Every divorce, custody, or family dispute is challenging and emotional for the individuals involved. Through compassion and communication, Nicole Siqueiros-Stoutner’s personalized approach seeks to reduce her clients’ stress, while assisting in formulating her clients’ priorities and achieving her clients’ goals through settlement or litigation.
Nicole’s extensive experience in family law gives her a unique and significant perspective that she applies to her practice, and to her work as a mediator and court-appointed parenting coordinator. Nicole believes in settlement as a potential vehicle to accomplish her clients’ goals. However, when negotiation and compromise are not viable, Nicole zealously protects and advocates for her clients in Court.
Even before becoming an attorney, Nicole’s strong desire to serve families and protect children was evident. Nicole worked as a case specialist for Child Protective Services (CPS) which is now the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) and for Sojourner Center (a domestic violence shelter) as an advocate.
Following a position managing the legal department of a local non-profit organization, Nicole practiced family law as an associate attorney and later a partner at three boutique family law firms in Phoenix which handled complex divorce and custody cases. After working with Launi Jones-Sheldon for six years, Nicole and Launi continued their partnership and opened the law firm of Sheldon & Stoutner.
Nicole was honored to be appointed as a full-time judicial officer in the Maricopa County Superior Court in August of 2020. Nicole completed the judicial training and orientation program through the Arizona Supreme Court, and served on the bench for a year before deciding to resume private practice. This experience provides Nicole with valuable insight into the workings of the court and judicial decision-making.
Over the years, Nicole has received numerous awards and recognition related to her work as a family law attorney. She was invited to teach a course on family law as a an adjunct law professor at a local law school. On a regular basis, Nicole authors articles and presents Continuing Legal Education seminars through and for the Arizona State Bar, the Maricopa County Bar, the Arizona Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts , American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and the Arizona Supreme Court Committee on the Impact of Domestic Violence. Topics include family law trial techniques and advocacy, legal decision-making in Arizona, current case law, mental health issues in the family court, autism and the family court, serving minority clients, severance of parental rights, orders of protection, multi-jurisdictional custody and support issues, and cultural competency.
Nicole has been appointed to serve as a judge pro tem in the Maricopa County Superior Court and conducts Alternative Dispute Resolution Conferences, as well as private mediations. She is a trained Parenting Coordinator and appears on the Maricopa County Superior Court Mental Health Roster.
In her spare time, Nicole enjoys reading, skiing, travel, sporting events, and most importantly spending time with her family.
Nicole speaks both Spanish and Italian.
Education:
Arizona State University College of Law (J.D. 2005)
University of Arizona (B.A., 2001)
Awards and Recognition:
Recognized as an “Arizona Super Lawyer” in family law by by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business (2024)
Recognized as an Arizona Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in family law by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020)
Selected to participate in the State Bar of Arizona Leadership Institute (2009)
Appointed to serve on the State Bar of Arizona Committee on Minorities and Women in the Law (2010)
Appointed to the Arizona State Bar’s Family Law Executive Council (2016)
Selected as one of Arizona’s “Forty Under 40” community leaders by the Phoenix Business Journal (2011)
Voted a “Top Attorney” by North Valley Magazine (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019)
Professional Associations and Offices Held:
Chair of the State Bar of Arizona’s Family Law Executive Council (2023-2024)
Member of the Arizona State Bar Association (2007)
Member of the Arizona Women Lawyer’s Association
Member of the Maricopa County Bar Association
Member of the American Bar Association
Member of Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association
Former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Maricopa County Bar Association’s Family Law Section and presently serves as a Director Ex Officio
Former Member of the Board of Directors of Gabriel’s Angels
Former Member of the Board of Directors of the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development
Former Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division, Family Law Section
Former Member of the Los Abogados Hispanic Bar Association’s Board of Directors