Mary J. Martinelli

As a Certified Family Law Specialist*, Mary Martinelli is uniquely qualified to resolve complex family law matters with an emphasis on business concerns — earning her clients' trust for more than thirty years.

Mary has extensive experience handling high-profile and complex work in the field of family law. Specifically, she has experience in divorce, legal separation, child custody, adoption, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, same-sex family issues, and domestic violence.

Mary handles family law matters throughout California and has focused her practice on supporting business owners in the fields of real estate, healthcare, finance, banking, technology, professional services (including medical, legal, and accounting), insurance, agriculture, automobile sales, commercial trucking, food services, and construction. In addition, she has assisted entertainers, professional athletes, and investors/entrepreneurs with their highly specialized needs. Mary has extensive experience working with the most highly skilled forensic accountants throughout the state, as well as other experts within and outside California, enabling her to resolve the most challenging business valuation, support, and child custody issues.

Mary is well known throughout California for her passionate advocacy and litigation skills and her dexterity in creatively negotiating favorable settlements. She has been honored by numerous national and local entities as one of the best family law attorneys in the country — including a preeminent five-star rating from Martindale-Hubbell consistently since 1996 and placement among the Judge’s Review. Mary has brought her considerable talents to critical cases seminal in family law, including LaBass v. Munsee.

In addition to her practice, Mary is an integral part of firm management. She served on the Executive Committee and was Marketing Partner for many years. She is currently involved in lateral hiring and merger opportunities.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

• University of California at Davis, School of Law (King Hall), Former Visiting/Adjunct Professor
• University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, Presenter of Didactic Program in Family Law
• Sacramento County Bar Association, Family Law Section
• California Lawyers Association, Family Law Section
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Foster Youth Education Fund, Board of Directors
• Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
• Dean’s Leadership Council UCD School of Law
• Former Board of Directors and Legislative Analyst, Association of Certified Family Law Specialists
• Weave, Former Board Member
• Sacramento Ballet Company, Former Board Member
• Sacramento County Pro-Tem Judge
• California State ADR Standing Committee, Past Co-Chair
• Milton L. Schwartz American Inn of Court, Former Barrister
• Judicial Council Family Court Services Grants Advisory Committee, Former Member

Honors & Rankings

• Certified Family Law Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization
• AV Preeminent^® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell^®, 1996-2024
• Best Lawyers^® 2024 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
• Best Lawyers^® 2022 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento
• Best Lawyers in America^©, Family Law, 2013-2025
• Best Lawyers, Women in the Law, 2016
• Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyer, Family Law, 2015-2024
• SacTown Magazine (formerly Sacramento Magazine), Top Lawyer, Family Law, 2015-2024
• Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2013-2019