Mary A. Stearns-Montgomery
Partner
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: (678) 905-8492
Fax: (770) 426-1809
Email: Email Me
Recipient of Georgia Trend's 2005, 2007, 2009 Legal Elite Award
Founder Mary Stearns-Montgomery has been practicing family law for more than 22 years. After starting her career at a general practice law firm, Mary decided to pursue her entrepreneurial dream of building a practice of her own. After her initial success, Mary began adding associates in 1997 and the practice expanded rapidly. Although her team is much larger today, Mary still remains involved in all cases, facilitating a unique team approach that provides clients with more creative solutions and more attorney access. Clients find her to be assertive and determined as she vigorously fights for their rights and goals, but also compassionate and practical in her approach to reaching conclusion through the confusion. In fact, many of Mary’s referrals are from “the other side of the table,” where those individuals have developed a respect for Mary’s tenacity and integrity.
Mary enjoys mentoring other attorneys, within her firm as well as within the Atlanta community. She also stays actively involved in the community as a volunteer for organizations such as 100 Women Against Domestic Violence, the Cobb Justice Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. Mary is the Chairperson of the ACS Silent Auction Committee, raising thousands of dollars each year by auctioning off everything from Michael Vick helmets to East Hampton vacation homes. When not fighting for clients or causes, Mary fights for the lead in the family sport -- motocross.
Areas of Practice:
- Family Law
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Legitimation
- Paternity
- Prenuptial Agreements
- Adoption
- Divorce or Separation
- Alimony and Spousal Support
- Modification
- Contempt
- Certification/Specialties:
- Collaborative Law, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, 2005
- Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 1987
- Georgia, 1988
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1989
- Georgia Court of Appeals, 1988
- Supreme Court of Georgia, 1988
- Education:
- Nova University Center for the Study of Law, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 1987
J.D. - State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY, 1983
Bachelor of Science - Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY, 1981
Associates Degree - Criminal Justice - Representative Cases:
- Hayes v. Hayes, 199 Ga. App.132 (1991)
- Swanson v. Swanson, 276 Ga. 566, 580 S.E.2d 526 (2003)
- Classes/Seminars Taught:
- The Battles of House Bill 221, Cobb County Bar Association, December 9, 2005
- Advanced Depositions, Lorman Education Services, September 8, 2006
- Child Support Guidelines Training, Putting it into Practice, Cobb County Bar Association, December 8, 2006
- Getting Off on the Right Foot-Practice Management for Starting and Growing a Law Practice, Cobb County Bar Association Younger Lawyers Division, February 16, 2007
- Georgia's New Child Custody Law HB369: Parenting Plans Skills Training, 2007
- Honors and Awards:
- Georgia Trend's Legal Elite, 2005, 2007, 2009
- Family Law President of Cobb County Bar Association, 2005 - 2006
- Chairperson, Cobb Justice Foundation, 2006 - Present
- Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Atlanta Bar Association, Family Law Section
- Cobb County Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- Georgia Association of Women Lawyers
- Cobb County Chamber of Commerce- Member
- Association of Family, Court and Community Professions (AFCC)- Member
- Forms Subcommittee of the Georgia Child Support Guidelines Commission, 2005 - 2006
- Member, Training Task Force of the Georgia Child Support Commission, 2006 - 2007
- Pro Bono Activities:
- Pro Bono Project of the State Bar of Georgia, 2004
- Pro Se Clinic, Cobb Legal Aid Volunteer
- 100 Plus Women Against Domestic Violence Fundraiser January 2010
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