Atty. Mary J. Martinelli

Atty. Mary J. Martinelli

Mary Martinelli, C.F.L.S.* leads the Family Law Practice Team at Murphy Austin. She is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 35 years of experience representing clients statewide in complex family law matters.

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About

Mary Martinelli, C.F.L.S.* leads the Family Law Practice Team at Murphy Austin. She is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 35 years of experience representing clients statewide in complex family law matters.

Mary’s practice focuses on dissolution of marriage, legal separation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, domestic violence, writs, appeals, and corporate consulting related to family law issues.

She previously taught Community Property Law and Family Law at the University of California Davis School of Law.

Mary’s clients include high-profile leaders in corporate and agricultural business and professional services, entertainers, and professional athletes. She has a depth of understanding related to their specialized and unique family law needs.

She routinely works with highly skilled financial forensic accountants, appraisers, and physical and mental health evaluators, enabling her to thoroughly, efficiently, and effectively resolve sophisticated and challenging issues.

While Mary is well known statewide as a seasoned trial attorney, she consistently achieves favorable outcomes through mediated resolutions.

She has been honored by numerous national and local entities as one of the best family law attorneys in the country and she has earned a Preeminent five-star AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 1996 and placement among the Judge’s Review. Mary has also been recognized as Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Family Law for the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Prior to joining Murphy Austin, Mary led the Family Law Practice Group at her former firm.

She earned her J.D. from University of California Davis, School of Law and received her B.A. from University of California Berkeley.

*Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Practice Areas

Education

J.D.
University of California Davis
- 1986

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Family Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Certified Family Law Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — AV Preeminent Attorney Judicial Edition by Martindale-Hubbell (2017-2025)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell (1996-2025)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyer, Family Law (2015-2025)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — SacTown Magazine
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , Top Lawyer, Family Law (2015-2024)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Sacramento Business Journal
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — , Best of the Bar (2013-2019)
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Family Law (Sacramento)
- 2024
Lawyer of the Year — Family Law (Sacramento)
- 2022

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