John Weaver's unique family law expertise combines his 35 years experience as a family law attorney including six years of service as a full-time Family Magistrate in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County (2001-2007). 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, and is listed in Maryland Super Lawyers (2015-present), Bethesda Magazine's 2019, 2021, & 2023 biennial "Top Attorneys" recognition in appellate practice, as well as 2019 in mediation. Mr. Weaver is the author of The Seven Principles of Just Divorce: Biblical Wisdom and Legal Insight, published in 2020.
Litigation Experience John Weaver is a proficient Maryland trial and appellate attorney who has handled important family law disputes in contested matters, including: divorce; alimony and alimony modification and termination; property division, including retirement benefits, transfer of real property and personal property; monetary award; child custody and visitation; child support; modification of child custody, visitation, and child support; parental relocation in child custody; validity, interpretation, and enforcement of marital settlement agreements; and other important famiy law matters.
John Weaver is a skilled negotiator, and he has been trained in mediation, arbitration 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. Mr. Weaver completed the ABA International Family Law Mediation Training, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Family Law Arbitration Training, ABA Commercial Law Arbitration Training, Pepperdine Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution Advanced Mediation Training. Member, ABA Section of International Law Task Force on International Parental Child Abduction Mediation, 2011- 2017.
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 handled more than thirty-five family law appeals and argued cases before the Appellate Court of Maryland and Supreme Court of Maryland, resulting in six reported appellate decisions about significant family law issues: Lasko v. Lasko, 245 Md. App. 70 (2020) (sufficiency of a request for a division of retirement benefits in a pleading);Santo v. Santo, 448 Md. 620 (2016) (joint legal custody, allocation of tie-breaking decision-making authority); Tshiani v. Tshiani, 466 Md. 255 (2013) (comity, proof of valid marriage); Das v. Das, 133 Md. App. 1 (2000) (divorce grounds; default proceedings); 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, Speaker, and Author 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, alimony modification, child custody, modification and relocation, child custody relocation - non-Hague cases, child support, pleadings and divorce grounds, property settlement agreements, appellate practice, preserving the trial record for appeal, discovery methods, domestic violence, pendente lite financial matters (including attorneys' fees and suit money), "Obtaining Attorneys' Fees and Suit Money in a Family Law Case," “Evidence for the Family Law Practitioner: Expert Witnesses,” taking exceptions from Magistrate's recommendations, evidentiary issues, ethics, parent coordinators, representing children in custody proceedings, "A View from the Bench," "Master Weaver's Toolbox," limited scope representation, and other substantive topics. Since 1993 he has written or compiled, edited and updated the 600+ pages comprising the Montgomery County, Maryland Bar Foundation's practical and successful Rita Rosenkrantz Basic Family Law Training course. Mr. Weaver served as chair of the Bar Association of Montgomery County Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee (2012-2015), and Family Law Section CLE chair/co-chair (2013-present). Author of The Seven Principles of Just Divorce: Biblical Wisdom and Legal Insight, published in 2020.
Bar Association Service John Weaver is actively involved in the Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland. He was named "Section Chair of the Year" (1993-1994) for his Family Law Section service, and he has been the recipient of the Annual Pro Bono Service Award (2001), Pro Bono Program Individual and law firm awards (1994), as well as the Bar Association/Bar Foundation's President's Citation for Outstanding Service to the Bar (1996; 2015; 2017). Mr. Weaver has twice been elected to serve two-year terms on the Executive Committee (2011-2013; and 2001-2003), is a "Bar Leader," and 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 Magistrate, 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 served on the ABA Section of International Law Task Force on International Parental Child Abduction Mediation, and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).
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John S. Weaver, Esquire
Law Office of John S. Weaver One Research Court, Rockville, MD 20850
