The Academy
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers was founded in 1962, by highly regarded domestic
relations
attorneys “To encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the
cause of
matrimonial law, to the end that the welfare of the family and society be protected.” There are
currently
almost 1600 Fellows in 50 states.
The Academy Fellows are highly skilled negotiators and litigators who represent individuals in
all facets
of family law. These areas include divorce, annulment, prenuptial agreements, postnuptial
agreements, marital
settlement agreements, child custody and visitation, business valuations, property valuations and
division,
alimony, child support and other family law issues.
To be represented by a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is to be
represented by a
leading practitioner in the field of family law. The 1600 AAML Fellows across the United States are
generally
recognized by judges and attorneys as preeminent family law practitioners with a high level of
knowledge,
skill and integrity. Academy Fellows enjoy a reputation for professionalism, competence and
integrity.
The Academy is led by President James Hennenhoefer of Vista, CA, a
nationally recognized expert in family law.
Hennenhoefer has held many leadership positions in the AAML and in other lawyers‘
organizations. In 1998, he was selected by the Southern California Chapter of the AAML as the Family Law
Person of the Year in the state of California. In addition, he has been a Chair for several organizations
including the California State Bar Family Law Section, the State Bar of California Council Section and
various committees for the AAML and International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
“I am truly honored to have this opportunity to lead the nation‘s finest
attorneys,” said Hennenhoefer. “The AAML has always strived to set higher standards for
matrimonial law. As president, I look forward to further extending the group‘s efforts and dedicating
my time to ensure that the practice of family law continues to reach new levels of excellence.”
The Academy maintains an active leadership role throughout the nation. The Academy has
undertaken many
important projects and published handbooks and articles, including:
Family law is both dynamic and complex. A competent family law attorney must know not only the
state
divorce laws but also state and federal laws in related fields such as tax, property, estates,
retirement and
insurance. No area of the law has a greater enduring impact on client lives than that of family
law.
Representation by an AAML Fellow is representation by one of the most qualified family law
attorneys in the
country.
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