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.