Domestic Relations Practice Group

Shulman Rogers has recently expanded its practice in the area of family law and has established its Domestic Relations Practice Group to further serve the needs of our clients in a large range of family and individual matters. With the increasing complexity and diversity of family and other relationships and the attendant financial, emotional and legal issues that can arise in these areas, Shulman Rogers is uniquely qualified to assist our clients when they find the need to seek such advice.

Planning Issues

As you contemplate entering into a marriage or as a result of issues that develop during a marriage or other long-term relationship, it is often necessary to memorialize agreements regarding finances, property, custody and other issues. These agreements include:

-- Pre-Nuptial Agreements

-- Domestic Partnership Agreements

-- Post-Nuptial Agreements

-- Reconciliation Agreements

-- Modifications of Separation and Property Settlement Agreements

-- Custody Modifications

If you are having a child join your family, either through adoption, surrogacy, or other arrangements, we can also assist in negotiating through some of the legal issues that may confront you during this emotional process. We also can assist in preparing the necessary documents and representing clients in court proceedings as appropriate for these important events including:

-- Adoption

-- Surrogacy Agreements

-- Fertility Arrangements

Shulman Rogers can also provide referrals to a host of well-respected professionals in related fields, including therapists, accountants, and financial planners. As a law firm, we understand that your needs are not limited to legal documents or court proceedings, but rather can include the need for many other professional services when confronting planning issues related to your family. We can be a resource to assist you in fulfilling these needs.

Dispute Resolution and Mediation Services

Unfortunately, some individuals and families find that they must confront conflicts that require dispute resolution, either in the form of a negotiated settlement, mediation, or court litigation. We have a team of seasoned attorneys who will assist you in resolving disputes as appropriate in your personal situation. It may be best to try a negotiated approach that results in a settlement agreement or, at times, aggressive litigation and trial are required. We pride ourselves on assisting you in deciding how best to resolve your dispute, then providing the professional legal assistance you need in implementing that strategy. The services that we provide in this area include counseling and litigation services for disputes involving:

-- Divorce

-- Alimony and other forms of support

-- Child support

-- Child custody

-- Separation and Property Settlement Agreements

-- Guardianships

-- Visitation

-- Paternity

-- Distribution and/or use of assets

-- Preservation of and avoidance in dissipation of assets

-- Modifications of separation and property settlement agreements

-- Custody modifications

-- Domestic violence or other civil disputes involving families

Our attorneys also provide impartial mediation services for persons who wish to attempt to achieve mutually acceptable resolution to disputes without court intervention.

Related Legal Services

To complement the legal services our Domestic Relations Practice Group can provide, our law firm has a wide range of practice groups and attorneys who can assist with other legal needs that may arise in conjunction with a family matter including:

-- Trusts and estates planning, including elder law issues

-- Asset protection and bankruptcy

-- Corporate formation or dissolution

-- Real estate settlements

-- Immigration

Members of Our Team

The members of our Domestic Relations Practice Group have decades of combined experience to assist our clients with the issues they confront in the family arena. Members of our group are well-respected by the courts in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia and have been appointed as counsel to both minors and adults in family-related disputes.

We pride ourselves on providing legal services particularly tailored to your needs which are always unique to each family situation. We understand that many of the issues you confront in this area will have a profound impact on you and your families for years to come and time and attention must be spent to properly address them. Moreover, we are sensitive to understanding when negotiation, settlement or mediation are appropriate and when there is no option but to pursue court action. We will discuss all of these options and issues with you carefully so that you may make an appropriate and informed decision that is best for you, your family and your future.

The members of our Domestic Relations Practice Group include:

                                             Morton A. Faller                    Mimi L. Magyar

                                             Kim Viti Fiorentino                James Hoffman

                                             Sandy David Baron               Heather L. Howard

You may review our website further to obtain specific biographical information on each of these attorneys.

We know that the family issues you confront can be joyous or difficult, so it is critical to select the right counsel to assist you with these matters. We look forward to the opportunity to speak with you about the issues you are facing and to assist you with the important decisions you must resolve.