ABOUT DONNELLY & EVANS, LLP
Our practice at The Adoption Law Firm of Donnelly & Evans is limited to adoption law, and the areas of law that lead to adoption.
That is ALL we do, it is not a sideline.
We have represented adopting families throughout the United States, and in several foreign nations. We have handled adoption cases at all levels up to and including the California Supreme Court, and have been successful in helping to make California adoption law more child-friendly.
What to expect with Michelle Evans as your lawyer: There are few areas of law that are as life-changing and permanent as adoption. Practicing adoption law is a privilege. It can also be as intense at times as it is inspiring. There are so many factors for prospective parents to consider when welcoming a child into their hearts and home. “Leave the legal part to me. I’ll take care of it. You focus on the family.”
What makes the Adoption Law Firm unique
Michelle Evans is a current member of both the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, and of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. She is an experienced litigator, having spent over half of her career in the courtroom, something that few adoption attorneys can say. She is a committee chair in the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers. Ms. Evans also maintains a dependency court practice, representing parents who may have their children removed from them due to neglect or abuse. This gives her the unique perspective of seeing both sides of the case, not just from the perspective of the adopting parents. Whether representing the adopting parent or a birth parent, her main interest is always the best interest of the child.
Doug Donnelly is a past president of the Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, and a charter member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He was the principal author of the Code of Ethics of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, and served two terms as Chairman of the Ethics Committee of that organization.
DOUGLAS R. DONNELLY
Doug Donnelly is a graduate of Westmont College and Loyola University Law School.
He has handled adoption cases at all levels up to and including the California Supreme Court, and has bee a frequent public speaker on adoption related topics at gatherings throughout the United States.
He and his wife Gail are the proud parents of two adult adopted daughters.
He is the author of A Guide to Adoption, published by Focus on the Family Publications in 1987, and the co-author of The Complete Adoption Handbook, published by Zondervan Publications in 1992.
He also authored the chapter on adoption law in West Publishing’s California Transaction Forms, a how-to set of books for attorneys.
He has testified numerous times before committees of the California legislature and has helped to write numerous legislative bills that have become law. He and his work have been featured in the media, and he has been seen on the CBS News program “48 Hours.”
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 and Charter Member, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers (President, 1993).
Fellow and Charter Member, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (Ethics Committee Chairman, 1991-1993)
Ratings and Honors:
Martindale-Hubbell (operator of Lawyers.com), has awarded Mr. Donnelly with its coveted “AV” ranking, which is its highest possible ranking, achieved by only the top 3% of all licensed attorneys nationwide, and he has consistently earned this ranking for over 20 years. 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.”
For 2021, Mr. Donnelly was recognized as one of Southern California’s “SuperLawyers”®, an honor bestowed on only the top 3 to 5 % of all practicing attorneys.
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.
References Available Upon Request.
ISLN: 907801977
MICHELLE B. EVANS
Michelle Evans is an attorney in Ventura County, California. She has been practicing law for over 15 years, devoting the last 10 exclusively to Adoption Law, Termination of Parental Rights, Guardianships and Juvenile Dependency. She is the managing partner of Donnelly & Evans, LLP. She is a deft litigator, often traveling all over California for hearings and trials advocating for adopting parents.
Practice Areas:
Adoption Law; Termination of Parental Rights; Guardianship; Dependency
Admitted:
2008, California;
2009, U.S. District Court, Central District of California;
Law School:
The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, J.D., 2008
College:
University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., 2000 (Business Economics)
Member:
Academy of California Adoption Attorneys (Chairman, Tech Committee)
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Women Lawyers of Ventura County
Ventura County Bar Association
Ventura County Family Law Bar Association
State Bar of California
Better Business Bureau
Published Cases:
Adoption of K.C. (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1412 (trial counsel)
