Phone: 301-668-3222
Email: Familylawmd@aol.com
Take a deep breath, and grab a seat and get something to drink. Now, take another deep breath; you’re probably a little overwrought. Divorce and custody disputes are stressful; next to death, they are the most stressful events in most people’s lives. Even though it may not seem like it now, you will survive the experience. I’m sure of it, because I've been there. I know, you want more than that. You want to know you and your children will be all right, that your life beyond this period will be what you need it to be. You want to know you will have enough money to live and to retire. You need someone to explain the process and your options so you can create acceptable solutions in order to attain closure with the past and so you and your children can move forward into the future productively and in a healthy way. That's where I come in. I'll help you decide what process works best for you and your family: collaborative divorce, mediation, negotiation, or litigation. Process really does determine your outcome, so choosing the right process means so much. Then, we'll work together so that you can make informed decisions as you restructure your family and your life.
Choosing the right lawyer is an intensely personal decision. Your lawyer needs to be someone with whom you feel comfortable sharing your most personal secrets. They need to be open to learning about your family dynamics, because you are the expert in that area. They need to make you feel safe and protected. They need to share your philosophy of how to resolve conflicts. To help you decide whether I would be the right lawyer for you, read the "Our Firm" section of this webpage.
Facts about me as a legal professional:
- Practicing exclusively in the area of Family Law in Maryland since 1994
- Adjunct Professor of Law,Collaborative Law, University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law
- Past chair of the Bar Association of Montgomery County Family Law Section
- Past chair of the Maryland Collaborative Practice Council and the Collaborative Dispute Resolution Professionals
- Family Law Facilitator (Mediator), Montgomery County Circuit Court
- Court Appointed Mediator, Frederick and Montgomery County Circuit Courts
- Trained Parent Coordinator
- Trainer in Collaborative Practice with Collaborative Practice Training Institute
- Member of the Bar Associations of Montgomery County and Frederick County, Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Association of Collaborative Professionals, Collaborative Dispute Resolution Professionals, Association of Collaborative Professionals, Maryland Collaborative Practice Council
- Current co-chair of the Bar Association of Montgomery County Fee Dispute Resolution Committee
- Past vice-chair of the Child Support Committee of the American Bar Association Family Law Section
- Graduate of the American Bar Association Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute
- University of Richmond, B.A., Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1980
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Law Review, Order of the Coif, 1988