Marc H. Garelick
ORANGE COUNTY FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
PARTNER
“What I really I appreciate about my work is that I am helping people manage and navigate one of the most difficult times in their lives.”
Orange County family law attorney Marc H. Garelick has extensive experience in high-conflict custody, child and spousal support, paternity and guardianship proceedings in contentious and sophisticated family law matters. He manages the Orange County lawfirm office in Irvine.
Marc’s clients include high-asset and high-income individuals in complex, contested family law cases. He strives to be the best family law attorney Orange County has to offer, that’s why he helps resolve issues involving custody, child visitation, support and domestic abuse. Marc is particularly skilled with valuations of businesses and division and characterization of community and separate property assets.
Active in the California State Bar Association and it’s Family Law Section, Marc is also a member of the Orange County Bar Association and Orange County Jewish Bar Association. He has several philanthropic and civic interests, which include serving on the board of directors of the Jewish Federation & Family Services (JFFS) and the Jewish National Fund in Orange County. Marc earned his J.D. from Southwestern Law school, where he started a Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to help low-income individuals with tax preparation. Marc was recognized by the JFFS with its Blossom Siegel Young Leadership Award and for several recent years as a Southern California Super Lawyers “Rising Star.” Marc was recently interviewed for an upcoming documentary “Erasing Families” and also spoke at an “OCBA Webinar on Proper Utilization of DissoMaster”. He was selected for inclusion in the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers.
Q&A with Orange County Family Law Attorney Marc H. Garelick
How do you work with clients?
I make myself available. I’m patient and I listen to understand my client’s needs and issues. Communication is key. I am available on most platforms to interact with my clients when they need it. I also pay attention to the details of their case to gain leverage and help in settlement or litigation.
Do you have a specialty within family law?
My focus is on highly contentious and sophisticated litigation in the family law courts.
What major challenges do you help clients manage?
I help clients with their expectations and help them weigh the risks and benefits associated with a decision to reach a settlement or pursue litigation.
How can your representation make a difference?
In family law, people’s personal lives and assets are at stake. Our representation can make the difference between equal custodial time or limited for the non-custodial parent. It can also make the difference for clients in their ability to manage support and business interests after the divorce or being forced into a liquidation estate.
What value do you deliver to clients?
We have high expectations and high standards, which ensures that our clients are able to have the best representation at the highest level in our field.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Allentown, PA and went to high school in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Favorite pastime?
I enjoy watching the Anaheim Ducks and my son play Ice Hockey, family, good music and skiing.
Marc H. Garelick
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Alimony & Spousal Support
- Child Support
- Custody & Visitation
- Divorce
- Domestic Violence
- Marital Property
- Paternity
Bar Admission
- California, 2008
Education
- Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles, California
- J.D. - 2008
- University of California, Irvine, California
- B.A. - 2002
Professional Associations &
Memberships
- Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Executive Committee Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- OCJBA, Member
- Anti-Defamation League – Glass Leadership Institute, Member
Honors
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers: 2024
- Super Lawyers 2024
- Southern California Super Lawyers "Rising Star", 2014–19
- Best Lawyers in America: Best Lawyers®: 2025
- Orange County Visionary, Selected by LA Times B2B Publishing, 2023
- JFFS, Blossom Siegel Young Leadership Award, 2017
- Southwestern Law School, Dorothy Balisok Elder Advocacy Scholarship
- American Bar Association, Silver Key
- IRS VITA Grant Program, Membership Start-up Awards
Published Works
- Mastering High-Stakes Divorce Cases With Marc H. Garelick (watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAdJ9umVcbk), 15 Minutes: Share Your Voice, April, 2024
- “Beware of the Pitfalls of Estate Planning During A Divorce,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, 2013
- What is a Gavron Warning & Who Is At Risk For Receiving One From the Court During a Divorce (celebrity divorce) - https://crntalk.com/podcast/divorce/2023/Divorce%20Hour%20091623.mp3, “The Divorce Hour with Ilyssa Panitz”, 102, 2023