Matthew O’Donnell

Matthew O’Donnell is a Menlo Park estate planning attorney whose work focuses on protecting assets, avoiding unnecessary probate, and preparing for incapacity and long-term care needs. He has practiced for more than 30 years and has helped over 5,000 families plan their estates. Matthew assists individuals, couples, partners, older adults, and families caring for people with disabilities. His practice includes trusts and estate planning strategies intended to protect beneficiaries while reducing the risk of court involvement during major life changes.

Matthew earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College in 1977 and completed his J.D. in 1981. He began his career as a litigator before moving into estate planning and elder law, influenced by his work with senior organizations. His legal and business training supports estate decisions involving tax exposure, property transfers, public benefits, and family financial arrangements. He has developed that education further through extensive teaching on estate planning and elder law.

Matthew advises on wills, trusts, probate avoidance, estate tax issues, and planning for long-term care benefits. He also helps elderly clients and people with special needs address eligibility for public assistance and the protection of assets. His approach emphasizes planning for incapacity as well as death, with particular attention to spouses, partners, surviving children, and other beneficiaries. In addition to direct client representation, he has taught estate and elder law to attorneys, caregivers, professionals, and community members.

Matthew O’Donnell is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He received the William F. Taylor Memorial Award for service as an instructor with California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform and previously served on that organization’s board. His teaching includes educational programs for attorneys and the public. By combining client work with instruction on elder law, he supports informed estate and care decisions for families facing complicated circumstances.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, O’Donnell & Associates – Attorneys at Law
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Former Board Member, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform
• Contract Attorney, Family Caregivers Alliance

Licensed State

• California

Education

• San Francisco Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Saint Mary’s College of California
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges