Dena Bez is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bez Law Firm, P.C. Dena’s practice is dedicated to helping families navigate through complicated legal processes involving divorce, child custody and/or visitation disputes, stepparent adoption, domestic violence, same sex divorce, and other family-oriented legal issues. Dena aims to find a peaceful resolution to all family law issues. She truly excels at both negotiations and litigation, especially in extremely difficult, highly contested cases.
Before obtaining her law degree, Dena had a prior career as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Santa Cruz County. She later earned her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a concentration in Religious Thought from the University of California, Santa Cruz with the specific intent of going to law school. Dena graduated from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While in law school, Dena worked as a law clerk, office manager, trainer and supervisor for established and respected family law attorneys in the Sacramento Area.
Dena is a member in good standing of the American Bar Association (ABA), California Bar Association (CalBar), Sacramento County Bar Association (SCBA), SCBA’s Family Law Section, Placer County Bar Association (PCBA) and Women Lawyers of Sacramento (WLS). She has also attended and completed several trainings for trial advocacy.
In her spare time, Dena enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys traveling, working out, supporting the arts and, when she can, riding horses.
Attorney Melissa J. Harman has been an active member of the California Bar Association, Sacramento County Bar Association and Sacramento County Bar’s Family Law Section since 2012. Before obtaining her license to practice law, Melissa earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from California State University, Sacramento. During college she entered into the Sacramento Family Law community as a court runner and worked her way up through a local firm as a receptionist and legal assistant. Melissa graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2011 with a focus in Family Law. While in law school, Melissa worked as a Judicial Extern with the San Francisco Superior Court, Family Relations Courthouse and clerked for established and well respected private attorneys in both the San Francisco and Sacramento areas.
Through her over 10 years of working in Family Law (as a Receptionist, Legal Assistant, then Attorney), Melissa has become well affiliated with the practice and has learned that Family Law is where she belongs. Melissa finds that it is extremely rewarding to develop a close relationship with clients in such a difficult and stressful time; helping her clients “start fresh” feels gratifying. Melissa believes it is important for her clients to feel like they have been heard and have had someone on their side to help them navigate this difficult process.
Melissa strongly believes in community service and enjoys dedicating her time and talent to local pro bono services. Melissa has been a volunteer attorney for the Sacramento County Superior Court One Day Divorce Program since its inception in 2012, where she assists pro per litigants in navigating the legal process, drafting legal forms and finalizing their dissolution actions in a single day. Melissa also volunteers each year as a scoring Judge for the Gordon D. Schreiber Mock Trial Competition.
In her spare time, Melissa will be found tending to her flourishing vegetable garden, cooking up a storm, dabbling in painting, or bonding with her hound dog.
Molly is a transplant from Nashville, TN, where she was raised Quaker by her mother along with three siblings. After graduating from Guilford College in North Carolina with a B.A. in French and a concentration in political science, Molly packed everything she owned in her car and moved to California in 2003 to attend McGeorge School of Law on a full scholarship.
Molly has been working in family law since 2005 and approaches matters with an eye towards amicable resolutions wherever possible, particularly where children and custody issues are involved. Molly strongly believes in the importance and value of assisting families navigating difficult transitions in life. This is exactly why Molly has spent the last several years attending night school for nursing and has recently just started a full-time nursing position with a prestigious local hospital. Molly will remain an active part, albeit part time, of Bez Law Firm, P.C. while pursuing her new career. She is hopeful to one day meld her two careers, law and nursing, by moving into health care policy law.
Molly has volunteer experience in other areas, including organizing holiday packages for California inmates and repairing school facilities overseas, and was an active and instrumental member of Operation Protect and Defend for many years.
Alexis Bobo is a Paralegal at Bez Law Firm, P.C. Alexis began her career in the legal field in 2008 as a legal secretary at a nationwide Bankruptcy firm. It was in this position that she was able to hone in on what she desired most about working in the legal field which was helping real people. As the Bankruptcy field became less impacted, Alexis knew she needed to increase her knowledge and decided to become a certified paralegal. During her education at MTI College, Alexis embarked on what she would come to find as her passion, Family Law.
When Alexis is not working she is spending time with family and friends.
Alexis keeps her community involvement limited to hands on, one on one, personal activities that she and her daughter can participate in. She has often participated in the “Adopt-A-Family” programs, helped out a Loaves and Fishes, and donated her time to other similar organizations.
Bez Law Firm, P.C. provides experienced, compassionate family law assistance to residents of the Greater Sacramento area. Call (916) 512-8944 today to get started.
Mackenzie Ellsworth is the Administrative Assistant at Bez Law Firm, P.C. With a degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from the University of San Francisco, she is able to bring a new and efficient perspective to the law firm.
Mackenzie will be your first contact at Bez Law Firm, P.C. and works hard to make sure every interaction is positive and helpful. Despite her entry into law being a more recent development, Mackenzie understands the importance of the work we do and assists in many different ways to make your experience with us as positive as possible.
When Mackenzie is not working, she is either at home with her fiancé and two cats planning her wedding, or going on walks with her Nana.
Attorney Carsen Smith Tazi is a Certified Family Law Specialist, with her specialization from the State Bar of California. Carsen has practiced law exclusively in the area of family law since 2008 and has dedicated her career to helping clients through the toughest times in their lives with a straightforward and honest approach towards representation.
Carsen enjoys teaching her clients how to navigate a complex legal system while guiding them through the emotional journey of divorce, custody disputes, obtaining and enforcing support orders, and complex property division issues. Carsen also enjoys assisting with stepparent adoptions, family guardianships, and grandparents rights.
Outside of work, Carsen enjoys spending time with her family and precocious son, taking walks with her dog, crocheting with the South Natomas Knitters group, and watching Law & Order.
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