Francis W. Donahue

Frank Donahue is a 1968 graduate of Seton Hall Law School with a Juris Doctorate Degree. He began his career as a judicial law clerk in the Family Part of the New Jersey Superior Court for the 1968-1969 term and, for the past thirty (30) years, he has specialized in Family Law matters, both at the trial and appellate levels.

He has been lead counsel or second chair in seventeen (17) reported decisions, among which are several polestar cases in New Jersey Family Law:

Garlinger v. Garlinger - 137 N.J. Super. 56, (App. Div. 1975) - The first reported decision as to the effect of post-judgment cohabitation on alimony.
Lynn v. Lynn, 165 N.J. Super. 328, (App. Div. 1979) - The first reported decision where a bona fide change in employment resulted in continued child support funded by assets.
Lepis v. Lepis, 83 N.J. 139 (1980) - The landmark Supreme Court decision that fixed the factors and guidelines for post-judgment modification of alimony and child support.
Bowen v. Bowen - 96 N.J. 36 (1984) - The Supreme Court Opinion requiring valuation experts to employ market data knowledge rather than mere formulaic mathematical calculations in valuing businesses.
Matter of Baby M, 217 N.J. Super. 313, (Ch. Div. 1987) - The first reported opinion on the validity and enforceability of surrogate parenting contracts.
Piscopo v. Piscopo, 231 N.J. Super. 576, (Ch. Div. 1988) - The first reported opinion in a divorce action where a value was attributed to celebrity good will.
Orgler v. Orgler, 237 N.J. Super. 342, (App. Div. 1989) - The first reported opinion on the application of potential taxes on appreciated marital assets.
Aronson v. Aronson, 245 N.J. Super. 354, (App. Div. 1991) - The first reported opinion where income from an inheritance was considered a factor in modifying alimony.
Kronberg v. Kronberg, 263 N.J. Super. 632, (Ch. Div. 1993) - The first reported opinion where an incompetent spouse was permitted to sue for divorce through her guardians.
Crews v. Crews, 164 N.J. 11 (2000) - The Supreme Court decision expanding the obligation of the trial courts to fix the marital lifestyle at the time of divorce.
Moriarity v. Bradt, 177 N.J. 84 (2003) - The first case addressed by the New Jersey Supreme Court on grandparental visitation after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Troxel v. Grandville.

In addition to his trial and appellate work, Mr. Donahue is a frequent lecturer and author on Family Law issues and is the Founder and First President of the New Jersey Family Law Inn of Court which is, with the Miami Family Law Inn of Court, the first Inn specializing in family law chartered by the American Inns of Court in the United States.

Mr. Donahue is a frequent lecturer for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, The New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, state and local Bar Associations. He has been a guest lecturer at law schools, Court T.V. and Miller's Court. A sample of his speaking engagements is as follows:

Lectures:

Legal Education:

The New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association "Boardwalk Seminar " 1998/1999
Institute of Continuing Legal Education
1991 Family Law Symposium - Appellate Practice
1991 Dialogues on Children in the Courtroom
1992 - Equitable Distribution Update
1992 - Mock Trial of Economic Issues
1993 - Family Law Symposium - Confronting the Child as a Witness
1995 - Family Law Symposium - Children as Witnesses
1995 - "Walkthrough" of Expert's Valuation
1995 - The Top 40: Matrimonial Law's Greatest Hits
1996 - Family Law Institute: Use of a Trial Notebook
1998 - American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers-Expert Valuations

State Bar Associations

New Jersey State Bar Association
Essex County Bar Association Bench/Bar
New York State Bar Association
Virginia State Bar Association
West Virginia State Bar Association
Law Schools
University of Delaware Law School
Georgetown University Law School
New York Law School
University of Baltimore Law School

In addition to articles for local publications including the New Jersey Law Journal and the New Jersey Family Lawyer, Mr. Donahue has been published in:

New Jersey Family Law Practice, Eighth Edition - Custody Chapter
Fair Share, The Matrimonial Law Monthly, Valuation of Professional Practices and Licenses - "Celebrity Good Will"
American Journal of Trial Advocacy - "Trying Equitable Distribution Can Be Trying".

Special Award:

The Essex County Bar Association awarded Mr. Donahue the Family Law Attorney Achievement Award on April 5, 1995.

Professional Associations:

American Bar Association Family Law Section
New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Section - past member of the Executive Committee
Essex County Bar Association - Past Chair and Current Member of the Family Law Executive Committee
Bergen County Bar Association - Current Member of the Family Law Executive Committee
America Inns of Court - Master, Founder, First President and current Vice-President of the New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court Chapter
American Trial Lawyers Association - Member of the New Jersey Chapter

Education

Seton Hall University B.A. 1965
Seton Hall University School of Law J.D. 1968