Lorilee DeSantis

Lorilee DeSantis is an attorney whose passion for helping families protect their loved ones and their assets shines through to all who work with her. Lorilee’s clients often comment that her ability to deeply listen and understand their concerns makes it very easy for them to talk to her about difficult subjects. Her clients also appreciate that Lorilee explains complex legal concepts in ways that are easy to digest so that clients fully understand their legal options. Lorilee’s dedication to helping people with family-oriented legal issues stems from personal experiences. When Lorilee was growing up, she saw numerous extended family members tear each other apart while arguing over money and sibling rivalries. She felt this was a terrible thing to happen to a family, and relationships might have been saved if proper estate planning had been done to prevent such arguments. Lorilee is also keenly aware of the emotions people feel when they go through a divorce – such as anger, regret, resentment, shame, relief, and fear – because she experienced a divorce before she attended law school. These experiences motivated her to practice family law and estate planning because these legal fields are where Lorilee feels she can most effectively empower her clients to move forward in life, confident that their children and their assets will be protected to the best of their abilities. Lorilee is a strong believer in giving back to the community. She has volunteered at the Family Law Facilitator’s Office where she has helped under-privileged, self-represented individuals prepare pleadings for divorces and legal separations. In honor of her dedication, the Sonoma County Superior Court presented Lorilee with the Pro Bono Award in 2012. Through her Rotary club, Lorilee has also helped feed local homeless children and raise money for breast cancer research. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Lorilee worked in the financial services industry.

Golden Gate University School of Law

J.D. (2007) | Law

2004 - 2007

Honors: Graduated in top 5% of class with High Honors, Dean's List, Merit Scholar

Activities: Honors Lawyering Program; law clerk at California Attorney General's Office defending against appeals filed by convicted felons; law clerk at San Francisco District Attorney's Office where Lorilee responded to motions and assisted in a misdemeanor trial.

University of California - Davis

B.A. (1999) | International Relations

1995 - 1999

Awarded the Outstanding Performance Citation in International Relations for ranking top in the class of students majoring in International Relations; awarded the U.C. Davis Washington Center Undergraduate Research Award for analysis of the economic and political causes of the Mexican currency crisis of the mid 1990s; published "The Hong Kong Triangle: An Assessment of Sino-British Relations Concerning Hong Kong" in Prized Writing Journal for analysis of the economic and political history between China, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong and the anticipated changes the world can expect to see in Hong Kong after the 1997 transition back to Chinese control.

Honors: Graduated in top 4% of class with High Honors, Dean's List

Activities: Research clerk at the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration in Washington, D.C. in 1998.

Attorney

Law Offices of Lorilee DeSantis

2014 - Current

Family Law - Lorilee and her team members prepare all of the paperwork for the court (including pleadings, motions, settlement agreements and proposed court orders). Lorilee also represents clients at all mediations, depositions, court hearings and trials. Estate Planning - Lorilee and her team members prepare customized estate plans using tools like wills, revocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, and advance health care directives. The team also assists executors and trustees with their responsibilities by preparing or reviewing documents for the court and distributing property to heirs or beneficiaries.

Volunteer

Family Law Facilitator's Office

2011 - 2013

Assisted self-represented individuals with preparing pleadings and motions for divorces, legal separations and child custody disputes; taught a weekly class about how to file for divorce.

Associate

Edward Lai and Aaron Hancock, Attorneys

2007 - 2009

General civil litigation including preparing pleadings, propounding and responding to discovery demands, taking and defending depositions, arguing motions in court, and representing clients at mediation and settlement conferences.

The Hong Kong Triangle - An Assessment of Sino-British Relations Concerning Hong Kong

Prized Writing Journal

June, 1997

Estate Planning 101: What is estate planning, why is it important, and what happens if you don't do it, 3333 Mendocino Ave., Suite 202, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

October 20, 2015

Law Offices of Lorilee DeSantis

Pro Bono Award

Sonoma County Superior Court

2012

Awarded the Sonoma County Superior Court Pro Bono Award in honor of the legal services Lorilee provided to low-income individuals who were not represented by attorneys but still needed help navigating divorces and child custody disputes.

Outstanding Performance Citation in International Relations

University of California - Davis

1999

Awarded the Outstanding Performance Citation in International Relations for being the top student earning a B.A. in International Relations.

U.C. Davis Washington Center Undergraduate Research Award

University of California - Davis

1998

Awarded the U.C. Davis Washington Center Undergraduate Research Award for research on the economic and political causes of the Mexican currency crisis of the mid-1990s.

Sonoma County Professional Women

Vice President

2014 - Current

Activities: The purpose of Sonoma County Professional Women is to provide a forum for local professional women to support one another and learn from one another how they can improve themselves professionally and personally. The members of this organization are also dedicated to helping the community by mentoring young girls and participating in local fundraising events.

Sonoma County Bar Association

2011 - Current

State Bar of California  # 251195

Member

2007 - Current

California

Since 2007

9th Circuit

Since 2007

• Credit Cards Accepted