Divorce Litigation

At Lonich & Patton, we make every effort to resolve divorce disputes without going to trial. However, we recognize that the animosity created by a divorce often makes child custody, property division and alimony negotiations ineffective. With more than 50 years of combined litigation experience, our family law attorneys understand how to achieve our client's goals at trial.

We have been through the fight and know how to succeed

Our first objective in any divorce matter is to reach a settlement through mediation, arbitration or other form of collaborative law. If that is not possible, we draw upon our skill as trial lawyers. Founding partners David A. Patton and Michael E. Lonich began their careers over twenty years ago as litigation attorneys and have honed their skills since founding the firm in 1994.

Much of family law litigation involves discovering existing financial assets, calculating child support, assessing the needs for spousal support and making child custody evaluations. Experienced trial lawyers are uncommon in the family law field, but our attorneys are experienced trial lawyers. Because of our broad litigation experience, we are able to develop effective and innovative courtroom strategies aimed at achieving our client's objectives. In addition, our understanding of family law and the litigation process allows us to effectively evaluate when it is appropriate to appeal a divorce decision.

It is critical to understand that divorce litigation is highly contentious and can be expensive. In addition, California courts require a mandatory settlement conference to occur prior to bringing a case to trial. While there is significant pressure to settle divorce disputes, we understand that it is not always possible. At Lonich & Patton, we prepare all our cases for trial even as we work toward settlements.

Contact Our San Jose Divorce Litigation Attorneys

If you have any questions about divorce litigation and would like to speak to an attorney, please contact Lonich & Patton for a free initial consultation. Our attorneys can be reached by phone at (408) 553-0801 or through the intake form on our Contact Us page.

Where We Practice

Lonich & Patton, LLP handles matters for clients in northern California, especially San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.