John Weaver's unique family law expertise combines his over 25 years experience as a family law attorney and his recent six years of service as a full-time Family Division Master in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. The breadth and depth of Mr. Weaver's public service experience is extremely rare among attorneys engaged in the active practice of family law and he brings this vast experience to bear in adeptly addressing his clients' domestic relations matters. Mr.Weaver has received Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest rating: AV.
Negotiation, Mediation, and Collaborative Divorce John Weaver is a skilled negotiator, and he has been trained in both mediation and collaborative divorce alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Mr. Weaver applies his negotiation and mediation knowledge and expertise to prepare, educate, and assist clients in their consideration and pursuit of settlement alternatives besides litigation where practicable.Mr. Weaver is an experienced mediator who is designated on the Circuit Court for Montgomery County's approved list of mediators for court-ordered referrals in divorce actions. In 2010, Mr. Weaver completed the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Family Law Arbitration Training, ABA Commercial Law Arbitration Training and the Pepperdine Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution Advanced Mediation Training.
Realistic Expectations John Weaver's familiarity with divorce litigation and the dispute settlement process from both sides of the bench has given him a unique perspective and understanding of what constitutes efficient, effective and persuasive trial advocacy and what leads to successful alternative dispute resolution that protects and preserves important interests of clients. Mr. Weaver seeks to provide clients with knowledgeable counsel, realistic expectations, and effective quality assistance in resolving their family law matters whether inside the courtroom or the conference room.
Trial and Appellate Advocacy John Weaver has a passion for oral and written client advocacy. He has written more than twenty appellate briefs and argued cases before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, resulting in three reported appellate decisions about significant family law issues: Das v. Das, 133 Md. App. 1 (2000) (divorce grounds); Guarino v. Guarino, 112 Md. App. 1 (1996) (pendente lite alimony); and Rogers v. Rogers, 80 Md. App. 575 (1989) (marital property, indefinite alimony, marital debt, attorneys fees).
Continuing Legal Education Writer and Speaker John Weaver is also a prolific writer and regular speaker on family law matters. He has written extensively and presented Continuing Legal Education seminars on alimony, child custody, child support, pleadings and divorce grounds, property settlement agreements, discovery methods, domestic violence, pendente lite financial matters, taking exceptions from Master's recommendations, evidentiary issues, ethics, parent coordinators, representing children in custody proceedings, "A View from the Bench," "Master Weaver's Toolbox," and other substantive topics. Since 1993 he has written or compiled, edited and updated the 500+ pages comprising the Montgomery County, Maryland Bar Foundation's practical and successful Rita Rosenkrantz Basic Family Law Training course. Mr. Weaver is current chair of the Bar Association of Montgomery County Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee (2012-).
Bar Association Service John Weaver is actively involved in the Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland. He was named 1993-1994 "Section Chair of the Year" for his Family Law Section service, and he has been the recipient of the 2001 Annual Pro Bono Service Award, 1994 Pro Bono Program Individual and law firm awards, as well as the 1996 Bar Association President's Citation for Outstanding Service to the Bar. Mr. Weaver has twice been elected to serve two-year terms on the Executive Committee (2011-2013; and 2001-2003), and he was a member of the Bench-Bar Committee for three years. Mr. Weaver is a "Bencher" member of the Montgomery County chapter of American Inns of Court, and he was a member of the multi-disciplinary Montgomery County Divorce Roundtable while a Family Division Master, serving as President (2004-2005).Mr. Weaver is a member of the Family Law Sections of the Maryland State Bar Association and American Bar Association, and serves as a member of the ABA Section of International Law Task Force on International Parental Child Abduction Mediation.
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Law Office of John S. Weaver 51 Monroe Street, Suite 701, Rockville, MD 20850 PHONE: (301) 424-7207; FAX: 1-301-368-2477
