Michael T. Bonetto

Practice Overview

Michael Bonetto is a shareholder and Chair of the firm’s Family Law practice and a Certified Specialist in Family Law as certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Michael is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). Comprised of the top family law attorneys throughout the nation, AAML members are recognized as preeminent family law practitioners with the highest levels of knowledge, skill, and integrity. In order to be elected, each Fellow must successfully complete a rigorous selection process that includes interviews, examinations, and professional and judicial evaluations.

“Admission to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is one of the highest honors a family law attorney can receive. Michael’s achievement continues Hoge Fenton’s legacy of excellence in the practice of law. Congratulations to Michael and the Family Law team,” said Dan Ballesteros, Managing Shareholder of Hoge Fenton.

In the Court of Appeals, Michael successfully defended his trial court victory, finding in his client’s favor that the parties’ date of separation, and thus the accrual of the community estate, occurred two years prior to his Petition for Dissolution.  See In re Marriage of Lee and Lin.

Michael has exclusively practiced family law since his admission to the bar in 2007. He is experienced in all facets of family law, including spousal and/or child support issues, complex property division, business valuation, separate property tracing, child custody and visitation, and prosecuting and defending domestic violence restraining orders. Michael is also experienced in drafting complex premarital and post-marital agreements.

Michael’s clients appreciate the fact that he handles each of his family law matters with compassion and an analytical approach, while aggressively advocating to advance their cases through trial when necessary. His clients – and their needs – are diverse, ranging from professional athletes and business owners with vast, complex estates and significant assets to middle-class professionals looking for a cost-efficient and effective way to divide their community estate.

Michael has been selected as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” from 2016-2021. Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Background

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.

Practice Areas

• Appellate
• Family Law Counseling & Litigation

Education

• J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law
• B.A., Legal Studies, University of California, Berkeley

Admissions

• California