Kranz, Thomas D.

"Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."   - Mark Twain

Deborah J. Tilton concentrates her practice on family and matrimonial law settlements and litigation.  Ms. Tilton frequently represents high net worth individuals in the business and entertainment communities, and she has extensive experience working with forensic accountants, appraisers, and other financial experts in identifying and characterizing assets so she can protect her clients= financial security coming out of a divorce.  Ms. Tilton also has experience resolving child custody and visitation disputes, including high conflict disputes requiring custody evaluations, minors= counsel, co-parenting counselors, and monitored visitations. Ms. Tilton contributes regularly to the California Family Law Monthly.

Prior to joining Phillips Lerner, Ms. Tilton handled family and matrimonial law matters at the Law Offices of Lynn Soodik, APC, in Santa Monica.  Ms. Tilton also practiced for six years with the civil litigation firm of Vickman & Associates in Beverly Hills, handling breach of contract and civil fraud actions, lender and business litigation, real estate litigation, entertainment contracts and disputes, and intellectual property registrations and transactions.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Tilton enjoyed a successful career as an actress and screenwriter.  She was a founding member of the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine, a member of the Mark Taper Forum=s Improvisational Theatre Project, and she appeared in numerous stage productions in New York and Los Angeles, guest starring roles on television, and national commercials.  Her years of experience in the entertainment industry give her a special understanding of the impact intellectual property ownership, union benefits, residuals, compensation structures, and other unique entertainment industry issues can have on divorce and related dissolution matters. 

Ms. Tilton attended Loyola Law School, where she earned her J.D. in 2000. She obtained a B.A. cum laude in English Literature from the University of New Hampshire.  She is a member of the American Bar Association (Family Law Section), the Los Angeles County Bar Association (Family Law and Entertainment Law & Intellectual Property Sections), and the Beverly Hills Bar Association (Family Law and Entertainment Law Sections). Ms. Tilton is admitted to the State Bar of California and a member of its Family Law Section.

A union supporter, Ms. Tilton has maintained her memberships in SAG/AFTRA and Actors= Equity Association.  She is a longtime member of LACMA and MoCA and she also enjoys and supports local public radio stations KCRW and KPCC and public television station KCET.

Ms. Tilton is a native of Chicago, Illinois.