An Award-Winning, Women-Owned & Operated Law Firm

Family Law

Compassionate family law attorneys in DC, Maryland and Virginia who aim to relieve your stress so you can focus on your future.

Overview

When you’re facing an emotional, complex, or life-changing family situation, you need family law attorneys who will be responsive, listen to your concerns, understand your goals, and provide experienced counsel about strategy and legal options. 

Geller Law Group attorneys have decades of family law experience and a reputation for achieving optimal results for our clients with the highest level of integrity, respect, and civility. We proactively identify obstacles you may face in your matter and work diligently to obtain the best possible outcome while protecting you financially. 

Our goal is always to find an amicable solution for each matter, but as experienced trial lawyers, we are also prepared to fight for you in court. Rest assured, you can count on Geller Law Group family law attorneys to address your specific situation and strategize all options to put your mind at ease through life’s toughest challenges. 

Recently, The Geller Law Group was a “Top-Vote Getter” as “The Best Family Law Practice” in Arlington Magazine. Several attorneys in our Family Law Practice also have been recognized as “Legal Elite” in DC and Virginia, as well as “Rising Stars” by Super Lawyers.

From Our Team

“I can identify with the challenges my clients face while experiencing the stress of separation and divorce. My job is to help guide them through the legal pitfalls and carefully navigate the process so my clients’ interests are well represented.”

– Maria Simon, Managing Partner

Related Practices

Separation & Divorce

Many clients come to us without any knowledge about the processes or legalities of separation and divorce. The process can be confusing, but we are here to help you understand the steps. During this time, it is essential to work with a family law team that has the skills and experience with complex matters to protect your interests as divorce is incredibly personal and fact-specific to each client – there is no one solution that applies to everyone.  

Our family law attorneys will work with you to create and execute a plan that effectively manages the challenges that come with ending a marriage, such as separating finances and transitioning to one income, sharing parenting responsibilities, and dividing property, among others. We take the time to listen to your concerns and proactively guide you through every aspect of your matter.

Mediation

At The Geller Law Group, we understand that navigating family law issues can be a challenging and emotionally draining process. That’s why we’re proud to offer mediation services as an alternative to traditional litigation. Let’s take a closer look at what mediation entails, the benefits it offers, and the role mediators play in the process.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary, confidential, and non-adversarial process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, facilitates discussions between parties to help them reach a mutually acceptable agreement. In family law, this method can be particularly effective in resolving disagreements related to separation, divorce, child custody, and support arrangements.

Benefits of Mediation

Choosing mediation comes with numerous benefits, including:

  • Cost-effectiveness: Mediation typically costs less than traditional court proceedings due to the reduced need for extensive attorney fees and court expenses.
  • Control and creativity: Mediation allows parties involved to maintain control over the outcome of their case and explore creative solutions best suited to their unique circumstances.
  • Speedy resolution: Mediation typically takes less time than litigation, as parties can avoid lengthy court processes and reach agreements more efficiently.
  • Preserving relationships: By promoting mutual understanding and cooperation, mediation can help maintain amicable relationships, which is especially important when children are involved.

Role of Mediators: What They Can and Cannot Do

Mediators play a critical role in the mediation process, but their responsibilities have clear limitations. Here’s what they can and cannot do:

Can do: Mediators facilitate discussions, provide legal information (but not advice), and help the parties explore various options for resolving their issues. They ensure that both parties have a fair chance to express their views and concerns.

Cannot do: Mediators cannot take sides or offer legal advice to either party. They don’t decide the outcome of the case, as the responsibility of reaching the agreement lies solely with the parties involved. Additionally, while mediators advise on the law, they cannot determine legal rights for the parties.

At The Geller Law Group, our experienced mediators are committed to assisting you through the often-tumultuous process of family law mediation, guiding you toward finding a balanced and fair resolution. 

Contact us today to discuss how we can help you navigate the complexities of family law mediation with professionalism and compassion.

See related: Mastering Family Law Mediation: An Effective Roadmap for Striking a Balance

Pre- & Post-Nuptial Agreements

A prenuptial (prenup) agreement is a legal contract between two people about to get married that details what happens to finances, property, and other assets in the event of divorce, separation, or death. 

A postnuptial (postnup) agreement is similar to a prenuptial agreement in that they both outline the division of assets in the event of divorce, separation, or death, but postnuptial agreements are created after a marriage has begun.  

Entering into a prenup or postnup can significantly simplify and lessen the expense of divorce and estate administration, as deciding who gets what when emotions are running high due to an impending divorce or when grieving can be complicated and costly. These marital contracts eliminate most of the decision-making in these circumstances and give spouses peace of mind knowing how their property, income, assets, and inheritance plans will be handled in the event of separation, divorce or death of a spouse.

Child Custody

When couples with minor children are facing divorce, one of the most emotional aspects is child custody. We often receive questions such as: where will the child/children live after the divorce, what is the difference between legal and physical custody, who will be  primarily responsible for making important parental decisions (i.e. health, education, and welfare), and do judges tend to favor either parent.  

There are many factors that are considered in a child custody case but the best interest of the child is what is required to be considered by the court. Such considerations include:

  • Preferences of the parents
  • Preferences of the child/children
  • The child’s/children’s needs
  • Mental and physical health of all parties involved
  • The willingness of parents to work together for the best interest of the child/children
  • Distance between the parents’ residences
  • Family history of physical violence or abuse

There are several different variations of custody and our attorneys are ready and willing to think outside the box and work with you to devise an arrangement that works for your family.

Child Support

Child support can be an area of contention for many couples navigating through divorce. Our family law team helps clients achieve fair child support agreements that meet the needs of the child/children and parents.

In Virginia and D.C. child support is calculated in a formulaic manner. The calculation takes into consideration each parent’s gross (before tax) income from all sources, the percent of time each party has the child/children, the number of children involved, and the cost of health insurance and work-related childcare. There are other variables depending on the matter, that could ultimately affect the amount of child support awarded.

When facing child custody and support issues, our compassionate family law attorneys will thoroughly explain all options to you and keep you updated on the progress of your case every step of the way to help you and your child/children move forward.

Adoption

We assist with second-parent adoptions and non-traditional adoptions known as step-parent or close relative adoptions.  

Second parent adoptions are recommended for married same-sex couples with children born of one of the marriages to one of the couple. Even though both parents are now allowed to be placed on the birth certificate, it is wise to also have a court order declaring the non-biological parent to have adopted the child, so that legally, they have the rights and responsibilities of biological parents under the Full Faith & Credit Clause of the United States Constitution regardless of where they live or future changes in the law.

When a stepparent becomes a significant figure in a child’s life, he or she may want to adopt the stepchild. Or a close relative may have a blood relative child in their custody, perhaps if the child’s parents are unable to care for the child or are deceased. 

In these types of adoptions, Virginia allows such parties after meeting the requirements found in the Virginia Code and petitioning the court, to obtain the rights and responsibilities of a biological parent. 

Our Family Law attorneys love helping with adoptions and seeing families grow.

Assisted Reproductive Technology & Surrogacy

Families are created in various ways, and due to developments in assisted reproductive technologies, more and more couples are able to begin families. Egg and/or sperm donation, embryo donation and transfers into gestational carriers and surrogates are some options for assisted reproduction.  

This is an expanding and rapidly changing area of the law as new technology and procedures are discovered. The law on these issues varies greatly from state to state.  

We help intended parents, surrogate or gestational carriers, donors with their role in the intended assisted reproduction.

Collaborative Law

Many married couples desire to resolve disputes without litigation. Collaborative law sometimes referred to as a “peaceful divorce” and “no-court” divorce allows individuals to work with counsel and other professionals to support the couple through the separation and divorce process without going to court. 

In addition to each spouse having a collaboratively trained attorney, the couple can use child and financial specialists to aid in reaching creative solutions to the family’s individual needs. Instead of spending the much-needed financial resources of the family in court posturing and asserting positions, the family’s resources are used to evaluate, address, and find reasonable and creative solutions to each person’s concerns and desires. 

What to consider about Collaborative Law:

  1. Talk with your spouse. Both parties must agree to the collaborative process and be represented by collaboratively trained attorneys.
  2. Both parties will sign a Collaborative Divorce Participation Agreement, promising not to file in court while they are negotiating.
  3. The collaborative attorneys are retained for the sole purpose of negotiating a settlement through the collaborative law process. Therefore, if litigation is initiated neither counsel can represent their clients in contested litigation. 
  4. Collaborative law is not without emotion but the process requires that the parties treat one another and can be honest about all matters.  

Collaborative law is not just about divorce. It can be used for all issues related to the family, including:

  1. Separation
  2. Custody or visitation
  3. Child Support
  4. Spousal Support
  5. Amending child or spousal support
  6. Post-Divorce matters and enforcement issues

I hired The Geller Law Group (Laurie Neff, Deborah Boddie and Chandra S.) to represent me in my divorce case. They’re extremely professional, client service-focused, knowledgeable and remarkable. The outcome was excellent and exceptional job. The firm is outstanding. I would highly recommend The Geller Law Group to anyone needing family law representation in Virginia, Washington DC and Maryland area. Best family law firm in the whole wide world!

– Shadrach M.

I worked with the Geller Law Group on a family law matter, and cannot recommend them more highly. Everyone I interacted with was professional and responsive, and the value of the service received is top notch. In particular, Maria Simon navigated a difficult and often emotional divorce for me with a skillful knowledge of the law, guiding me through every question and concern with kindness, while strongly advocating for the best outcome for me and my family.

– Alexandra Jones

Laurie Neff and her team were spot on with the entire process of my divorce. Even during COVID, they responded quickly with professionalism and impeccable knowledge and expertise. I felt extremely well taken care of and secure with their assistance. Hire this team!!

– Gwen Yandall

Laurie Forbes Neff was absolutely brilliant in how she handled my divorce. Rachel Rubenstein was fantastic in her support and preparation, as well as her clear and concise presentation to the court. I can not offer a stronger recommendation, they were simply fantastic!

– Jennifer L.

I used The Gellar Law group for my year long divorce and custody battle and wouldn’t have gone with any other group. Maria and Rachel were really wonderful to work with. They always responded quickly to any questions or concerns I had, were supportive and helpful when I got nervous or anxious, and after understanding my financial situation, worked with me on payment plans and were able to offer discounts. You can tell that they are both passionate about the work they do and want what’s best for their clients. I’m really appreciative of all the time and energy they put into my trial and will miss communicating with them on a frequent basis 🙂 If I happen to come across another legal situation (hopefully I never do!) I wouldn’t think twice about calling up Maria and Rachel for support. They are the best!

– Molly I.

I hired the Geller Law Group to help me navigate a difficult divorce. Laurie’s understanding, patience and perseverance were invaluable in bringing a positive conclusion to a very distressing situation. I would recommend this group to anyone needing a fair and supportive advocate.

– Denise R.

Laurie Neff has done a great job working with me on my divorce. Her personal experience in the military helped her to understand the complex issues and emotions that add to the stress of divorce. She kept my best interests front and center without making it about sticking it to anyone. I especially appreciate her advice to not give in for less than I was due just to get to the end of a painful process. I highly recommend her services. Thanks Laurie!

– Julie Hielen

Stephanie Sauer has been representing me on a custody/divorce case prior to moving over to the Geller Law Group, and must say, she has been wonderful! I did my research and had talk to several other attorneys before hiring her to work on my case. It started off as a “simple” case because I didn’t seek out anything in the divorce. However, it became more complicated over time – I dropped off a 3in binder of information at one point (haha) – and Stephanie and her team have been both professional and patient throughout the whole process.I never had doubts that she wouldn’t be able to pull through. She and her team took her time with me and my case, working deligently to ensure we approach everything appropriately.They were prompt with communication – even in my most stressful times – and never once made me feel uncomfortable. Even with her transition over to this firm, she and the Geller Law Group made sure that the process was smooth.Should I ever come across any future family law concerns (let’s hope not), I would absolutely hire her again. Thank you again, Stephanie Sauer!!!

– Charlene Phan

I highly recommend the Geller law group. Above all, the confidence I had in my lawyer was the most valuable part for me. Every time I spoke to Laurie, she knew exactly how to handle my concerns and gave me a quick, thorough response and always laid out several options with backup plans. I feel when going through something as challenging as a divorce, where every situation is unique, it’s important to have someone who can think on their feet and who knows not only the law but the people aspect of the transaction. The peace of mind that Laurie offered as well as her personable nature really got me through this process in the best way.

– Tazeen Q.

Maria Simon and everyone at Geller Law Group thoughtfully guided me through the very difficult divorce process. The combination of expertise and genuine personal attention is invaluable when life does not go as planned. Maria was my attorney and “therapist”! I recommend the Geller Law Group to everyone. Thank you for all you help!

– suzqdelaney

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The information contained in this website is provided to users for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor is the transmission or receipt of such information intended to create an attorney-client relationship between any Geller Law Group member and the user. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each client and case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of retained legal counsel. Your continued use of this website constitutes your acceptance of this disclaimer and acknowledgement that under no circumstances shall The Geller Law Group be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential or any other damages arising out of or in any way connected with use of this website.

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The information contained in this website is provided to users for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor is the transmission or receipt of such information intended to create an attorney-client relationship between any Geller Law Group member and the user. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each client and case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of retained legal counsel. Your continued use of this website constitutes your acceptance of this disclaimer and acknowledgement that under no circumstances shall The Geller Law Group be liable for any direct, indirect, special, consequential or any other damages arising out of or in any way connected with use of this website.