At A Glance
Steven M. Ellsworth
Ellsworth Family Law
1630 S. Stapley Dr. Suite 231
Mesa, AZ 85204
Phone: 480-635-8700
Website: www.ellsworthfamilylaw.com
Practice Area:
Family Law
Education:
worked very well.”
Away from work, Ellsworth has many interests that help keep
his life balanced. Before entering law school he had considered
joining the Air Force and after passing the exam and physical was
selected for a pilot slot. Although he ultimately turned it down to
attend law school, his interest in flying remained and he earned
his private pilot’s license approximately six years ago. He holds a
second-degree black belt in taekwondo and both of his sons have
achieved their first-degree black belts in the Korean martial art.
He and both sons are Eagle Scouts and Ellsworth is also a scout
leader. He collects guns and loves target shooting with family and
friends. Additionally, he is a certified scuba diver, along with two
of his children, and he enjoys boating, skiing and golf.
To truly relax, Ellsworth makes the time to travel throughout
the world with his wife. The couple has visited Great Britain and
Italy several times as well as other parts of Europe, Canada and
the United States.
“One of the reasons Steve loves to travel, especially off the
continent, is that he needs the break from such a hectic, difficult
type of law practice,” Gail Ellsworth says. “Family law can be a
highly stressful form of law and we often get people at their worst.
He jokingly calls these trips his ‘reasons to live’ and will often say
to me, ‘time to find another reason to live’ and asks me to contact
our travel agent to book our next adventure.”
“Psychologists say that divorce, death and bankruptcy are the
biggest stressors in peoples’ lives,” he says. “Quite often people
I am dealing with are going through two of those, divorce and
bankruptcy. They are in crisis. I often tell people when I meet with
them that what they are experiencing is like entering a dark tunnel
where you can’t easily see the end, and I will guide them from the
beginning to the end. I also tell them as bad as things seem right
now that they will get better and they will find happiness again.
Doing this job helps you be empathetic. You are giving hope—
helping people.”
14 www.AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com
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B.A. in American Studies, Brigham Young
University, 1986
J.D., J. Ruben Clark Law School at Brigham Young
University, 1989
Certifications:
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Certified Family Law Specialist, Arizona State Bar
Certified Family Law Arbitrator, American Academy
of Matrimonial Lawyers
Admitted to Practice:
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Arizona State Bar, 1989
Supreme Court of the United States
United States District Court of the District of
Arizona
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Professional Memberships
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Member, Arizona Board of Legal Specialization
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Member of the Inn of Court
International Legal Fraternity, Phi Delta Phi
Professional Awards:
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Southwest Super Lawyer for Family Law, 2008, 2010,
2011, 2012, 2013
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
Other:
Judge Pro Tem, Family Law Division of the Maricopa
County Superior Court