Top Best Family Lawyers | 21169 Available

I focus my practice on family law but have broad experience with various civil and criminal matters.  I help my clients determine their goals and then help them achieve them in the most appropriate manner.

I grew up in a family restaurant business.  It was early on that I learned the value of customer service.  I have incorporated that into my law office.  We offer free consultations for most cases, simply call us with your legal matter and we will advise you whether your issue qualifies.  I have a full support staff that is friendly and as important intelligent.  We try to work together as a team to achieve the best results for our clients.  Come in and meet with me, at the least, you will leave our meeting having a very good understanding of your legal options.. Thank you,. Matt Woermer, Esq.

Li-Shann Durst is a family law attorney, certified by the Virginia Supreme Court as a mediator, and she is a trained collaborative divorce practitioner. Li-Shann has a passion for families and has served individuals from diverse backgrounds and economic circumstances. She has advised clients on various family law matters pertaining to divorce such as custody, parenting time, property distribution, and support. She has negotiated and drafted marital settlement agreements and represented clients in court hearings.. Previously, Mrs. Durst worked in the area of finance. She brings her experience in finance to inform her decisions in family law matters. Mrs. Durst provides well-informed, prudent advice to her clients, with the sensitivity and compassion they deserve during one of life's most challenging season.. Having been a litigator, Mrs. Durst now turns her attention to resolving family law issues using mediation and collaborative practice. She strongly believes that mediation and collaborative practice provide families an alternative to litigation that is more dignified.

For over a decade, Sarah Bruns has been aggressively protecting the rights of her clients in Northern Virginia in matters of Family Law, Criminal Defense, and Drunk Driving (DUI/DWI) Defense.. As a seasoned trial attorney, Sarah has defended individuals charged with Murder, Rape, Robbery, Theft, and Drug Possession/Distribution. While some crimes carry more severe penalties than others, Sarah handles every client’s case knowing that it is the most important one for that client. She believes that no client should be treated as if their issue is of little consequence.. Sarah’s practice also extends to Family Law cases, including Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Child Support, Protective Orders, Child Protective Services, and Child Abuse and Neglect cases. Her experience in litigation is an asset to her clients in the courtroom; yet she also believes in the value of out-of-court client counseling and a zealous negotiation. Her clients can trust that she has the skills to advocate for them both in and out of the courtroom.. Sarah has been qualified to serve as a Guardian ad Litem for children in the Loudoun County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. In this role, she ensures that the interests of the most vulnerable are not forgotten.. At the outset of her career, Sarah clerked for the Honorable William D. Hamblen in the Circuit Court of Prince William County (31st Judicial Circuit). There, she learned firsthand what a judge expects regarding professional behavior and effective advocacy. Sarah continues to use this insight to make winning arguments for her clients.. Sarah believes that bettering herself and the community benefits everyone, especially her clients. She spends her spare time volunteering within and outside of the legal community. She is an Officer and a member of the Board of Directors for the Loudoun Community Cat Coalition, a prominent local 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization. She also fosters cats and kittens and goes out in the field to engage in TNR (trap, neuter, release). If you have some spare time, ask her about it, she’d love to tell you all about it. Sarah is also a mentor for the Thomas D. Horne Leadership in the Law Summer Camp, and routinely signs up for volunteer experiences as they become available. Sarah is an avid cyclist and can been seen along the W&OD trail and the many gravel roads of Loudoun County.

I have been an attorney for approximately 24 years.  I was first licensed to practice in Alabama in 1990.  In 2012, I received my license to practice in Arkansas.  My practice is general in nature, meaning that I work for clients in the fields of domestic relations, criminal defense, dependency/neglect, juvenile delinquency, civil litigation (personal injury, medical malpractice, employment law, civil rights matters), Probate Matters and Appellate work.. My relocation to Arkansas does not mean that I have abandoned my business in Alabama.  Working with WMDR (the law firm of Wallace, Martin, Duke and Russell, PLLC), I have the flexibility to work between states.

Hi There!. I am an ambitious attorney that is dedicated to making legal services accessible to all.  I practice family law, including divorce SAPCR, motions to Modify Custody Orders, motions to Enforce Custody Orders, and other actions.. I am an active member of the Dallas Bar Association.  In my free time, I volunteer for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program helping those in need of legal assistance.

Ann W. Jamieson first joined Higdon, Hardy and Zuflacht, LLP as a law clerk in 2011 while she was attending St. Mary's University School of Law. In addition to clerking at HHZ, Ann was an Associate Editor of The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice. She was also a member of Phi Delta Phi, the International Legal Honor Society, and she was the recipient of the Pro Bono Certificate for her dedication to community service. Ann graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law and joined HHZ as an Associate Attorney in 2013. Prior to attending law school, Ann participated in the Teach For America program where she taught elementary school to children for two years in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her experience working closely with families in need led her to pursue a career in family law. Ann has published articles and regularly speaks at seminars across the state regarding HIPAA in the practice of law and evidence and predicate issues.  In 2024, she became Board Certified in Family Law and Partner at Higdon, Hardy and Zuflacht, LLP.

Mr. Butler has been part of the Texas legal system for his entire life. From a family of attorneys and elected judges, Mr. Butler believes the practice of law is based on hard work, faith, and personal client relationships. Originally from Bonham, Texas, Mr. Butler is a former Bexar County Assistant District attorney, a former intern for the Honorable Emilio M. Garza of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and a former Staff Writer for the St. Mary’s University School of Law Journal.. Mr. Butler is an experienced courtroom advocate and trial attorney, trying numerous cases in front of Texas juries and jurists.. Awards & Accolades. Named one of S.A. Scene’s 2016 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Family LawNamed one of S.A. Scene’s 2015 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Family LawNamed one of S.A. Scene’s 2014 “Best S.A. Lawyers” – Criminal Law

I have the experience and judgment necessary to find practical solutions to meet your personal, financial, and emotional needs.  I will fight for you to get you the results you deserve.

I am a dedicated family law attorney with over two decades of experience serving client in Tennessee. Since beginning to practice in 2002 I have built a reputation for skilled courtroom litigation and a compassionate approach to guiding clients through life-changing legal matters. I have a deep commitment to provide my clients peace and clarity to their future. I help individuals and families navigate complex legal challenges and lay the groundwork for a stable future. I am passionate about advocacy and justice and take pride in helping clients start anew with confidence and a solid foundation.

I have been practicing law in Middle Tennessee since 1999. My middle Tennessee roots run deep. I am proud to say that I have lived in this region the past thirty-eight years and my family even longer. My father, Wayne Belcher was born on a tobacco farm on the northern part of Wilson County. The farm straddled the Wilson and Trousdale county line in the Providence community. The Belcher family lived on that farm for over 200 years. My father attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Hartsville in 1965. My father has run a successful CPA practice in Mt. Juliet for the past 30 years.. My Mother, the former Darnell Russell was raised in the southeastern part of Wilson County in Watertown. Like my father, my Mother too lived on a tobacco farm. She cheered and played basketball for the Purple Tigers graduating from Watertown in 1968. My Great Aunts, Lou Alice Gwaltney and Minnie Belle Winfree ran the five and dime store in Watertown for many years. Both my uncles, Bill and Don Russell were newsboys when you still delivered newspapers on bicycles. Our family still maintains a cemetery in the Poplar Hill community that began just after the Civil War. My parents were married at Round Lick Baptist Church in 1969 where my Grandfather, Prentice Russell served as the Sunday School Superintendent and my Grandmother, Sarah Russell sang in the choir.. After my father graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1973, he obtained his first job at the accounting firm of Ernst and Ernst in Hermitage. My parents were looking to live in a town close to my father’s job and close to both my grandparents. Mt. Juliet was the perfect spot (in the middle). Mt. Juliet was a wonderful place to grow up. I am the oldest of three children who all graduated from Mt. Juliet High School. My brother, Travis Belcher graduated in 1993 and my sister, Sarah Beth Belcher (Blevins) graduated in 1998. The summers included swimming and playing tennis at Langford Farms Club. Sports were a huge part of my youth. I played Phil King football in the fall for the Mt. Juliet Bears; I played basketball in the winter in the West Wilson Basketball League; and I played baseball in the summer at the Mt. Juliet Little League.. For twelve years I attended Mt. Juliet public schools. I lived so close to school that I was able to walk to Mt. Juliet Elementary. Those were the days when you could safely cross Mt. Juliet Road without the threat of being run over. Mt. Juliet only had one red light located at the intersection of Mt. Juliet Road and Lebanon Road. Fast food meant the Superburger at the interstate; retail was the M&M’s Five and Dime; Dixie Drugs was were you filled your prescriptions; and Charlie Daniels Day was the event of the year.. My brother and I were very rambunctious children. My Mother’s solution for maintaining her sanity was for us to attend every vacation bible school that was offered in Mt. Juliet. We made the VBS circuit every summer. We attended Mt. Juliet First Baptist Church, Mt. Juliet Church of Christ, Cloyd’s Presbyterian Church, St. Paul’s United Methodist and any other church that would have us. I guess a fella can never have too much religion.. After High School, I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I always knew that I would return to Mt. Juliet, so for Law School I went on my three-year adventure to the northeast. I attended law school in Boston at New England Law. I even worked in the summers as an usher at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox.. My stint in New England was wonderful, but I missed my hometown. After law school, I immediately returned to Mt. Juliet. I had always wanted to own a farm. At that time the farms in Mt. Juliet were becoming scarce. After a diligent search I found a small farm on the north side of town that was perfect. I then constructed a log cabin that we still use today.. There was no doubt that I wanted to work in Wilson County. Establishing my law practice became my focus. In 2002, I purchased the former home of my elementary school principal, Paul and Carol Thomas. The home is a bungalow style residence built sometime in the mid 1920’s that sits right in the heart of Mt. Juliet. As a child I visited the home on numerous occasions and it felt like the perfect spot to house my law practice. Over the past 11 years at that location, I have had the pleasure of serving a community that has served me so well over the years.. Not too long after that, I met my wonderful wife, the former Susan Guthrie. She was raised in a small community on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tennessee called Big Lick (that really is the name). I have two stepchildren who both graduated from Mt. Juliet High School. Ryne Gipson was three-year letterman on the Mt. Juliet football team and is currently enrolled at Tennessee Tech University. This spring Katie Gipson will be graduating with honors from Mt. Juliet High School and will be attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. We have two children together, Atticus and Iris. Atticus will be entering 2nd grade at W.A. Wright Elementary and currently enjoys playing soccer and cub scouting. This fall Iris will be starting kindergarten at W.A. Wright Elementary. She enjoys playing softball and gymnastics.. I have been involved in many chartiable causes. I was privileged to serve as the chair for the West Wilson County/Mt. Juliet Senior Citizen board. I have served as the District Chair for the Boys Scouts in the Hermitage District. I am also a current member and past chairman of the Mt. Juliet YMCA. I am also a current representative on the Middle Tennessee Youth Council. I am a 3rd Degree Master Mason in Mt. Juliet Lodge 642. I have coached baseball and softball at the Mt. Juliet League. In addition, I have served as a Trustee at Providence United Methodist located in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. I believe that one should support the community in which one lives.. People are just discovering what us natives have known for a long time, Mt. Juliet is a great place to be. Mt. Juliet has changed dramatically in the past 40 years. We now have shopping malls, restaurants, and a movie theater, but some things remain the same. Mt. Juliet continues to be a great place to work and raise a family. I understand that people have many choices. Please consider our office.

Ariel Baniowski is a managing partner at Livesay & Myers, P.C., practicing exclusively family law. She is experienced in handling every type of family law matter in Virginia, including separation, divorce, custody and support cases. Ms. Baniowski works in the firm’s Ashburn office, and represents clients in Leesburg, Ashburn, Loudoun County, and all across Northern Virginia.. Ms. Baniowski is known as one of the more aggressive attorneys at Livesay & Myers, P.C., and has litigated every type of family law matter in Virginia, including custody, support, separation and high asset divorce cases.. Ms. Baniowski’s work ethic and drive are unmatched. To say that she is a hard worker is an understatement. Ms. Baniowski worked as a family law paralegal at a law firm in Fairfax for five years while she went through college and then law school. She also worked as a research assistant to a family law professor while completing her third year of law school and continuing to work in a law firm.. Ms. Baniowski’s proactive litigation style, work ethic and extensive knowledge of family law combine to serve her clients extremely well. Ms. Baniowski’s satisfied clients have written some truly exceptional and heartfelt reviews expressing their thanks for her work on their behalf (see Client Reviews below).. Ms. Baniowski was selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2024–2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for her work in Family Law. Prior to that, Ms. Baniowski was included in the 2021–2023 editions of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for her work in Family Law. She has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2015. Ms. Baniowski currently holds a perfect 10.0 rating from both Avvo and Justia.. Ariel Baniowski resides with her husband and two children in Loudoun County.

Ryan Shellady is an attorney with a focus in family law. He has a strong background helping families navigate difficult circumstances and is passionate about connecting with his clients while providing quality legal advice.. Prior to joining Bray & Klockau, P.L.C, he served as a domestic relations attorney for a mid-sized firm in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a mid-sized family law firm in Colorado. Additional experience came while serving as an associate for a Des Moines firm and as a law clerk at The Family Defense Center in Chicago, IL. Ryan has also volunteered for Kids First Law Clinic, providing workshops for children whose parents are going through divorce.. Ryan was raised in Washington and Johnson Counties. He earned his undergraduate degree, with high distinction, in ethics and public policy from the University of Iowa. He then went on to earn his JD, with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2019.