$ 400-400 per hour
Certified Family Law Specialist, Divorce & Custody Lawyer, Husband, Daddy, Pet-Parent, Gamer, Bruin, Fantasy Football Savant, Sunscreen Aficionado, @matthewkpurcell
Matthew K. Purcell is a Shareholder of Forester Purcell Stowell PC, Family Law Attorneys. He has been recognized as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Association’s Board of Legal Specialization since 2011. Matt was the youngest Certified Family Law Specialist in California at the time he received this prestigious recognition of expertise in the field.
Experience: Matt has more than a decade of experience handling a range of family law issues, as well as guardianships and juvenile dependency. Offering broad expertise to his clients, Matt has handled everything from intricate property and support issues to complex custody issues involving allegations of sexual and physical abuse, domestic violence, parental alienation, and relocations.
With significant experience in the more specialized fields of guardianships, grandparent rights, and juvenile dependency cases, Matt is adept at counseling clients in situations where Child Protective Services removes children from parents based upon allegations of abuse and/or neglect.
Matt handles all aspects of dissolutions, but is particularly passionate about protecting the well-being of the children who are involved in these contentious adult situations. While he has found that successful outcomes are most often reached through negotiation and settlement, there are some cases where one or both parties simply cannot compromise. He has extensive litigation experience, including arguing in front of the Court of Appeal, if necessary. Matt was the attorney of record both at the trial court and appellate level on the published 2011 precedent setting relocation case Jacob A. v. C.H. (196 1591).
A graduate of Folsom High School, Matt attended college at UCLA where he graduated with a degree in History. He then earned his J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law in New York. After braving three winters in New York, he returned to the Sacramento area where he started his law practice in 2005. Prior to co-founding Forester Purcell Inc., Matt worked for more than eight years as the associate attorney to one of Sacramento’s premiere family law attorneys, Frank E. Dougherty.
Matt presently resides near Folsom with his wife and better-half, Kellie, their son Jack and their dog George. He practices primarily in Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and El Dorado Counties, although he has handled cases in most Northern California counties.
Learn more about Matt and his family law firm:
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Practice Areas
20 years
20 years
20 years
20 years
$ 400-400 per hour
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 2005
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620 Coolidge Drive, Suite 325, Folsom, CA, 95630
Showing 1 - 5 of 11 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Amanda Duncan | June 16, 2021 | Consulted Attorney
Matthew took on our case (pro-bono) because it had been so mishandled by all previous attorneys. Here’s an excerpt: "Faced with an admittedly difficult decision, the trial court skirted the question entirely (of what custody arrangement would be in Katie's best interest when mother moves) and iss...
Posted by Jeff | July 11, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Mr. Purcell represented me in a divorce and child custody case that took nearly 3 years to complete. His experience and demeanor was invaluable as he guided me through the process which involved manipulation, high conflict, unreasonable requests, false CPS reports and both parties moving out of state...
Posted by Belinda | November 19, 2015 | Hired Attorney
Matt has been my rock through my legal separation. My case was complicated and involved several hearings for the court to determine whether California had jurisdiction over my request for a legal separation. Matt was able to successfully defend my request for a legal separation in California, which...
Posted by anonymous | September 4, 2015 | Hired Attorney
Matt has been my attorney for many years. I am a single father and have primary custody of my children due to him. He is very knowledgeable and always there for you. His experience and demeanor in dealing with different Judges is what truly sets him apart. I have a manipulative, high conflict, unreas...
Posted by Ross | September 4, 2015 | Hired Attorney
Matt has represented me with competency, professionalism, and integrity. I have no hesitation in recommending Matt and his staff. I have referred friends to his office. Matt's representation of me was always done with keeping in mind what was in my and my children's best long-term interests. Matt i...
"Throughout the years I have worked with a number of fellow family law attorneys. Matt is definitely one of the best!"
"Matthew Purcell is an extremely intelligent and efficient attorney. I have had the opportunity to see his legal skills at work in court during complex custody litigation. This attorney genuinely cares about his clients and does everything in his power to achieve the best results. I endorse this Lawyer"
Family lawyer
Family lawyer
2017
"Best of the Bar", Sacramento Business Journal
2017
Northern California Rising Stars List, Super Lawyers
2016
Top Lawyers List, Sacramento Magazine
2011
Certified Family Law Specialist, California Bar Association Board of Legal Specialization
2016 - Present
Shareholder, Forester Purcell Stowell PC
2015 - 2016
Shareholder, Forester Purcell Inc.
2014 - 2015
Principal Attorney - Family Law Division, Goyette & Associates, Inc.
2005 - 2014
Associate Attorney, Law Office of Frank E. Dougherty
2015 - Present
Placer County Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
2015 - Present
El Dorado County Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
2012 - Present
State Bar of California, Executive Committee of the Family Law SectionSacramento Child Custody Sub-Committee Member
2011 - Present
Association of Certified Family Law SpecialistsMember
2005 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
2005 - Present
Sacramento County Bar Association, Family Law SectionMember
Successfully petitioned the Appellate Court to overturn an erroneous trial court ruling.
2004
JD - Juris Doctor
2000
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2017
2017
2016
2015
2015
2015
2014
Intial Interviews and Pleadings, Discovery Guidelines and Case Management Tips
2016
2015
2015
English
Legal Answers