's Approach to Family Law Practice:

Carla Boyd Terre's practice is dedicated strictly to family law matters. She handles most aspects of family law proceedings, including custody and visitation, property division, registered domestic partnerships, same sex and LGBTQ family law matters, adoption, child support, spousal support, and mediation. Carla attends mediation with clients and serves as a mediator for parties with and without lawyers present. Carla also serves as Parenting Coordinator in custody cases and has served as a Private Judge.

Carla has appeared at numerous contested family law proceedings including appearances before the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco. She has appeared in Sonoma County Superior Court, Marin County Superior Court, Napa County Superior Court, Lake County Superior Court, and Mendocino County Superior Court. Carla is experienced in mediation and negotiation and has helped many clients reach settlements or limit the issues that proceed to litigation.

Carla believes that an effective family law attorney stays in close communication with her client, working together to reach appropriate resolutions to the unique situations in each case. Carla is compassionate and understands that clients that are working with her are often going through one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Carla also believes it is important to stay informed about developments in family law and attends regular trainings and seminars in addition to receiving weekly publications which provide important updates on recent family law cases and legislative changes.

In 2023, Carla focused her practice exclusively in alternative dispute resolution. Carla believes that parties to disputes are in the best position to settle those disputes themselves, rather than having a judge decide. Carla loves serving both as mediator for parties going through family law matters and as an individual attorney for those that are committed to stay out of court.

When Carla is not practicing law, she enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and their labradoodle, reading, doing Pilates, strength training, and hiking. She has also recently discovered a love for Broadway Musicals.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Carla Boyd Terre included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Super Lawyer, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
Sonoma Magazine Lawyers of Distinction 2022 and 2023
The Elite Lawyer Award, Family Law, Excellence in the Legal Profession, 2023
CALI Award for Excellence, Community Property, 2002
CALI Award for Excellence, Family Law, 2003
CALI Award for Excellence, Children's Rights, 2001
Rated “AV Preeminent”, Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
Named one of Northern California’s “Rising Stars” ten years in a row by Super Lawyer’s Magazine (2010 to 2019)

Other Sources of Feedback About Carla Boyd Terre

Included on the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2017 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2014 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2013 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2012 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2011 Northern California Super Lawyers list
2010 Northern California Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California, May, 2003
  JD
  Law Review: University of San Francisco Law Review, 2002 - 2003
Non Legal Education
- Mills College, Oakland, California, May, 2000
  B.A.
  Honors: With Honors
  Major: English

Current Employment Position(s)

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President, Terre Family Law, Inc.
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Past Positions

Law Offices of Bruce H. Schwartz, October, 2004 - March, 2007, Associate Attorney
Department of Child Support Services, Law Clerk, 2003
Justice Maria Rivera, California Court of Appeal, District One, Division Four, Law Clerk, 2002
Daniel U. Smith, Appellate Specialist, Law Clerk, 2002
Professor Edith Ho, USF School of Law, Research Assistant, 2001 - 2002

Published Works

Articles

Temporal Severance and Exclusion of Time in Determining the Economic Value of Regulated Property, 36 U.S.F.L.R. 793, Spring, 2002

Bar Admissions

California, 2003

Specialties and Certifications

Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, 2010

Other Affiliations

Family Law Steering Committee, Sonoma County Bar Association, 2021-2023
Family Law Best Practices Committee, 2009 - 2015 (Member)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2009 - Present (Member)
Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire (CCRE), 2008 - 2010 (Officer, Board of Directors)
Collaborative Council of the Redwood Empire (CCRE), 2007 - 2011 (Participating Member)
International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP), 2007 - 2011 (Member)
Family Law Bench/Bar Committee, 2005 - 2009 (Member, Family Law Court and Bar Committee)
SCBA (Family Law Representative on the Board of Directors, 2008)
Sonoma County Women in Law, 2009 - Present (Member)
SCBA (President, 2015)
Family Law Advisory Commission of the State Bar of California, 2013 - 2016 (Member, Commissioner)
Family Law Advisory Commission, 2014 - 2016 (Commissioner)
SCBA (Board of Directors, President, 2015)
SCBA (Board of Directors, Vice-President, 2014)
SCBA (Board of Directors, Treasurer, 2013)
SCBA (Board of Directors, Secretary, 2012)
SCBA, 2010 - 2011 (Board of Directors, Director at Large)
SCBA, 2010 - 2016 (Board of Directors, Director)

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Contact

Santa Rosa, CA

575 West College Ave
Suite 105
Santa Rosa, CA 95401

Directions

Phone: 707-867-0404

Fax: 707-284-1390

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.familylawsonomacounty.com

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Virtual Appointments

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Carla Boyd Terre - Santa Rosa, CA