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Biography

Michael A. Morris was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Michael was named Best Family Law Lawyer of the Year - Orange County in 2013 and 2018 by Best Lawyers in America. He has been listed as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers in America Orange County - Family Law since 2007 and by Super Lawyers each year since 2004. Michael is also listed in Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers (USA) - 2020. 

He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.) and Western State University (J.D.). He is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Michael is a Partner at Minyard Morris and limits his practice to Orange County Family Law matters. 

Education

  • Western State University College of Law, Fullerton, California
    • J.D.
  • University of California, Los Angeles, California
    • B.A.

​Activities, Accolades & Honors

  • 2018 OneOC Spirit of Volunteerism Award
  • AV Peer Review Rated (the highest rating) by Martindale.com
  • AVVO Rated 10 out of 10 (Superb) - Orange County Family Law
  • Best Lawyers in America - "Orange County Family Lawyer of the Year" for 2013 and 2018
  • Listed in Best Lawyers in America each year since 2007 - Orange County Family Law
  • Listed as a Super Lawyer each year since 2004 - Orange County Family Law
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers (USA) (2020)

Professional Associations

  • Co-Chair of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Family Law Spring Retreat (2016)
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Serves on the Board of Directors of Human Options whose mission it is to break the cycle of domestic violence
  • Member of the Orange County Bar Association
  • Member of the State Bar of California
  • Founding Fellow of the Society of Fellows of the Orange County Bar Foundation
  • Elected to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Board of Directors (2007 - 2012)
  • Past President of the Southern California Section of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2012 - 2013)

Classes & Seminars

  • Michael Morris Participated as a panelist on "Permanent Spousal Support...the Price of Love" Sponsored by the ACFLS. The Co-Panelists were Commissioner David Weinberg (Ret.), Andrew Hunt, CPA & Saul Gelbart, Esq
  • Michael A. Morris served as Co-Dean of the 2019 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Trial Advocacy Institute, "In the Boardroom," on Executive Compensation
  • ACFLS Trial Tech: Trial Technique Training Workshop at Whittier Law School - 2018
  • Michael A. Morris moderates a panel of Orange and Los Angeles County judges at "As Family Court Judges See It: Top Mistakes Attorneys Make In Litigation Divorce" Seminar
  • Served as Co-dean of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fourteenth Annual Institute of Family Law Trial Advocacy
  • Continuing Education courses on Fundamentals of Family Law
  • “Me and My Shadow (Partner and Associates)” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Family Law for Social Workers, Counselors and Other Helping Professionals
  • Child Custody and Visitation in California Family Law
  • Recent Developments in California Family Law (California Education of the Bar)
  • Family Law Issues for Public Law Center of Orange County
  • Mediation: The Art of Facilitating Settlement at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law at Pepperdine University

Published Works

  • Co-authored Ethical Issues Involving Minor’s Counsel in Family Law, published in the O.C. Lawyer

Representative Cases

  • Marriage of Schulze (1997) 60 Cal.App.4th 519

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Specialist in Family Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Practice Areas

  • Family Law
  • Family Law Mediation

Bar Admission

  • California, 1982