Melanie George Smith | Newark, DE Lawyer
Melanie George Smith
The Lawyer Mom. Fierce advocacy and legal expertise you can rely on.
Business, Elder Law, Family Law, Social Security -- Disability, Estate, Guardianships, Powers of Attorney
http://www.melaniegeorgesmith.com
- Law Office: Law Office of Melanie George Smith, LLC
- Newark Law Firms
- Law School: Georgetown University Law Center, J.D. 1997
- Status: In Good Standing
- Licensed: 26 years
302-509-1752
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Contact Us - Lawyer Melanie George Smith Avvo
introduction
Melanie is passionate about advocating for your loved ones the same way she would advocate for her own children, parents, or other loved ones.
QUESTIONNAIRE
I successfully helped a young man gain custody of his son back from his mother-in-law. My client was a recovering addict who worked hard to turn his life around. His mother-in-law would not agree to rescind her guardianship of the boy. I fought for my client and after a hearing, he got his son back. It was very rewarding.
How did you build a successful practice?I work hard and treat each client as if I were in their shoes. I've been down before and needed help. I know what it's like to need someone else for help, and I make sure my clients know I understand them, I care about them, and I will fight very hard for them. I have been blessed to have worked with fantastic clients who then spread my name to others, and so the practice has grown.
What should clients look for in a lawyer?Hard work, intellect, years of experience, compassion.
How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases?Very important. I was born and raised in Delaware, and with the exception of when I attended college and law school, I have lived here ever since. The relationships I have built over nearly 50 years are used to benefit the needs of each client.
What information can you provide in a free phone consultation?Most importantly, I can let a potential client know whether they really need a lawyer. If they don't, I refer them to a source to help solve their problem. If they don't have sufficient income to pay me, I make referrals to legal services agencies that provide legal help to people with low incomes. I can generally assess the situation and offer a brief strategy for how I would recommend proceeding.
What information do you need in a free phone consultation?Name, contact information, description of the issue or need for my help.
What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?There are a lot of great lawyers in Delaware, and I'm proud to serve the people of Delaware alongside them. Because I am a small firm, I am able to charge lower rates than others as I keep my overhead very low.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?Helping solve problems for clients. Knowing that I've saved a business client money or otherwise protected them in drafting a contract. Bringing together a parent and child in custody and visitation cases. Helping people start a new life through a divorce. Helping a parent obtain guardianship or a power of attorney over their adult disabled son or daughter. Everybody who comes to a lawyer needs help. That's what we do.
What are your other interests in addition to law?I love being a mother to my two children, ages 8 and 6. My son has a disability and I spend a lot of time advocating for him and for people with special needs. I am an avid reader and love the outdoors.
Are you involved in your community?Yes, I've nearly always served on a nonprofit board of directors, including: World Trade Center Delaware Leadership Delaware Child Inc. Community Legal Aid Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement Children's Advocacy Center Child Protection Accountability Commission Delaware Guardianship Commission Delaware Access to Justice commission Delaware National Guard and Reserve Emergency Assistance Fund Christiana Fire Company YMCA (Bear Glasgow and Western Family)
Experience
Position | Organization | Location | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
Attorney | Law Office of Melanie George Smith, LLC | Newark, DE | Present |
Attorney | Richards, Layton & Finger | Wilmington, Delaware | 2000-2018 |
Law Clerk | Delaware State Supreme Court | Wilmington, Delaware | 1997-1998 |
Education
School | Degree | Major | Graduation |
---|---|---|---|
Georgetown University Law Center | J.D. | Law School | 1997 |
Harvard University | Certificate of Attendance | Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership | November 2018 |
University of Pennsylvania | Bachelors | Economics | 1994 |
Admission
State / Court | Date |
---|---|
Delaware | 1997 |
Associations
- Member | Delaware State Bar Association
Honors & Awards
- Junior Achievement of Delaware, Alumni Award
Children and Families First, Muriel Gilman Child Advocate Award
Delaware Charter School Network, Advocate Award
U.S. Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Commissioner's Award
Woman of Style Award, YWCA
Community Character Development Award, Western Family YMCA
Cases
Publications
Office Hours
Sun. | Mon. | Tue. | Wed. | Thu. | Fri. | Sat. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
Verified Credentials
Lawyers with longer memberships tend to have more experience so we use the Membership date to help prioritize lawyer listings on search pages.
Verified Credentials | Date Verified |
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Above credentials have been verified independently by Lawyer.com.
Legal Articles
Peer Endorsements
Additional Info
Not every problem requires a lawsuit. But sometimes, you want an advocate looking out for you, your business, or your loved ones' best interests. We help you solve your problems and meet your needs, whether that requires knowledge of the law or simply advocacy. Because we care. With over 23 years of legal experience, you can count on Ms. Smith to help you through difficult situations that need a legal solution. Divorce, child custody, child support, guardianships, elder law, wills, living wills, criminal defense, mediation, business law, and much more. Call Ms. Smith today for a free consultation.
Fee: Call today to learn more about my fee structure.
Service Type: Private
Language: English
Update Date: 2020-12-07
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Change History
12 Amaranth Dr
Newark, DE 19711