Harry Fain
Encyclopedia
Harry Fain was an American family law
attorney who represented clients such as Priscilla Presley
, Lee Majors
, Rod Steiger
and Marguerite Simpson, the first wife of O.J. Simpson. In 1966, the California Governor
Pat Brown
appointed Fain to a Governor's Commission on the Family to study changes in law related to the family. The recommendations of the commission played a significant role in the passage of California
's Family Law Act of 1970 introducing no-fault divorce
.
but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After graduating from high school, Fain went to the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and represented UCLA in soccer. He joined the United States Army Air Force where he worked in military intelligence
. He studied law at the University of Southern California
in 1946.
For most of his career, Fain practiced family law
in Beverly Hills, California
. He divorced his first wife, Shirley Fain, in the early 1950s and eventually succeeded in obtaining custody of their three young children after it had initially been granted to his ex-wife. His position as an advocate of fathers rights and his support for the decision of custody
being granted in the best interests of the children dates from that time.
covering all of California
. The 1970 Family Law Act was based, in part, on its recommendations.
and Priscilla Presley in 1973 as well as working for Cary Grant
, Ali McGraw, Rod Steiger, Lee Majors and Marguerite Simpson.
Fain was a founder and president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Fain died from pneumonia
in July 2007.
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
attorney who represented clients such as Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley
Priscilla Presley is an American actress and businesswoman. She is the ex-wife of singer Elvis Presley, and the mother of singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley....
, Lee Majors
Lee Majors
Lee Majors is an American television, film and voice actor, best known for his starring role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man and as Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy ....
, Rod Steiger
Rod Steiger
Rodney Stephen "Rod" Steiger was an Academy Award-winning American actor known for his performances in such films as On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, Oklahoma!, The Harder They Fall, Across the Bridge, The Pawnbroker, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and Waterloo as well as the...
and Marguerite Simpson, the first wife of O.J. Simpson. In 1966, the California Governor
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
Pat Brown
Pat Brown
Edmund Gerald "Pat" Brown, Sr. was the 32nd Governor of California, serving from 1959 to 1967, and the father of current Governor of California Jerry Brown.-Background:...
appointed Fain to a Governor's Commission on the Family to study changes in law related to the family. The recommendations of the commission played a significant role in the passage of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Family Law Act of 1970 introducing no-fault divorce
No-fault divorce
No-fault divorce is a divorce in which the dissolution of a marriage requires neither a showing of wrong-doing of either party nor any evidentiary proceedings at all...
.
Early life and career
Fain was born in Canora, SaskatchewanCanora, Saskatchewan
Canora is a town located at the junction of highways No. 5 and 9 in east-central Saskatchewan, north of the city of Yorkton. Centrally located on the corners of four adjacent rural municipalities, the community is home to approximately 2,400 residents and draws upon a substantial trading area...
but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After graduating from high school, Fain went to the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) and represented UCLA in soccer. He joined the United States Army Air Force where he worked in military intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
. He studied law at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1946.
For most of his career, Fain practiced family law
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
. He divorced his first wife, Shirley Fain, in the early 1950s and eventually succeeded in obtaining custody of their three young children after it had initially been granted to his ex-wife. His position as an advocate of fathers rights and his support for the decision of custody
Child custody
Child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.Following ratification of the United...
being granted in the best interests of the children dates from that time.
Governor's Commission on the Family
Governor Pat Brown appointed Fain as one of the members of the Governor's Commission on the Family in 1966. The Commission recommended several significant changes to California family law including no-fault divorce, an equal division of property in marriage and a family courtFamily court
A family court is a court convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law, such as custody of children. In common-law jurisdictions "family courts" are statutory creations primarily dealing with equitable matters devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction, such as a...
covering all of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The 1970 Family Law Act was based, in part, on its recommendations.
High profile family lawyer
Fain became a principal of Fain, Lavine, Kaufman and Young in Beverly Hills. He represented many high profile individuals in family law matters. Fain negotiated a $1.5 million settlement between Elvis PresleyElvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and Priscilla Presley in 1973 as well as working for Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
, Ali McGraw, Rod Steiger, Lee Majors and Marguerite Simpson.
Fain was a founder and president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Fain died from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in July 2007.