Who I Am and What I Do
I am a central Pennsylvania native. I have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Shippensburg University, a Master’s degree in psychology from Penn State and my law degree from the Widener University School of Law. I opened my own law practice in July 2013 after working at a larger firm in Harrisburg for eleven years. I am admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. I am a member of the Cumberland and Dauphin County Bar Associations. I was the 2013 chairperson of the family law section of the Dauphin County Bar Association and the President of the Collaborative Professionals of Central Pennsylvania in 2012 and 2013. I have represented clients throughout Pennsylvania, and primarily work with individuals from Carlisle, Harrisburg, Hershey, York and surrounding central Pennsylvania communities.
I represent individuals experiencing a separation or divorce. I prepare and review prenuptial agreements, midnuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. I also prepare estate planning documents such as wills, powers of attorney, living wills and trusts and help individuals administer estates when someone passes away. I represent clients as an attorney and I am also an experienced mediator, helping couples and families to resolve conflicts. My goal is to address my clients’ needs in the most effective and efficient manner to maximize the benefit and control the costs. I want my clients to appreciate the work I have done for them and enthusiastically recommend my services to their friends and family members who need legal help.
I prefer to help my divorce and other family law and estate administration clients resolve their problems in a private, respectful process that minimizes the negative effects of divorce or other relationship change on themselves and their children. I emphasize helping my clients maintain a positive relationship with their spouse, partner or other family members during and after my involvement. I strongly believe that individuals achieve the best outcomes by investing their time, money and energy in a purposeful way to reach win-win agreements without court intervention. Experiencing a divorce or handling the estate of a loved one who has passed can cause great stress for families so I strive to minimize that stress for my clients, while offering creative solutions based on each family’s specific circumstances. I encourage communication between divorcing parents, which allows them to continue jointly raising their children in a cooperative way and helps them serve as positive role models to their children.
I strongly recommend that my clients use the court process (litigation) as a last resort and make determined efforts to resolve conflicts by agreement if possible. At the same time, I am experienced in litigation and will use the court process if that is the only option. My job is to help my divorce and other family law and estate administration clients resolve their conflicts in the best way possible, not to carry on their conflicts as a surrogate in a never-ending battle.