We checked peer rankings, bar directories, and each firm's own practice pages to find Long Beach's most credible divorce firms. Here are 8 worth a call, with fees, focus, and what to ask.
Updated January 02, 202613 min readEditorially independent
Divorce in Long Beach is stressful, and the lawyer you choose shapes both the cost and how contested it becomes. The right attorney can keep an uncontested case efficient or protect you hard in a contested one — especially where children or significant assets are involved.
This guide lists Long Beach-area family law firms with verifiable experience and free consultations. We flag which attorneys are Certified Family Law Specialists, the strongest credential in this field.
Use this list as a starting point, not a final verdict. Call two or three firms, compare what they tell you, and pick the one that explains your options most clearly. Every firm here offers a free consultation, so a second opinion costs you nothing but an hour of your time.
How we picked these 8: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area divorce practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Envision Family Law
Serves Long Beach20+ yrsFree consult
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, support, and property division
Co-founder Jason Benjamin brings more than 20 years of family law experience and has handled over a thousand custody matters. The firm guides Long Beach clients through alimony, support, asset and debt division, and visitation.
Why they made the list: Heavy custody experience is decisive when children are the most contested part of a divorce.
Practice focus: Custody disputes, complex divorce, abduction and relocation
Owner Kyle R. Puro leads a family law team with more than a dozen years of California experience, including international and intra-state custody disputes and cases involving the recovery of abducted children.
Why they made the list: A fit for the hardest custody facts — relocation, abduction, or cross-border disputes.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, and support across LA and Orange counties
A Long Beach family law firm serving Los Angeles and Orange counties for over 13 years. Attorney Stacy L. Campuzano is a State Bar Certified Family Law Specialist with roughly 20 years of practice.
Why they made the list: A Certified Family Law Specialist has passed extra State Bar exams and peer review in family law specifically.
Practice focus: Contested divorce, settlement negotiation, high-asset cases
Founding attorney Robert A. Curtis is a board-certified family law specialist with 40 years of experience who works to settle matters fairly while keeping clients informed of their options.
Why they made the list: Four decades and a board certification suit complex, higher-asset divorces that may still settle.
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, support, and related family matters
Serving Long Beach and surrounding communities for more than four decades, the firm's attorneys bring over 100 years of combined legal experience to divorce and family law matters.
Why they made the list: A long-established local firm offers continuity and deep familiarity with the Long Beach family court.
355 Redondo Ave, Long BeachHighly reviewedFree consult
Practice focus: Divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements, restraining orders
A Long Beach family law firm at 355 Redondo Avenue handling divorce, legal separation, child and spousal support, custody, prenuptial agreements, and restraining orders, with strong client-review numbers.
Why they made the list: A central Long Beach office and broad family-law menu make this an easy local starting point.
Practice focus: Custody and co-parenting, divorce, support
Attorney Michael Whitmarsh focuses on co-parenting agreements and child custody determinations for Long Beach families, alongside divorce and support matters.
Why they made the list: A custody-centered practice helps most where parenting time is the central fight.
Tell us what happened. We'll connect you with one of these Long Beach firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Long Beach
Look for a Certified Family Law Specialist. California certifies family law specialists after extra exams and peer review. Several Long Beach firms have one, and it signals real depth.
Match the firm to your case. An uncontested divorce needs efficiency; a custody fight or high-asset split needs a litigator. Be honest about which you have.
Ask how billing works. Most family lawyers bill hourly against a retainer. Ask the hourly rate, the retainer amount, and a realistic total for a case like yours.
Prioritize communication. Divorce is months of back-and-forth. Ask who answers your questions and how quickly.
Read recent reviews, not just the average. A high star average matters less than what recent clients say. On Google, Avvo, and Yelp, read the newest Long Beach reviews and watch for patterns in how the firm communicates and returns calls.
Trust your read of the consultation. You may work with this person for months. If they talk over you, dodge questions, or rush you at the free meeting, that rarely gets better after you sign.
What divorce help typically costs in Long Beach
Most Long Beach divorce lawyers bill by the hour against an upfront retainer; simple cases can be done for a flat fee:
Hourly rate: about $300-$525. Certified specialists and senior partners sit at the top of this range.
Retainer: about $3,500-$10,000. You replenish it as the lawyer bills against it.
Uncontested or flat-fee divorce: about $1,500-$4,000. When both spouses agree on everything, costs stay low.
Contested divorce: $15,000-$40,000 or more. Custody disputes, business valuations, and trials drive the total up.
Ask each firm for an honest estimate based on how much you and your spouse actually disagree — that, more than anything, sets the final cost.
How long it takes
California imposes a six-month minimum waiting period, so no Long Beach divorce is final faster than that:
Filing and response: first 1-2 months. One spouse files; the other has 30 days to respond.
Disclosures and negotiation: months 2-6. Both sides exchange financial disclosures and try to settle.
Uncontested finalization: 6-9 months. Agreed cases finish soon after the six-month period ends.
Contested resolution: 12-30 months. Custody evaluations, discovery, and trial extend the timeline.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a divorce lawyer in Long Beach
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many divorce matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Long Beach consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most divorce matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Talk to a vetted Divorce attorney in Long Beach
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about divorce lawyers in Long Beach
How much does a divorce cost in California?
An uncontested divorce can run $1,500-$4,000. Contested cases billed hourly ($300-$525) commonly reach $15,000-$40,000 or more depending on conflict over custody and assets.
How long does a California divorce take?
At least six months by law. Uncontested cases finish around six to nine months; contested ones often take a year or more.
Do we each need our own lawyer?
You cannot share one lawyer, who can represent only one spouse. In an amicable, uncontested case, one spouse may hire counsel and the other proceed self-represented.
How is property divided?
California is a community-property state, so most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are split equally. Separate property generally stays with its owner.
How is custody decided?
By the child's best interests. Courts favor arrangements that keep both parents involved unless there is a safety reason not to.
Can I get spousal support?
Possibly, depending on the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and the standard of living. A lawyer can estimate the range for your situation.
How did you choose the firms on this list?
We cross-referenced peer-review directories - Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com, and FindLaw - with each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm appears in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area divorce practice. We take no payment for placement.
Does it cost anything to get matched with a firm?
No. Using this directory and requesting a consultation is free, and the firms here offer free initial reviews. You decide whether to hire anyone, and there is no obligation.
What should I do right after deciding to separate?
Write down what happened while it is fresh, keep every document and message, note any deadlines you have been given, and avoid posting about it online. Then book a free consultation before making decisions you cannot undo.
Can I switch lawyers if I am unhappy?
Usually yes. You are not locked in to the first divorce firm you meet, and you can change counsel if the relationship is not working. Ask any new firm how a mid-case switch would affect your fee and timeline before you move.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.
Helpful next steps
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