Mark Oakley

Mark W. Oakley is an established litigation attorney concentrating on civil litigation, personal injury, construction law, and criminal and traffic defense. He also advises business clients, negotiates and drafts contracts, and handles a variety of litigation matters at all levels of the state and federal court systems. Mr. Oakley is trained and certified in the collaborative practice of law. Mr. Oakley is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1987), and the University of Maryland, College Park (B.A. 1984). He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Bar Association of Montgomery County. He is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Authored the winning brief in the case of 1986 Mercedes v. State of Maryland, a precedent-setting decision limiting the State’s power to forfeit private property.

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Visa, MasterCard, Discover
• Contingent Fees
  I handle personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis, meaning if there is no recovery, you do not owe me a legal fee.

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 1989

Maryland

Since 1988

University of Maryland - Baltimore

J.D. (1987) | Law

1984 - 1987

University of Maryland - College Park

B.A. (1984) | English

1980 - 1984

District of Columbia Bar

Member

1989 - Current

Maryland State Bar Association

Member

1988 - Current

Bar Association of Montgomery County

Member

1988 - Current

Q. Accused of fraud by executor over gifted money.

June 26, 2025

A: Basically, there's nothing to do unless and until your uncle does something--either sues you for return of the money, files a criminal charge for elder financial abuse/theft, or attempts to reduce your inheritance by the $2,500. At that point, you need to be prepared to respond with a lawyer if necessary.

Q. Arrested for shoplifting, awaiting citation, diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder. What to expect?

June 26, 2025

A: Definitely hire a lawyer. You should be eligible for a diversion arrangement, where you perform community service hours in exchange for dismissal of the case. That deal is worked out with the prosecutor's office, and you should have a lawyer handle that negotiation to make the best arrangements for you. Once the case is dismissed, you will be eligible for a full expungement of the charge and will have no criminal record.

Q. Is a simple living trust enough for our house to avoid issues for our children in Maryland?

June 2, 2025

A: “Simple” is not an adjective I would ordinarily use for a living trust, or any trust for that matter, but yes, a living trust is one option that can address your concerns, but a lot more expensive one than a typical Will, which can accomplish the same result much more cheaply and without that much more trouble in the event of you and your spouse’s simultaneous sudden deaths by accident. That latter result seems a low probability outcome to base a decision on whether to use a trust or not. There are good reasons depending on your assets and circumstances to have a living trust in place, and an unlikely simultaneous death does not rise very far up on the list of reasons. I would recommend you first have a consultation about your estate planning needs and concerns, and then with guidance, select the best options for your situation. ... Read More