Hon. Verna Adams (Ret.) is a nationally recognized expert in mediation and adjudication of complex family law and probate cases. Judge Adams has devoted her career to justice, equity, and pioneering systemic change in the family law and probate arenas. Judge Adams recognizes the power of non-monetary settlement terms and strives to identify creative solutions tailored to each family’s unique needs. Her ability to distill complex issues into manageable solutions, coupled with her steadfast commitment to fairness and efficiency, makes her an invaluable resource for those seeking a resolution outside of the courtroom. In this episode, Judge Adams shares the story of a married couple, who also owned a successful business, going through a highly contentious dissolution of their marriage and possibly their business. A process for resolution that began as a marital settlement conference before Judge Adams morphed into a complex probate mediation conducted by the now-retired judge. Listen and learn how her depth of knowledge about the mediation process and the law led the parties to resolution.
Appointed to the bench in 1999, Judge Adams served in every division of the court—criminal, civil, probate, and juvenile—but her most impactful contributions were made during her 14-year tenure in the Marin Unified Family Law Court and eight years in Probate. As Supervising Judge of those divisions and as Presiding Judge of the Marin County Superior Court, she distinguished herself as an innovative, compassionate, and effective judge.
As a mediator, Judge Adams is particularly sought after for complex family law and probate matters, including high-conflict custody issues, characterization and division of assets, support disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, contested conservatorships, financial elder abuse, trust and estate accounting disputes, real property transfers, trust contests, trust administration disputes, and will contests.
With an unparalleled depth of experience, Judge Adams brings a rare combination of legal expertise, human understanding, and a pragmatic approach to settlement. She understands that resolving family law matters is about more than just the legal outcome—it’s about preserving relationships, fostering stability, and ensuring that all parties feel heard and respected. Judge Adams’ approach is grounded in the belief that virtually every case can be resolved with the right preparation, patience, and perspective. To accomplish this, she prioritizes pre-mediation engagement with the parties through pre-conferences in order to uncover obstacles and set the tone for collaboration. She listens deeply, encourages the parties to articulate their true concerns—including those that may not appear in pleadings—and uses techniques like whiteboard visualization and mediator’s recommendations to facilitate resolution.
Her diligence, coupled with her unwavering dedication to helping families move forward, results in outcomes that are not only effective but lasting.
Judge Verna Adams may be contacted through her Case Manager, Kathleen Emma, at (415) 772-0900 or by email at [email protected], or directly by email at [email protected].
