Practice Areas

Family law

FMBK has a team of attorneys devoted exclusively to the practice of family law – 12 of whom are Certified Family Law Specialists (CFLS) – making us one of the largest family law practices in California. As such, the firm is uniquely suited to address the personal needs of every client. We take great care in pairing the right attorney(s) with a potential client based on your specific needs, goals and personality.

First steps

If you find yourself in need of a family law attorney and have found FMBK either through a referral or personal research, you can expect an extensive intro call to take down the relevant foundational information necessary to pair you with the right attorney. You will then schedule an initial meeting with that attorney, during which you will have the opportunity to discuss the ins and outs of your circumstances, ask any questions you have about the process, and determine the best strategy to get the result you want.

What to expect

FMBK attorneys commit to being responsive, thoughtful, prepared and appropriately aggressive from the beginning of a case through its conclusion. Our team will always remain sensitive to cost. Where possible, FMBK attorneys will do everything to settle issues and entire cases. If trial is the only option, our team is ready to fight for you. Ultimately, FMBK aims to shoulder as much of the burden of the process as possible.

Prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements

Marital separation

Marital dissolution

Child custody and visitation

Child support

Spousal support

Paternity

Division of assets and debts

Domestic violence

Distribution of estates

Conservatorships

Guardianships

Will and trust contests

Heggstad Petitions

Compelling accounting by fiduciaries

Breach of fiduciary duties

Termination or reformation of trusts

Probate & trust litigation

We work closely with our clients in two distinct ways concerning probate estates, living and testamentary trusts, conservatorships (involving impaired adults) and guardianships (involving minors). To begin, we handle the creation, administration and distribution of all of these types of estates and relationships, which are governed by the California Probate Code. Then, as circumstances warrant, and to an increasing degree, we call upon decades of experience in protecting our clients’ interest in initiating or defending contested proceedings.

First steps

Our probate litigation attorneys can help you answer common questions related to wills, trusts and estates, such as when it is appropriate to file a will or trust contest – and whether you can have a dishonest or incompetent executor or trustee removed.

What to expect

The top goal of FMBK’s Probate and Trust Litigation Department is to get excellent results for our clients, whether in negotiation or contested litigation. With our unique specialization in crossover matters between probate and family law, our first-rate service and years’ worth of experience, we can help effectively prosecute or defend our clients’ positions.

Living trusts

Insurance trusts

Wills

Powers of Attorney

Advance health care directives

Trust transfer deeds

Guardianship of minor children

Family dynamics

Estate planning

FMBK’s estate planning department concentrates on assisting clients in defining their objectives – and then accomplishing them. We enable clients to direct their assets with the least possible erosion or attrition due to taxes, probate administration expenses or other costs. If you have substantial assets, personal responsibilities or charitable objectives, we’ll take the necessary steps to make plans for your will and estate.

First steps

The planning process begins by meeting personally with you to discuss your needs, desires and objectives. We can then determine which type of plan will most appropriately accomplish your goals in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

What to expect

Donna Shapiro, who focuses her practice solely on estate planning, is warm, honest, and compassionate. In addition to her strong knowledge of estate-planning principles, she knows how to relate to clients and understand their issues. She brings experience and service that is friendly and sincere, reasonably priced and makes the estate planning process as painless as possible.