Family Law

The Family Law Practice of Downey Brand, headed by Mary J. Martinelli, Certified Family Law Specialist*, consists of five attorneys who practice solely in the area of family law.

Mary who formerly taught Marital Property Law and Family Law at the University of California, Davis, School of Law, has 28 years’ experience in the family law field and practices with a team approach involving cost efficient use of associate attorneys and paralegals.

Our attorneys understand that family law is unique and decisions can have a lasting impact on a family. We have expertise in sophisticated family law issues involving dissolution of marriage, legal separation, nullity, adoption, child custody, prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements, writs and appeals. Additionally, Mary has extensive experience in mediating family law issues.

Downey Brand’s experienced family law attorneys also provide clients full representation with family law issues tangential to business related matters, including corporate acquisitions, mergers and business and tax planning.

One of the hallmarks of our practice is the strict confidentiality employed to all family law matters.

*Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.