About Dirk Amara
Retired Commissioner
Hi, my name is Dirk Amara. I am recently retired from Placer County, where I served as the Superior Court Family Law Commissioner for more than 10 years. I was also involved in private practice for 25 years helping people with their various issues related to Family Law.
Based upon all of my experience, I believe with a passion that almost every Family Law matter (and I am referring primarily to Divorce proceedings) should be settled out of Court through the process of Mediation. As a judicial officer, I have seen literally hundreds of cases where the parties spent tens of thousands of dollars in wasted fees to litigate their case with always an uncertain result. This would put extreme stress on the parties, their children, and kept the decision of how to resolve their case out of their control. I firmly believe that with my assistance, I can help parties settle their matters outside the stress of the courtroom, and promote the parties maintaining an amicable relationship despite the breakup of the marriage. That is the goal that I will strive to achieve in each case I am given the privilege to handle.
If you have any questions before you decide what to do, you can call me at 530.885.8248
Educational Background & Experience
UC Davis (1974) BA in Economics
McGeorge School of Law (1977) JD
1977-9; Deputy Public Defender, Placer County
1979-81; Deputy DA, Placer County
1981-2006; Private practice with emphasis in Family Law
2006-16; Placer County Superior Court Commissioner, Family Law
2006-15; Frequent Speaker at MCLE programs in Family Law
(Hosted by the Placer County Bar Association)
2016; Recipient of award "Outstanding Service and Tireless Devotion to the Court and Family Law Community" presented by the Placer County Bar Association