Practice Overview
Michael Bonetto is an associate in the firm’s Family Law practice. He is experienced in all facets of family law, including those matters involving spousal and/or child support issues, complex property division, child custody and visitation, and restraining orders.
Michael’s clients appreciate the fact that he approaches each of his family law matters with compassion and practicality, while aggressively advocating to advance their cases through litigation when necessary. His clients – and their needs – are diverse, ranging from business owners with large estates and significant assets to community estates with little or no equity.
Background
Prior to joining Hoge Fenton, Michael worked as an associate at Whiting, Fallon, Ross and Abel, a family law boutique in Walnut Creek, where he handled all aspects of the practice, including legal research, discovery, law & motion, judicially supervised and private settlement conferences, evidentiary hearings, and trial.
While attending Santa Clara University School of Law, Michael served as Technical Editor of the highly regarded High Tech Law Journal and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society.
Representative Experience
- successfully defended a set-aside challenge to a child support order, resulting in an award of more than $180,000 in arrearages to client
- first-chaired a two-day trial for post-judgment spousal support modification in which support was reduced and set for termination
- negotiated settlement agreements, including a settlement awarding client all existing property with equity value and a settlement in which the client was awarded the family residence as separate property, without offset, despite inadvertently transmuting it to community property early in the marriage
- first-chaired a three-day domestic violence trial ending with successful outcome for client
Professional Activities
Michael is an active member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, Contra Costa County Bar Association, California State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He also is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Mentoring Group (East Bay Chapter).