Orange County Divorce Attorneys

Boutique Divorce Representation in Orange County

Gill Law Group, PC represents clients in Orange County divorce matters ranging from cooperative dissolutions to high-conflict cases involving children, support, complex assets, and allegations of domestic violence. 

Divorce is a legal process with real, lasting consequences, and the decisions made early often shape the outcome. Our role is to help you protect what matters most with clear advice and a strategy built around your goals.

As a boutique firm, we keep our caseload intentionally selective so clients receive direct attorney access, responsive communication, and straightforward guidance about risks, costs, and options.

Clients choose our firm because we provide:

• Focused divorce representation with practical, fact-driven strategy
• Direct attorney access and consistent communication throughout the case
• Skill in high-conflict dynamics, including coercive control and alienation allegations
• A resolution-first mindset when settlement is possible and trial readiness when it’s not

If you have a potential case to discuss, our Orange County divorce lawyers can help. Call (949) 681-9952 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.

What Our Clients Say

“I could not have survived the divorce without this team.”

“Mr. Gill and his team helped me through a nasty divorce. They are professional, sympathetic, and devoted to getting the job done and doing so fairly.” — Former Client

“Gill Law Group is clearly a cut above the rest!”

“I have been given clear, knowledgeable, and patient advice; consistently timely responses, and professional compassion.” – Former Client

“Conscientious and compassionate!”

“He is thoroughly prepared and works to provide his clients with every legal advantage while maintaining the highest ethical standards.” – Former Client

Read more client testimonials

Divorce Matters We Handle

Divorce can involve far more than ending a marriage. Our Orange County divorce lawyers handle dissolution matters involving a wide range of issues, including:

• Contested Divorce
• High Net Worth Divorce
• Military Divorce
• Unjust Divorce Judgments
• Child Custody
• Move-Away / Relocation
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Property Division
• Business Valuation
• Domestic Violence
• Divorcing a Narcissistic Spouse

Divorce is not the only option in every situation.

Depending on your goals, you may be better served by:

• Legal Separation (a court-defined outcome without terminating marital status)
• Annulment (a request to declare a marriage legally invalid under California law)

These paths can carry different legal consequences for finances, benefits, and future planning. We can walk you through the practical implications and whether one of these alternatives makes sense for your circumstances.

Meet Our Founder, Raja Gill

Exclusive focus on divorce and family law, known for practical guidance, candid case assessments, and building strategies designed to achieve workable results. Recognized by organizations including Super Lawyers® and The National Trial Lawyers. Hundreds of divorce cases handled in Orange County.

Learn more →

Divorce in Orange County: Understanding the Basics

California is a no-fault divorce state, which means neither spouse must prove wrongdoing to file. Most cases still require careful handling because divorce often involves court orders that affect property rights, financial support, and parenting arrangements.

Orange County divorce cases typically involve some combination of:

• Initial filings and service
• Required disclosures and financial documentation
• Negotiation and/or mediation efforts
• Requests for temporary orders when needed (custody, support, use of property)
• Settlement and final judgment, or litigation when issues cannot be resolved

Our job is to help you understand the process early, identify what needs to be decided, and pursue a strategy that fits both the facts and your priorities.

Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce

Most divorces are resolved in one of two ways. 

Some spouses reach agreements on the terms of their divorce, often through negotiation, mediation, or a settlement conference, and submit those terms to the court to be approved and entered as enforceable orders and a final judgment. Other cases require the court to decide one or more disputed issues through motions and hearings during the case, and sometimes at trial, when agreement isn’t possible.

With that context, divorces are commonly described as uncontested or contested.

Uncontested Divorce

A divorce is generally uncontested when spouses reach an agreement on the major terms (property, support, and, if applicable, custody/parenting time). Uncontested often means fewer hearings and less conflict, but the agreement still needs to be complete, enforceable, and supported by required disclosures.

Contested Divorce

A divorce is contested when spouses disagree on one or more key issues, commonly custody/parenting time, support, or property division, and the dispute must be resolved through the court process. Contested doesn’t always mean a full trial; many cases settle after information is exchanged and the issues are clearly defined.

If Your Divorce Is Contested, What Happens Next?

When spouses can’t agree on one or more key terms—custody, support, or property—the case usually becomes less about “paperwork” and more about evidence, deadlines, and leverage. The court may have to make interim decisions while the case is pending, and those early rulings can shape how the case ultimately resolves.

Most contested divorce cases involve some combination of:

• Required disclosures and information gathering (including formal discovery in many cases)
• Requests for temporary orders when issues need immediate direction (custody schedules, support, use of property)
• Settlement negotiations and/or mediation after the financial and custody picture is clearer
• Contested hearings, when a judge must decide a disputed issue
• Trial if disputes remain unresolved

The goal is not to “litigate everything.” It’s to get the right information, take the right positions, and press the right issues so you’re not forced into an unfair agreement or an avoidable court decision.

Can The Court Decide One Issue Without Finalizing Everything?

In limited situations, the court may allow certain issues to be handled separately, often referred to as bifurcation. Whether this is appropriate depends on the facts, the court’s discretion, and what would be gained (or lost) by splitting issues.

Uncontested Divorce And “Simple” Divorces: What That Really Means

An “uncontested divorce” generally means the spouses reach an agreement on the major terms—property division, support, and, if applicable, parenting arrangements. That often reduces conflict and court involvement. But “uncontested” does not always mean “simple.”

Even when both spouses want to move on, problems commonly arise when:

• Finances aren’t fully understood or accurately disclosed,
• Assets/debts are overlooked or mischaracterized,
• Parenting plans are vague or unrealistic, or
• One spouse signs terms to “keep the peace” that don’t hold up long-term.

Our role in an uncontested matter is to help ensure the agreement is complete, enforceable, and aligned with your interests—so the judgment you enter is something you can live with.

What About Summary Dissolution?

California also has a summary dissolution procedure for couples who meet specific statutory eligibility requirements. It’s essentially a streamlined process, but it’s not available in most divorces, especially where there are children, significant assets, or contested issues.

If summary dissolution isn’t an option, spouses can still pursue an uncontested divorce through a properly documented settlement and the required court filings.

Keeping Legal Costs Under Control

Divorce is expensive when the case loses focus. We help clients make decisions that protect what matters without turning every disagreement into a court fight.

In many cases, costs can be reduced by staying focused on the issues that truly matter, responding promptly to requests, and using negotiation or mediation to resolve appropriate disputes instead of litigating every point. That said, efficiency should never come at the expense of safety, parenting rights, or financial fairness. When the other party is unreasonable, or when the case involves domestic violence, coercive control, or serious credibility disputes, firmer action may be necessary.

Our job is to help you make those calls with clear guidance: where compromise makes sense, where it doesn’t, and what each path is likely to require.

How Our Orange County Divorce Lawyers Add Value

Whether your matter is likely to settle or requires court intervention, our firm’s approach is the same: build leverage early, keep the case organized, and pursue outcomes that hold up long-term.

We help clients by:

• Identifying the issues that will drive the case (children, support, property, business interests)
• Preparing and reviewing required disclosures and financial documentation
• Negotiating and drafting enforceable settlement terms when resolution is possible
• Seeking temporary orders when immediate court structure is needed
• Litigating contested issues when agreement isn’t realistic
• Handling enforcement and post-judgment issues when circumstances change

Take the First Step by Giving Us a Call

If you’re considering divorce or responding to a petition, Gill Law Group, PC can help you understand your options and take the next step with a clear plan.

From our Irvine and Newport Beach offices, we represent clients throughout Orange County in divorce matters ranging from straightforward dissolutions to complex, high-conflict disputes.

Call (949) 681-9952 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation.