Practice Areas Overview
Mediator and Family Law Attorney in San Francisco Bay Area
At McDonald & Mannion, we help clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area resolve disputes in a range of legal areas. Our experience includes:
Divorce Mediation
Divorce is a complex process, and having a skilled, experienced mediator on your team can provide you peace of mind during this difficult time. San Francisco attorney Brian McDonald is focused on mediation, not litigation, and is a strong advocate for his clients. Mediator Brian McDonald utilizes his detailed understanding of California divorce law and his professional, caring approach to foster a good outcome for clients and their families.
As one of San Francisco's top mediation law firms, we are able to provide detailed, knowledgeable legal help in these areas:
- Divorce and divorce law
- Post divorce issues
- Separation agreements
- Types of divorce
- Pre-nuptial agreements
Mediation
In many disputes, mediation is the best way to achieve a quick, cost-effective solution that will provide closure for both parties. We have successfully handled more than 1000 mediations in the following areas:
- Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce Mediation)
- Premarital Agreements
- Personal Injury Matters
- Trust and Probate Disputes
- Appellate Mediation
- Business Mediation
For more information about mediation, please see our frequently asked questions, mediation process, advantages of mediation, and roles of the parties pages. For more information about alternative options to mediation, please see our Co Med-Arb and mediation variations pages.
Mediation Coaching
A party in a mediation with another mediator often needs the benefit of discussing their matter with an experienced mediator like Brian McDonald for suggestions or strategies that they can then employ in their other mediation. Brian provides this mediation coaching service. At times when Brian has previously coached a party, they will call Brian during a short break from their mediation, outlining where the negotiations have been, and get coaching advice that they can use in their immediate return to that session.
Estate Planning and Trusts
At McDonald & Mannion, we understand that every family is different and has unique goals. We work closely with each of our clients to develop and implement the best combination of a will, trusts, and other estate planning documents (such as powers of attorney and advance health care directives) that will minimize tax liability and ensure their estate is distributed according to their wishes.
Probate and Trust Administration
Probate is the process by which a person's estate is administered and distributed either under his or her will or, if the person died without a will, through California's laws of intestate succession. We help the executors of wills fulfill legal duties such as filing petitions, handling the sale of both real and personal property, coordinating tax matters with accountants, and obtaining court orders for distribution.
We also assist trustees with the administration process, including working with accountants to provide assistance with income and estate tax matters. Additionally, we advise and counsel beneficiaries as to their rights and responsibilities under the trust.
If you are interested in resolving your dispute through mediation, or if you need assistance with an estate planning, probate, or trust administration matter, it is critical that you hire an attorney who has the necessary experience to successfully resolve your case. To find out how we can help you with your legal matter, contact the San Francisco law firm of McDonald & Mannion today.
