Chester Family Lawyers

Van (pronounced "Vun") believes that when people retain the firm to represent them, it is our job to do just that - to represent their ideals and goals. To do this effectively, Van believes in a team approach and encourages full participation from clients. She has discovered that when people are given the opportunity to participate in the process, they have a much better understanding of what is going on and thus, are able to make better decisions.

I began practicing law in 1996. Since then, I have helped many clients in Maryland and the District of Columbia with their family law issues, including high-conflict divorces, custody cases involving special needs children, and premarital and postmarital agreements. I am an experienced litigator, but is also a trained Collaborative practitioner and trained mediator.

For the last twelve years I have also represented numerous students and families in education matters, including school discipline in public and private schools, and campus sexual assault, Title IX cases and academic misconduct cases at the college level.

I have been dedicated to practicing family law exclusively for nearly 15 years. I understand that individuals facing divorce or family law disputes seek not only legal guidance but also support. I adopt a proactive and attentive approach in my representation, and my clients recognize my determination, passion, and effectiveness both in and outside the courtroom. As a lifelong resident of Anne Arundel County, I have litigated and negotiated hundreds of family law matters throughout Maryland in both the District and Circuit courts. Besides trial work, I have also represented family law clients in appellate matters at both the Appellate Court...

We are a full service law firm offering customized legal solutions. Our firm represents clients in all aspects of family law, including complex marital dissolution actions, high conflict custody matters, paternity, and non-marital cohabitation cases. We also represent clients in Landlord & Tenant matters, along with a number of other practice areas. We understand that the most successful settlements result from intense trial preparation. Our firm works tirelessly in achieving advantageous results for our clients. We have represented a wide range of individuals, and understand that each client has their own unique circumstances that require creative and customized legal solutions....

Richard Dodd is a seasoned divorce and child custody negotiator and litigator. He is also trained in mediation and collaborative dispute resolution, both of which emphasize clients' self-determination in negotiating settlement terms to provide for equitable parenting access plans and property settlements according to their values and objectives, rather than leaving the outcome to a judge.

Thomas E. Pyles, Esquire, is an accomplished personal injury and criminal defense trial attorney with over 26 years of legal experience. He has a tremendous background in personal injury and criminal defense cases, having tried over 200 jury trials and over 1,000 bench trials. Mr. Pyles has handled complex civil and criminal litigation with outstanding client satisfaction and great professionalism. His reputation, both inside the courtroom and out, have allowed him to be one of the top litigators in this state.

Shayan Modarres is an experienced trial attorney, civil rights activist, and the founder and managing member of The Modarres Law Firm. With law offices in Florida and Maryland, The Modarres Law Firm focuses primarily on civil rights litigation. Over the course of his career as a civil rights attorney in Central Florida, Mr. Modarres has represented clients in a number of high-profile cases and successfully recovered large settlements for victims of police misconduct. Most notably, Mr. Modarres served as a member of the legal team that represented the family of Trayvon Martin. Inspired by his work as a...

Richard S. Lundin's dream of becoming a Washington D.C lawyer started far from the nation's capital, working part-time as a litigation assistant in Phoenix Arizona. It was at Arizona State that Rick graduated with a degree in finance, and later George Washington University where he earned his Juris Doctor. It was also during this time that he worked for federal judge, the Honorable Charles R. Richey, who left a strong impression on Rick's early legal career. It was 1994 when Rick was hired by James Nickelsporn, who later invited him to be his law partner, forming Nickelsporn &...

Alycia Stack has spent her career litigating in Southern Maryland, helping families and children through times of crisis. She concentrates her practice in family law, including divorce, child custody, and adoption. She most recently represented children in the child welfare system, throughout foster care, terminations of parental rights, and adoptions as a Staff Attorney at Maryland Legal Aid. Prior to that she represented victims of domestic violence in peace and protective order proceedings. Alycia has handled over 300 peace and protective order cases and has extensive training in domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and trauma. She is active in...

Tracey Coates is Co-Chair of the firm's Family Law department and a member of its Litigation practice group. In working in the former capacity, she handles a variety of domestic relations matters, including pre-marital agreements, divorce and separation, child custody, child support modification, enforcement of court orders and agreements, adoption, and guardianships. Her clients include all types of individuals and couples, in a wide range of family structures.
Tracey works hard to engage in background conversations with her clients to understand family dynamics and build rapport and trust. She goes into every case with a caring, but realistic approach with her...

Life is full of transitions and turning points. Dealing with change is challenging enough; when change involves legal questions, it can be overwhelming. With the right help, it doesn’t have to be. As a life changes attorney, my goal is to help make the big changes you may face—marriage, divorce, and guardianship—easier. You don’t have to move through major, and sometimes chaotic, life changes alone. I will work with you to identify your needs and goals, explore your options, and give you the legal guidance you need to make informed decisions. You remain in control, with the support...

After many years of practicing family law, and having seen the emotional and financial damage that litigation can cause, I have chosen to focus my practice on healthier ways of resolving disputes such as Collaborative Law, mediation, negotiation, and settlement advocacy. While I represent individual clients, I also assist couples as a neutral mediator. I believe that by focusing on constructive settlement solutions, separating couples are much more likely to make mutually beneficial decisions while preserving valuable financial resources. Whether through Collaborative Law, mediation, or standard negotiation, I help my client stay focused on future goals rather...

I am proud of the many successful outcomes I have obtained for my clients, both in litigating contested matters in the courtroom, as well as in negotiating favorable settlements for them. I am committed to representing my clients’ interests in the most ethical, professional, results-driven, and cost-effective manner possible.

My legal career for the past 11 years has been focused primarily in the area of family law. The other two areas in which I practice are (1) probate and contested estate and trust matters, and (2) collections, judgment enforcement, and civil litigation.

My family law practice covers the full range of divorce,...

Choosing a family lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Nothing matters more than family matters. Your Family Lawyer must have character, emotional range and most important of all, the right temperament. You are looking for an attorney who has the litigation, mediation and accounting skills to win, but you also need an ally you can trust. When you have both, you can feel confident at every turn and every step of the way.

Born and raised in the Baltimore area, Buddy Miles is proud to continue a family tradition of providing professional legal services to individuals and businesses in Baltimore County and throughout Maryland. As a foreclosure trustee and bankruptcy attorney, he is the firm’s contact attorney for creditors requiring foreclosure or bankruptcy services. His practice also includes personal injury, family law, guardianship, DUI defense, traffic ticket defense and collections. At top-25 law school Washington and Lee University, Buddy was on the Moot Court Board, directed the Mock Trial Team and served as treasurer for the Student Bar Association. He served as...

Stephanie Moran is an experienced attorney at Watson & Moran LLC. She is a zealous litigator and negotiator who is dedicated to providing excellent service and legal representation. Ms. Moran's practice areas include Family Law, Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Discrimination, Entertainment Law and Bankruptcy.

Ms. Moran was born in Washington, D.C. She earned her B.A. in 1995 from Howard University, magna cum laude. Her J.D. was obtained at the University of Maryland School of Law in 1998. Additionally, Ms. Moran earned an LL.M., with honors, in 2001 from Georgetown University Law School. Ms. Moran served as Law Clerk to the...

Dana McKee is a partner at Brown Goldstein & Levy and the chair of the firm’s family law practice, which she established in 2002. She handles all aspects of family law, including divorces, separation agreements, paternity, custody and visitation, child support, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and appeals. As a family law attorney, Dana has extensive experience in representing clients with high net worth and those with complex custody and financial issues. She is a tough but fair negotiator who has successfully handled numerous mediations, trials, and appeals.

Dana also is trained and experienced in Collaborative Law (an alternative dispute resolution process)....

Ms. Charles has expertise and experience in family law, wills, trusts and estates, and business law.

She has handled complex family law cases concerning issues of: divorce, alimony, marital property, custody, visitation/access, parental alienation, modification of existing orders, contempt proceedings, protective order proceedings, and child support issues.

In the corporate realm, she works with small and mid-sized companies and assisting them in setting up their business entities as well as representing them in contract negotiations and many other business-related tasks.

Finally, her community involvement is of the utmost importance to her; she believes serving people makes her a better and more effective...

Ross W. Albers graduated from the prestigious University of Baltimore School of Law with a concentration in criminal practice. His passion for the legal system earned him an editorial position on the Law Review.

While attending law school, Ross worked as an insurance adjuster for Travelers Insurance.

After passing the bar exam, Attorney Ross W. Albers left his position as an insurance adjuster and began his legal career as a prosecutor in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. There he prosecuted criminal, DUI, juvenile, and traffic cases in the circuit and district courts of Maryland.

Along with...

Jenna Forman Clothier worked as a law clerk for The Law Office of Alan S. Forman, LLC while attending law school in the evening at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Upon admission to the Bar in Maryland in December 2014, Jenna continued to work at The Law Office of Alan S. Forman as an Associate. Jenna was admitted to the Maryland Bar in December 2014. Her practice includes family law, adoption, and immigration. In 2005, Jenna graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science. She continued...

Benjamin Marcoux joined Houlon, Berman, Bergman, Finci, Levenstein & Skok, LLC in June of 2010. Prior to joining the firm, he worked with the Collaborative Law Group in Ellicott City, Maryland. He served clients in a variety of practice areas including: family, civil litigation, collaborative law, wills and probate, and personal injury. Ben has appeared before judges and masters in Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, Calvert and Worcester counties. While in law school, Ben served as Dean's Fellow to Professor Rice, the former Evidence Master for the AT&T break-up litigation. Ben is a member of the...

Kathleen Wobber helps clients resolve their legal disputes without destroying their families or finances. She practices law in the areas of family law and business, and is a mediator for family and business disputes. Her practice includes the Baltimore and D.C. Metropolitan areas, as well as the Eastern Shore.

Kathleen is the founding partner of Wobber Law Group. The firm's three attorneys and four paralegals are available to handle a range of matters, including family law, business disputes and mediation. The firm philosophy is to manage our client's cases in the most cost-effective manner, utilizing creative legal solutions, including collaborative...

Attorney Hasson Barnes practices in the areas of civil and criminal litigation, with a focus on the following areas: Real Estate, Landlord Tenant, Contract Disputes, Criminal Defense, and Family Law. Attorney Barnes also prepares Wills, Power of Attorneys, Deeds, and Health Care Directives, and has extensive experience as a mediator.

Emily leads our firm’s litigation team, focusing on all aspects of divorce, custody and child support matters. Emily’s favorite place to be, when she’s working, is in the courtroom. She is a seasoned litigator who will tell you that there are few things in life better than a well-executed cross-examination. When she’s not in court, Emily is one of the nicest lawyers you will ever meet. Within the firm she is known for her ability to approach every case with a calm focus that puts her clients at ease. She has earned the well-deserved reputation among her colleagues for...

The National Law Center, George Washington University J.D., with Honors
University of Maryland, BA Major in Government & Politics, Minor in Psychology
Civic, Professional, Foundation and Corporate Affiliations:

Delegate to Democratic National Convention
Campaign Manager for Rep. Michael D. Barnes
Rockville Chamber of Commerce – Past President
National Capital Chapter of MS Society - Board of Trustees, and Past Chair
Shady Grove Hospital Fund Campaign - Major Gift Chair
Montgomery County Bar Association –Chair Judicial Selections; Member of Ethics, Fee Arbitration and Legislation Committees
Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce - Vice President
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce - Liquor Control Evaluation
Rockville Alternative Community Service Commission
Montgomery County Volunteer MS Committee -...

Welcome to Joehl Law where you will find Strong, Compassionate Representation for Your Family Law Needs.

Virginia B. Joehl graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She completed psychological clinical work in family counseling and behavior modification. Afterwards, she pursued her law degree at the University of Baltimore.
Virginia is a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, American Bar Association as well as a Master of the Bench with the Montgomery County Inn of Court. She is a lifelong resident of Maryland, a dedicated Terrapin and an active volunteer...

Bethesda family law attorney Brandon Bernstein provides cost-effective guidance for clients dealing with divorce, custody, property division, and related matters.

Glenn Cooper is the Chair of the firm’s Litigation practice and senior partner in our Family Law practice. He frequently appears before federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels, and before arbitration panels and professional disciplinary boards. No matter whether he is litigating a matter of a business or domestic nature, Glenn aggressively defends his clients’ positions and pursues their desired outcomes. The majority of Glenn Cooper's practice is devoted to complex business, financial, commercial and domestic litigation involving significant business issues.
A number of Glenn's cases have helped shape the current state of the law in...

Michael F. Callahan practices family law, estate planning and elder law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Mr. Callahan is the partner in charge of the firm’s estate planning and elder law practice.
He received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University in 1987, and is a member of the Georgetown Chapter of Order of the Coif. He has practiced law for over thirty years.
He has been named among the top lawyers by Washingtonian Magazine and Maryland Super Lawyers
He lives with his wife, their children from time to time, and their cat in Arlington, Virginia.

Katherine Kole Thompson has been a resident of Harford County for her entire life. Katie graduated cum laude and as a Scholar of the College from Boston College in 1990 with degrees in biology and psychology. While at Boston College, she competed on the varsity swimming team and completed the Boston Marathon in 1990. Katie graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that same year. While attending law school full-time, Katie was a student attorney representing juvenile offenders, served as associate editor for The Business Lawyer Law Journal, and...

A law firm for every day people. The belief of my practice is simple: I represent those who need an attorney but think they can't afford one. I believe in standing up for those who think no one will stand up for them. I give voice to the voiceless. Sometimes things happen. You need an attorney. You think you can't afford one. You can afford Elizabeth Pugliese, Esq.

The law firm of Pare & Assoc., LLC (formerly Law Offices of Alice Pare) is a 10+ attorney law firm with locations in Germantown and Silver Spring. We practice several disciplines, including all aspects of family law, Trusts and Estates, Probate, Criminal Law, Bankruptcy, and consumer protection. We strive for excellence and to counsel our clients to react to their circumstnaces with reason. We do our best to keep our fees low and affordable, and encourage our clients to work toward settlement. When settlement is not possible, then we aggressively pursue our clients goals through litigation. We strive to partner...

Nicole M. Whitaker, owner of Whitaker Legal, LLC, is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law where she teaches Legal Analysis, Research and Writing. After living in Madrid, Spain, Ms. Whitaker speaks Spanish fluently. In her free time, she teaches English as a Second Language for the Community College of Baltimore County.

I joined Silverman Thompson in 2025, bringing with me a wealth of experience in various aspects of family law, including protective orders, contested divorces, and marital settlements. I have consistently secured positive outcomes for my clients through thorough preparation and strong advocacy. My primary focus as a family law attorney is to achieve the most favorable results for my clients. I am recognized for my meticulous research, robust writing skills, and confident presence in the courtroom. My ability to effectively communicate arguments and draft compelling motions has been instrumental in securing final protective orders for victims of abuse and favorable resolutions...