Representing adopting families, birth mothers, and adopted children statewide for over 30 years.
Practice Areas:
Adoption Law; Guardianships; Interstate Child Custody
Admitted:
1977, California;
1978, U.S. District Court, Central District of California;
1987, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Law School:
Loyola University of Los Angeles, J.D., 1977
College:
Westmont College, B.A., cum laude, 1974.
Member:
Academy of California Adoption Attorneys (President, 1993; Chairman, Ethics Committee 1998-2014);
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (Chairman, Ethics Committee, 1990-1992);
Santa Barbara County Bar Association;
State Bar of California (Member, Adoptions Committee, Family Law Section);
Christian Legal Society;
Better Business Bureau
Biography:
Author: Adoption Chapter, "California Transaction Forms: Family Law," West Group, 1998;
"A Guide To Adoption," Focus on the Family Press, 1987.
Co-Author: "Complete Adoption Handbook," Zondervan, 1992.
Fellow, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers (President, 1993).
Ratings and Honors:
Martindale-Hubbell (operator of Lawyers.com), has awarded Mr. Donnelly with an "AV" ranking, which is its highest possible ranking, achieved by only the top 3% of all licensed attorneys nationwide. These ratings are based upon confidential peer reviews, and an "AV" rating is awarded only to those attorneys who are considered to have "from very high to preeminent" legal ability. ) 1997-present.
Martindale-Hubbell has also awarded Mr. Donnelly the "Client Distinction Award" for each year since 2012, which is based upon client ratings, and is awarded to less than 1% of the over 900,000 attorneys rated. This award is based upon client ratings of the attorney's "Communications Ability, Responsiveness, Quality of Service, and Value for Money."
The Better Business Bureau has also awarded Mr. Donnelly a ranking of "A+," which is its highest possible rating.
Reported Cases:
Adoption of T.K. (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1412;
Adoption of K.C. (2015) 240 Cal.App.4th 1392
In Re Charlotte D. (2009) 45 Cal.4th 1140;
Adoption of Michael H. (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1043;
In re Kyle F. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 538;
Applegate v. Ota (1983) 146 Cal. App. 3d 702.
Practice areas
43 years, 3,000 cases
43 years, 250 cases
Languages spoken
English
Adoption Law
1332 Santa Barbara Street
Suite 201
Santa Barbara, CA, 93101-1401
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
CA | Active | 1977 | 10/27/2020 |
Legal answers | 1 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
AV Preeminant Rating | Martindale Hubbell | 2017 |
Client Distinction Award | Martindale Hubbell | 2017 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Principal | Law Offices of Douglas R. Donnelly | 1989 - Present |
Managing Partner | Donnelly, Schlottman & Nichols | 1977 - 1989 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Christian Legal Society | Member | 1999 - Present |
Better Business Bureau | Member | 1998 - Present |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys | Fellow | 1990 - Present |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers | Fellow | 1989 - Present |
Santa Barbara County Bar Association | Member | 1980 - Present |
State Bar of California | Member | 1979 - Present |
---|---|---|
National Council for Adoption | Associate Member | 1998 - 2001 |
Bioethics Committee, Goleta Valley Community Hospital | Member | 1995 - 1998 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers | President | 1993 - 1994 |
Blue-Ribbon Advisory Panel to California Legislature Joint Committee on Surrogate Parenting | Member | 1991 - 1992 |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys | Ethics Chairman | 1990 - 1992 |
National Association of Counsel for Children | Member | 1989 - 1992 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
West Group publication | California Transaction Forms: Family Law | 1998 |
Zondervan | Complete Adoption Handbook | 1992 |
Focus on the Family | A Guide To Adoption | 1987 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University | JD - Juris Doctor | 1977 |
Westmont College | BA - Bachelor of Arts (Cum Laude) | 1974 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
National Business Institute Seminar, Ventura, California | Professionalism: Bringing Aspirational Ideals to Practice | 2015 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Handling Contested Adoptions | 2015 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Navigating the Ethical & Practical Pitfalls of Adoption Law | 2015 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | A Concise Introduction to Adoption Law | 2014 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | Financial Aspects of Adoption | 2014 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | On Becoming An Ethical Adoption Lawyer | 2014 |
---|---|---|
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | Intoduction To, And Recent Developments Regarding, Indian Child Welfare Act | 2014 |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Webinar | Dealing With, And Protecting Yourself From, Difficult Clients | 2013 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Handling Birth Mother Living Expenses Competently and Ethically | 2013 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Ethical Issus: Of Disclosure and Adoption | 2012 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | Contested Adoptions | 2011 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | On Becoming an Ethical Adoption Lawyer | 2011 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | Introduction and Update on the Indian Child Welfare Act | 2011 |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Conference, Savannah, GA | Enforceable Open Adoption Agreements: The California Experience | 2011 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Trust Account Management for the Busy Practitioner | 2010 |
National Business Seminar, Pasadena, California | Termination of Parental Rights In Connection With Adoption | 2009 |
National Business Institute Seminar, Pasadena, California | Introduction To, and Recent Developments Regarding, The Indian Child Welfare Act | 2009 |
Christian Legal Society Annual Conference, La Jolla, CA | What The General Practitioner Needs To Know About Adoption Law | 2009 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Update on Indian Child Welfare Act | 2009 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers Seminar at Loyola Univ. Law School | Update On Probate Code Section 1516.5 | 2009 |
American Inns of Court, Santa Barbara, CA | Development Of The Law Regarding The Rights Of Unmarried Fathers | 2007 |
Ventura County Bar Association, Family Law Section | What The Family Law Practitioner Needs To Know About Adoption Law | 2003 |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Monterey, CA | The 14 Commandments of Ethical Adoption Practice | 2003 |
Whittier College School of Law | Historical Development Of The Constitutional Rights of Birth Fathers | 2001 |
Ventura County Women Lawyers Assoc. | Open Adoption Records And The Right To Privacy | 2000 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers | Rights Of Presumed Fathers Under the Uniform Parentage Act | 1997 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers | Rights Of Alleged Natural Fathers Under The Uniform Parentage Act | 1996 |
Conference of Adoption Professionals, Columbus, Ohio | The Case For Adoption: Becoming An Adoption Advocate | 1995 |
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA | Ethics Beyond The Initial Contact: Getting In, Getting Out, Getting Paid (Without Getting Sued) | 1995 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, San Francisco | The Rights of Birth Fathers Under the Kelsey S. Decision, As Revisited in Adoption of Michael H. | 1995 |
Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, San Francisco, CA | The Rights of Birth Fathers Under Adoption of Kelsey S. | 1992 |
National Council for Adoption, Washington, DC | Examining The Independent Adoption Center Phenomenon: Neither Agency Nor Private Adoption | 1991 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
Adoption of T.K. | Favoring Adopting Parents |
In Re Charlotte D. | Favoring Adopting Parents |
Adoption of Michael H. | Favoring Adopting Parents (reversing Court of Appeal decision) |
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Loni Klein, Adoption Attorney on Mar 30, 2017
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer.
Amanda Schmitt, Adoption Attorney on Feb 17, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Doug is a gifted attorney who puts his clients' best interests at the forefront. He is compassionate, considerate, and incredibly helpful to others in the field.
Janis Stocks, Adoption Attorney on Oct 1, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Timothy Blied, Adoption Attorney on Jan 20, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Doug brings a wealth of experience, skill and compassion to his adoption practice. He is very highly regarded among adoption attorneys and other adoption professionals nationwide.
Bonnie Hiler, Adoption Attorney on Jan 19, 2012
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Doug's knowledge of adoption law and commitment to ethical practices is superlative. I have been privileged to work with him on several adoptions over the years.
Alison Davis, Adoption Attorney on Jan 18, 2012
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Doug Donnelly is an experienced, professional, and ethical attorney who also happens to be a published expert in adoption law. Not only has he written scholarly articles for the legal profession, he has also represented adoptive parents all the way to the California Supreme Court - and won! He comes with my highest recommendation.
Randall Hicks, Adoption Attorney on Jan 14, 2011
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Doug Donnelly is one of the finest adoption attorneys I know, not just in his home community of Santa Barbara, but throughout Southern California. Years of experience and high ethics.
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