About Us

Tot Law, APC is San Diego’s premier law firm dedicated exclusively to children’s legal issues. We focus on child‑centered cases across the Child and Family Well‑Being system—formerly known as Child Protective Services (CPS)—including investigations, CACI grievance hearings, and juvenile dependency matters.

Our attorneys also handle guardianships, adoptions, and child‑focused family law matters. With more than 60 combined years of trial, negotiation, and appellate experience, our team of certified specialists and seasoned advocates is laser‑focused on protecting your child’s safety, stability, and future—across every court and agency involved.

We work with:

  • Parents under CFWB/CPS investigation or in juvenile dependency court
  • Parties needing a guardianship for a child in their care
  • Grandparents and relatives seeking placement or visitation
  • Foster parents and caregivers
  • Prospective adoptive parents and biological parents in adoption and termination cases

What Makes Us Different

1

Exclusive focus on children's legal issues. We don't handle every kind of family law matter. We concentrate on CFWB/CPS investigations, guardianships, adoptions, juvenile dependency, and child‑focused family law-so we can see the full picture and anticipate how each decision affects your child's long‑term stability.

2

Certified, system‑savvy expertise. Our attorneys include a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Child Welfare Law Specialist with hundreds of dependency, guardianship and adoption trials and statewide appellate experience. We understand how CFWB/CPS agencies, probate courts, juvenile courts, and family courts interact-and we use that knowledge to plan your next steps.

3

Integrated, full‑continuum counsel. Your case may involve more than one legal system. We help you navigate through CFWB/CPS investigations, guardianships, adoptions, juvenile dependency, and related family‑court issues under one roof, so you aren’t juggling multiple lawyers or getting conflicting advice.

4

Trauma‑informed, practical guidance. Many of our clients come to us in crisis—after a CFWB/CPS social worker knocks on the door, an emergency removal, or a sudden custody change. We offer clear, step‑by‑step guidance rooted in trauma‑informed practice and real‑world experience, helping you understand what to do now and what to expect next.

5

Trial‑ready, resolution‑focused. We are experienced trial lawyers and appellate advocates. We litigate decisively when needed and pursue durable agreements when they genuinely serve a child’s best interests in real life, not just on paper.

6

Bilingual, accessible representation. We serve families in English and Spanish. We prioritize plainspoken explanations and realistic options, so you can make informed decisions in a confusing system. Servimos a las familias en inglés y en español. Priorizamos explicaciones claras y opciones realistas para que puedan tomar decisiones informadas dentro de un sistema confuso.

Our Story

Tot Law, APC grew out of a long‑standing collaboration among three attorneys: Paul A. Swiller, Elizabeth Pulido Swiller, and Linda A. Jazo.

  • Paul’s years representing children as appointed minor’s counsel in juvenile dependency court—and his statewide appellate appointments—gave him a rare, system‑wide view of San Diego county’s CFWB/CPS and California’s juvenile dependency courts.
  • Elizabeth built her practice in family law, earning a reputation as a strategic negotiator who understands agency and court timelines, and bringing trauma‑informed insight from her work with domestic‑violence survivors.
  • Linda combined complex family law and probate law practice with graduate training in human development and psychology to ground her work in child development and real‑life outcomes.

After years of collaborating and seeing how families struggled with fragmented services, they reunited under one banner: Tot Law, APC—a San Diego law firm dedicated exclusively to child and family well being.

Today, Tot Law, APC partners with parents, grandparents, relatives, and caregivers across San Diego County who are facing CFWB/CPS investigations, guardianships, adoptions, juvenile dependency cases and child‑focused family law matters.

From the first investigation through trial and, when necessary, appeal, our mission remains the same: to ensure every child has the chance to grow up safe, stable, and supported by a family system empowered by clear, effective legal advocacy.