Gilroy, California

Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California,. With a population of 52,027, Gilroy is known around the world for its garlic crop and for the Gilroy Garlic Festival which occurs annually. Gilroy's nickname is "Garlic Capital of the World," however, Gilroy does not lead the world in garlic production. More garlic is processed in Gilroy than any other factory in the world. Most of the world's pickled, minced, and powdered garlic come from Gilroy.

Gilroy is home of the Gilroy Hot Springs, which is a famous Victorian resort. The Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs, is a registered California Historical Landmark. Long-time local landmarks include Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, formerly Treehaven and Hecker Pass.

Gilroy amoung the first visitors to Gilroy was Father Junpero Serra who began to arrive in the area in the 1770's. In 1797 Mission San Juan Bautista was established near the Pajaro River. Then in 1809, Ygnacio Ortega was granted the 13,066-acre Spanish land concession Rancho San Ysidro. The community which would become Gilroy grew nearby, at the foot of Pacheco Pass which linked the El Camino Real and the Santa Clara Valley with the San Joaquin Valley.

When the annexation of California by the United States in 1848 was followed by the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada, on March 12, 1870, it was officially incorporated by the state legislature as the town of Gilroy. Farming remains significant, in the area, but in the 1970's the Gilroy began evolving into a bedroom community for Silicon Valley to the north.

I offer a free initial consultation so that we can discuss how our office can best serve your needs. You are not billed for this initial consultation if you do not retain my office. Contact our office at 408-217-8506 to schedule an appointment for your free consultation or visit our website.

Our law office is in a convenient location for residents in Morgan Hill, in between the Family Law Courts in Sunnyvale and San Jose. We also have a office located in Sacramento County.

Merrisa Coleman-Bishop is a compassionate attorney that strives to make the divorce process as bearable and painless as possible for our clients and their children. I care about what my clients are going through as I have been through the divorce and custody battles myself. At the same time, I am committed to providing my clients with expertise in all areas of family law while procuring zealous advocacy to further their best interests. In a perfect world, negotiation works out best for both sides. However, if the other party or their attorneys act unreasonably, I have no problem with digging in and remaining tough to do what is necessary to protect your rights. I always keep in mind the big picture and strive to look out for your best interests in the long term so that you may move on with your life.

Family law is our area of expertise and my practice covers all aspects including: Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Spousal Support, Visitation Orders, Nullity, Legal Separations, Domestic Violence, and Restraining Orders. I offer a free consultation to discuss your legal matter during which all facets of your case will be thoroughly examined and solutions will be presented on how to proceed. If you choose to retain me, I will be accessible to all of your needs. It is my goal to provide you with a service that you are satisfied with, and I pride myself on furnishing answers to all of your questions and concerns.