Achieving Our Clients’ Objectives, Efficiently And Strategically

Hire The Firm Lawyers Hire

Biography

In 2023, Mark E. Minyard received the Orange County Bar Association's Franklin G. West Award, the OCBA's highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law. In 2023, Mark was selected by the Daily Journal as the only Orange County lawyer listed as a Top 20 Family Law attorney in the State of California.  

In 2024, Mark E. Minyard was appointed to the Orange County Collaborative Courts Foundation. The foundation provides support and services to the participants in the five programs to assist them in overcoming obstacles and become productive members of society. The programs include the following: Mental Health courts, Homeless Outreach court, DUI court, Veterans court, and Adult Drug court.

His reputation, extensive experience, and proven track record in family law has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer since 2004, an honor given to the top 5% of Southern California lawyers, and as a Top 50 Lawyer (out of approximately 17,000 lawyers) in Orange County each year since 2004. Mark has been recognized as a Top 100 lawyer in Southern California out of 67,000 lawyers since 2019. Mark has been listed as one of the best family law lawyers in America by Best Lawyers in America - each year since 2003 and was named Orange County Family Law Lawyer of the Year in 2009 and 2016 by Best Lawyers in America.

Mark is one of only three family law attorneys in California who are Fellows in the American College of Trial Lawyers, was ranked by Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Lawyers and is listed in the LawDragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers national publication.

Mark is AV Preeminent Rated (the highest rating) by Martindale.com, and has been listed in the Preeminent Bar Registry for over 35 years and is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

In 2009, the Anti-Defamation League awarded Mark the Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence award which is presented for significant contributions to the community and the legal profession.

Mark is the Founding and Managing Partner of Minyard Morris and limits his practice to Orange County Family Law matters.

Education

  • Loyola University, Los Angeles, California
    • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence

Professional Associations

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association’s Masters Division (2011 – present) and President 2019
  • Served on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association
  • Member of the Orange County Bar Association
  • Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Member of the American Bar Association
  • Member of the State Bar of California

Lectures

  • Mark Minyard authored the articles, “Family Law Courts – A Call for Effective Change,” “A plea to implement prior recommendations to family law courts,” Family law as a training ground the need for reevaluation,” and “Solutions for a broken family law system” for The Daily Journal
  • Mark E. Minyard authored article for OC Lawyer Magazine, “Ten Years After the Elkins Task Force, Judicial Openings Remain”
  • Mark E. Minyard co-authored “Toxic Stress on Children in High Conflict Divorces, Judicial Vacancies Remain” article with Judge David Belz for OC Lawyer Magazine
  • Lectured at Chapman University Fowler School of Law on Complex Family Law Matter (2023)
  • From Consult to Trial - Demystifying the Preservation, Collection and Presentation of ESI in Family Law: Co-sponsored by the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists and Levitt & Quinn Public Law Center
  • Panelist - Family Law - Business Law Crossover Issues - J.A.M.S. / Orange County
  • Guest lecturer - UCI School of Law on Family Law Discovery
  • Panelist - American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers on Life Insurance Issues in Family Law and Valuation of Difficult and Unique Assets

Activities, Accolades & Honors

  • Received the 2023 Orange County Bar Association's Franklin G. West Award, the OCBA's highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law
  • Selected by the Daily Journal in 2023 as the only Orange County lawyer listed as a Top 20 Family Law attorney in California
  • Served on the Orange County Bar Association’s Finance Committee in 2023
  • Served as a member of the Board of Trustees (2005 to 2019) of Project Youth OCBF where he held the positions of President and Treasurer
  • Served as Board of Directors of the Public Law Center of Orange County (2005 to 2019)
  • Served as Board of Directors of the Orange County Bar Association's Charitable Fund
  • Served on the Executive Committee of the Orange County Bar Association's Family Law Section
  • Best Lawyers in America - U.S. News & World Report - Orange County Family Law Lawyer of the Year 2009 and 2016
  • Super Lawyers Top 100 Southern California Lawyer (out of 67,000) 2019 to 2024
  • Super Lawyers Top 50 Orange County Lawyers (out of 17,000 lawyers) 2004 to 2024
  • Listed in Best Lawyer - U.S. News/World Report Orange County – Family Law 2003 to 2024
  • Stand for Justice Pro Bono Service Award (2016) - Levitt & Quinn
  • Chambers HNW Listing since 2019
  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers (USA) 2020 and 2023
  • Voices for Justice Lifetime Achievement Award (2015) - Legal Aid Society of Orange County
  • Samuel W. Barnes Award (2014) - Orange County Bar Foundation’s highest honor presented annually to an individual
  • AV Peer Review Rated (the highest rating) by Martindale.com
  • Listed in the Preeminent Bar Registry for 25 years
  • The only Orange County lawyer appointed by the State of California's Judicial Council to serve on the Elkins Family Law Task Force from (2008-2010)
  • Anti-Defamation League's Marcus M. Kaufman Jurisprudence Award (2009)
  • Distinguished Orange County Alumnus Award from Loyola Law School (2005)
  • Spirit Award The Legal Aid Society of Orange County (2007)
  • Orange County Bar Foundation’s Society of Fellows’ Distinguished Fellow’s Award (first recipient) - (2009)
  • Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers (Only Orange County Active Family Law Attorney)
  • Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Life Fellow of The American Bar Foundation
  • Founding Fellow of the Society of Fellows of the Orange County Bar Foundation
  • President Master's Division of Orange County Bar Association Committee: Investment, Audit, Publications (2019)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated (the highest rating) and listed in the Preeminent Bar Registry for over 25 years

Practice Areas

  • Family Law

Certified Legal Specialties

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