Family Law Attorney
Family Law Attorneys in Long Beach, Los Angeles & Orange County
The decision to dissolve a marriage is never an easy one, but sometimes it’s the only one. This choice can lead to contentious and emotional legal processes that can be challenging to navigate. If you find yourself in a domestic dispute with your spouse that cannot be resolved, it’s important to have attorneys representing you who will help protect you and your property.
At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we offer a comprehensive range of services to make the entire process run smoothly, including divorce mediation, legal separation, child custody, child support, and spousal support. The attorneys at GFT have over 100 years of collective experience and will do everything they can to assist you during this difficult and trying time.
Divorce
Going through a divorce can be very difficult and painful to the parties involved as well as to those who mean the most to them. The process begins when one party hires an attorney to help with the filing of a petition for marriage dissolution. The petition is then served to the spouse and a court hearing is often determined if a response is filed. Our expert divorce attorneys offer advice as well as provide representation during negotiations and hearings. The process may involve the use of formal legal procedures, known as “discovery,” to obtain financial information as well as other relevant details. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, our lawyers have significant backgrounds in business and civil litigation. We specialize in handling divorce cases that involve complex financial issues, high-conflict litigation, and detailed custody matters. We understand that not one divorce case is alike as they involve many different factors. This is why we tailor our services to meet the needs of our clients. Our attorneys will stand with you every step of the way, advocating for you whether it’s with divorce litigation, mediation, collaborative divorce, child visitation, paternity law, property division, pre- and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment enforcement.
Legal Separation
Legal separation is an alternative to divorce. Some may choose to separate due to incompatibility, religious reasons, or other personal reasons. It deals with the same issues as a dissolution of marriage, including division of property, custody, child and spousal support. However, when a couple decides to undergo separation, their marital status is not terminated. Although they remain legally married in the eyes of the court, they do not have to physically live and operate in the same place. There are several different forms of legal separation. These include trial separation, permanent separation, and legal separation. During a trial separation, both parties agree to spend time apart and court involvement is not necessary. Permanent separation means that the two parties have no intention of reconciling. Legal separation occurs when a court officially declares separation. This avenue can be helpful while you and your spouse attempt to work through problems that are negatively impacting your relationship. It can also be beneficial as you can retain important benefits, including healthcare. At GFT, our experienced attorneys are here to assist you through the legal separation process, ensuring you get the support you need, as well as working to make sure it is as conflict-free as possible.
Child Custody
Child custody and visitation issues are often the most contentious obstacles faced during the process of a divorce or legal separation. Reaching an agreement on custody arrangements can be extremely taxing, which is why court involvement may be necessary. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, our top-notch child custody attorneys work meticulously to ensure that every facet of your unique circumstance is formulated for success. When approaching child custody cases, we make sure to emphasize the importance of protecting the children and their interests. There are two areas of custody, which include legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody grants a parent the right to make long-term decisions for their child and or children. These decisions revolve around their health, education, and welfare. Commonly known as visitation, physical custody allocates how much time a parent will spend with their child or children. We offer our clients compassionate advice in negotiating their options. Often, we may employ the use of outside experts to obtain the most favorable custody schedules available. Our lawyers understand that these decisions can be complicated and cause a series of emotions. We will be by your side to help you navigate the custodial process in the best way possible.
Child Support
Unfortunately, about 50% of marriages in the United States end in either divorce or separation. In the event that this happens, parents will most likely no longer share finances. When a custody agreement is reached following a divorce or separation, the noncustodial parent will be ordered to begin making ongoing monetary payments to the custodial parent. These funds will help cover their child’s living and medical expenses. In the state of California, child support is to be paid by the noncustodial parent until the child turns 18. The payment amount is based on a formula that is calculated by the court. It includes factors like gross income, how much time each parents spends with the child, income tax deductions, payroll deductions, and childcare costs. While separations, divorces, and custody agreements are common, the process is never easy. When it comes to family law cases, our lawyers are experienced with child support matters, and offer a compassionate perspective. We have full understanding of the intricacies of child support calculations and what can influence them. At GFT, your family is our priority. We work diligently to try to obtain the most favorable award for you and your family as timely and effectively as possible.
Spousal Support
A marriage is a partnership and managing finances together is typical. However, when a marriage is dissolved, a spousal support award may be granted by a judge to the spouse with lower wages. Spousal support, also referred to as alimony, is the amount of money the court can order the higher-wage-earning spouse to pay every month. It is calculated by a formula that takes certain factors into consideration including the duration of the marriage, if the spouse can maintain a standard of living established in the marriage, and more. There are two types of spousal support: temporary and permanent. Temporary spousal support is to be paid until a divorce settlement is finally reached. Permanent spousal support is money that is paid after the divorce is finalized, and the duration often depends on the length of the marriage and other circumstances. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, we can help you navigate spousal support issues with ease. Our attorneys are experienced, and possess the knowledge to ensure the proper components are presented to the court for consideration. We’ll use our 100+ years of collective experience to help you through this difficult legal process in order to secure a fair and honest outcome.
Divorce
Going through a divorce can be very difficult and painful to the parties involved as well as to those who mean the most to them. The process begins when one party hires an attorney to help with the filing of a petition for marriage dissolution. The petition is then served to the spouse and a court hearing is often determined if a response is filed. Our expert divorce attorneys offer advice as well as provide representation during negotiations and hearings. The process may involve the use of formal legal procedures, known as “discovery,” to obtain financial information as well as other relevant details. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, our lawyers have significant backgrounds in business and civil litigation. We specialize in handling divorce cases that involve complex financial issues, high-conflict litigation, and detailed custody matters. We understand that not one divorce case is alike as they involve many different factors. This is why we tailor our services to meet the needs of our clients. Our attorneys will stand with you every step of the way, advocating for you whether it’s with divorce litigation, mediation, collaborative divorce, child visitation, paternity law, property division, pre- and postnuptial agreements, and post-judgment enforcement.
Legal Separation
Legal separation is an alternative to divorce. Some may choose to separate due to incompatibility, religious reasons, or other personal reasons. It deals with the same issues as a dissolution of marriage, including division of property, custody, child and spousal support. However, when a couple decides to undergo separation, their marital status is not terminated. Although they remain legally married in the eyes of the court, they do not have to physically live and operate in the same place. There are several different forms of legal separation. These include trial separation, permanent separation, and legal separation. During a trial separation, both parties agree to spend time apart and court involvement is not necessary. Permanent separation means that the two parties have no intention of reconciling. Legal separation occurs when a court officially declares separation. This avenue can be helpful while you and your spouse attempt to work through problems that are negatively impacting your relationship. It can also be beneficial as you can retain important benefits, including healthcare. At GFT, our experienced attorneys are here to assist you through the legal separation process, ensuring you get the support you need, as well as working to make sure it is as conflict-free as possible.
Child Custody
Child custody and visitation issues are often the most contentious obstacles faced during the process of a divorce or legal separation. Reaching an agreement on custody arrangements can be extremely taxing, which is why court involvement may be necessary. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, our top-notch child custody attorneys work meticulously to ensure that every facet of your unique circumstance is formulated for success. When approaching child custody cases, we make sure to emphasize the importance of protecting the children and their interests. There are two areas of custody, which include legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody grants a parent the right to make long-term decisions for their child and or children. These decisions revolve around their health, education, and welfare. Commonly known as visitation, physical custody allocates how much time a parent will spend with their child or children. We offer our clients compassionate advice in negotiating their options. Often, we may employ the use of outside experts to obtain the most favorable custody schedules available. Our lawyers understand that these decisions can be complicated and cause a series of emotions. We will be by your side to help you navigate the custodial process in the best way possible.
Child Support
Unfortunately, about 50% of marriages in the United States end in either divorce or separation. In the event that this happens, parents will most likely no longer share finances. When a custody agreement is reached following a divorce or separation, the noncustodial parent will be ordered to begin making ongoing monetary payments to the custodial parent. These funds will help cover their child’s living and medical expenses. In the state of California, child support is to be paid by the noncustodial parent until the child turns 18. The payment amount is based on a formula that is calculated by the court. It includes factors like gross income, how much time each parents spends with the child, income tax deductions, payroll deductions, and childcare costs. While separations, divorces, and custody agreements are common, the process is never easy. When it comes to family law cases, our lawyers are experienced with child support matters, and offer a compassionate perspective. We have full understanding of the intricacies of child support calculations and what can influence them. At GFT, your family is our priority. We work diligently to try to obtain the most favorable award for you and your family as timely and effectively as possible.
Spousal Support
A marriage is a partnership and managing finances together is typical. However, when a marriage is dissolved, a spousal support award may be granted by a judge to the spouse with lower wages. Spousal support, also referred to as alimony, is the amount of money the court can order the higher-wage-earning spouse to pay every month. It is calculated by a formula that takes certain factors into consideration including the duration of the marriage, if the spouse can maintain a standard of living established in the marriage, and more. There are two types of spousal support: temporary and permanent. Temporary spousal support is to be paid until a divorce settlement is finally reached. Permanent spousal support is money that is paid after the divorce is finalized, and the duration often depends on the length of the marriage and other circumstances. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, we can help you navigate spousal support issues with ease. Our attorneys are experienced, and possess the knowledge to ensure the proper components are presented to the court for consideration. We’ll use our 100+ years of collective experience to help you through this difficult legal process in order to secure a fair and honest outcome.
Our Family Law & Divorce Attorneys
When you’re going through a tough time, you need a full team on your side. Our five-attorney firm has all of the resources to attend to our clients’ needs.
John J. Gilligan, CFLS |
John J. Gilligan, CFLS has practiced family law for 39 years and handled over 7500 family law matters. He sits on the Family Law Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar and donates several hours of his time each month to the court system as a mediator and Judge Pro Tem.
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Janine M. Frisco |
Ms. Frisco’s first preference is always to mediate spousal, financial and custody issues, she is also a staunch advocate for her client’s and a relentless opponent in a court of law. Ms. Frisco regularly litigates complex trials, acts as a mediator for both parties, and collaborates when the parties pursue collaboration.
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Kristin Trutanich |
Kristin Trutanich is a trial attorney with over 13 years of litigation experience. Prior to joining Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, Ms. Trutanich was a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. As a Deputy District Attorney, she tried over 70 jury trials involving domestic violence etc.
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Michael Sarris |
Michael Sarris specializes in California family law with extensive experience in the areas of child support, child custody and visitation, spousal support and community property division. Mr. Sarris founded the Law Offices of Michael Sarris.
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Wendy K. Tse |
Family law attorney, Wendy K. Tse, has practiced family law exclusively since 1998. Ms.Tse specializes in and has extensive experience with matters pertaining to California divorce, contested custody disputes, child support, spousal support etc.
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Our Family Law & Divorce Attorneys
When you’re going through a tough time, you need a full team on your side. Our five-attorney firm has all of the resources to attend to our clients’ needs.
John J. Gilligan, CFLS |
John J. Gilligan, CFLS has practiced family law for 39 years and handled over 7500 family law matters. He sits on the Family Law Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar and donates several hours of his time each month to the court system as a mediator and Judge Pro Tem.
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Janine M. Frisco |
Ms. Frisco’s first preference is always to mediate spousal, financial and custody issues, she is also a staunch advocate for her client’s and a relentless opponent in a court of law. Ms. Frisco regularly litigates complex trials, acts as a mediator for both parties, and collaborates when the parties pursue collaboration.
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Kristin Trutanich |
Kristin Trutanich is a trial attorney with over 13 years of litigation experience. Prior to joining Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, Ms. Trutanich was a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. As a Deputy District Attorney, she tried over 70 jury trials involving domestic violence etc.
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Michael Sarris |
Michael Sarris specializes in California family law with extensive experience in the areas of child support, child custody and visitation, spousal support and community property division. Mr. Sarris founded the Law Offices of Michael Sarris.
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Wendy K. Tse |
Family law attorney, Wendy K. Tse, has practiced family law exclusively since 1998. Ms.Tse specializes in and has extensive experience with matters pertaining to California divorce, contested custody disputes, child support, spousal support etc.
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Our Approach to Family, Divorce & Criminal Law
We recognize that legal cases involve sensitive and private issues, and our attorneys prioritize your needs and confidentiality above all else. It’s true that these obstacles can often be emotionally draining and trying. Our attorneys are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality of legal services through issues concerning family, divorce, and criminal law.
Experienced Attorneys
Our top-notch divorce, criminal, and family law attorneys are equipped with dozens of years of litigation and courtroom experience.
A Strong Team
At GFT, we offer a team approach to each case so you can always connect with someone who can help you out with your legal case.
Proven Track Record
We have a proven track record of favorably resolving the cases our clients bring to us through skilled representation & advocacy.
Comprehensive Approach
We incorporate a combination of top-notch litigators and experts in non-litigation alternatives for a comprehensive approach to family and criminal law.
Personalized Attention
We provide personal attention at every step of the process and have the staff to tackle complex and high-profile issues.
Industry Relationships
We have relationships with many experts who may be needed in your case, such as private investigators, domestic violence experts, and more.
100+ YEARS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE
Our Law Firm’s History
Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, was co-founded by John J. Gilligan, who has been practicing family law in Long Beach since 1981. Janine M. Frisco is also a partner, as is Kristin Trutanich. Together, they are the area’s most comprehensive legal stronghold.
GFT has helped individuals and their families surmount their legal difficulties for the past several decades. We are proud to serve Southern California, and have the dedication and experience required to handle every type of issue.
The Team of Attorneys
You’ve Been Looking For
Our experienced team of professionals will guide you through life’s murkiest waters. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we have the resources needed to represent clients in all aspects of family and criminal law.
The Team of Attorneys You’ve Been Looking For
Our experienced team of professionals will guide you through life’s murkiest waters. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we have the resources needed to represent clients in all aspects of family and criminal law.
Office
Locations
We have two offices conveniently located in Long Beach & Palos Verdes. We represent clients in courts throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties.
Long Beach Office
One World Trade Center, Suite #1740
Long Beach, CA 90831
Telephone: (562) 431-2000
FAX: (562) 431-2100
Palos Verdes Office
2516 Vía Tejon, Suite 309
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Telephone: (310) 237-9001
FAX: (562) 431-2100