Maribeth Blessing, JD

Education

• 2006 - Advanced Custody Mediation Training: Parenting Statements And Other Interactive Advanced Tools
• 2004 - Looking Back, Looking forward; Institute for Study of Conflict Transformation
• 2003 - Collaborative Family Law Affiliates; Training in Collaborative Law
• 1996 - Divorce Arbitration Institute; American Bar Association
• 1996 - National Center for Mediation Education; Divorce Mediation
• 2001 - Advanced Family Mediation Workshop; Advanced Mediator Training
• 2002 - Microfocus On Transformative Process And Practice
• 2003 - Mediation in the New Millennium
• 2004 - Domestic Violence Training




• 1991 - Widener University School of Law - J.D.; cum laude
• 1980 - University of Santa Clara, Graduate courses; Learning Handicapped
• 1970 - Kutztown University B.S., Elementary Education; magna cum laude

Positions

1999-Present

MARIBETH BLESSING, MEDIATION & ARBITRATION, L.L.C.

Experienced Arbitrator and Mediator, practicing in all aspects of family issues, peer mediation, neighborhood disputes, contract disputes, and labor disputes.

• Mediator for Montgomery Bar Association's Horace Davenport Conflict Resolution Center
• Member of the Ad Hoc Advisory Panel for the Montgomery County Custody Mediation Orientation Program as well as Supervisory Mediator.
• Member, Academy of Family Mediators, Practitioner, 1996- 2001;
• Member, Association For Conflict Resolution (after merger of Academy of Family Mediators and SPIDR), Advanced Practitioner, 2001-present;
• Member, Pennsylvania Council of Mediators, 2004-present;
• Member, Montgomery County Mediation Advisory Panel, 2001-present;
• Member, Association of Conflict Resolution - Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, 2005 to present.

1999-Present

LAW OFFICES OF MARIBETH BLESSING, L.L.C.

Sole Proprietor of Law Offices whose firm practices primarily Domestic Relations Law, but also Wills and Trusts, Personal Injury, Contract Law, Business and Employment Law. Practitioner and Litigator experienced in all aspects of Family Law- Divorce, Support, Custody, Protection from Abuse, Equitable Distribution, Adoption, Guardianship.

Child Advocate for MCAP; Appointed as Special Master by the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas; Member- Collaborative Family Law Affiliates; Member-Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; Counselor and Past President- Doris Jonas Freed Family Inn of Court; Council Member and Rules Committee Co-Chair, Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section; Liaison to Children's Rights Committee - Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section; Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee-2003; 2002 Chair, Montgomery Bar Association Family Law Section as well as former chair of sub-committees as follows: Mediation Committee, Practicum Committee, Equitable Distribution Committee, Custody Committee and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee; former Chair, Member Services Committee Montgomery Bar Association; Chair, Montgomery Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee; Member, Trial Lawyers Section Montgomery Bar Association; Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and Youth and Law Committee of Montgomery Bar Association; Author and Lecturer of Continuing Legal Education programs for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Montgomery Bar Association, and National Business Institute; Member, PBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and Children's Rights Committee; Strathmore's Who's Who Recipient, 2004-2006, and Life Member of the National Registry of Who's Who.

1996-1999

LAW OFFICES OF LESLEE SILVERMAN TABAS, Partner

Experienced Family Law Practitioner with growing practice of complex divorce, custody, property, support, abuse, and adoption cases. Active member, Instructor and Writer for PBA and Montgomery County Bar CLE programs. Court appointed Guardian Ad Litem, Arbitrator and Special Master.

1996-1999

CENTER FOR MATRIMONIAL DISPUTE RESOLUTIONS, INCORPORATED, Executive Director

Member, Association for Conflict Resolution Experienced Arbitrator and Mediator offering alternative methods of managing negotiations, settlements and resolutions of matrimonial disputes. Creatively devised mechanisms most suitable to needs of parties and counsel. Neutrally adjudicated arbitration cases in expeditious manner, preserving privacy issues and minimizing litigation and costs. Mediated and facilitated amicable agreements with expediency and sensitivity to the needs of the participating parties. Practice included both Bench and Bar referral of cases.

1994-1998

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, Instructor, CED Division

Taught evening classes for paralegals including certification courses for Domestic Relations, Introduction to Basic Legal Principles, Legal Research, and Civil Practice and Procedure.

1992-1996

GOLD-BIKIN, CLIFFORD, & YOUNG, Attorney

Exclusively serviced Senior Partner's clients and prepared extremely complex divorce, custody, support, property, abuse, and adoption cases for litigation. Developed own caseload for expanding Domestic Relations practice. Participated in Pro Bono work for Legal Aid, and County Arbitration Panels.

1985-1992

BUCKS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS; Hearing Officer & Investigator

Conferenced, arbitrated, and mediated support disputes. Executed and enforced support orders. Investigated and processed bench warrants. Reported to the Court with written recommendations, and presented cases at trial.

1985-1992

Teacher

OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL, Doylestown, PA ST. PHILIP NERI, East Greenville, PA IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, Cuyahoga Falls, OH ST. WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY, Los Altos, CA THE CURIOSITY SHOPPE, Doylestown, PA TIK TOK KINDERGARTEN, Killeen, TX CHINOOK ELEMENTARY, Anchorage, AK Experienced in open-structured and self-contained classroom environments, team teaching and departmentalization with experience at every grade level from K-8. Effectively utilized large and small group instruction in a multi-media approach.

Bar Association Activities

• Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court, 1992-Present Counselor-2003-04, President- 2002-03; President-Elect - 2001-02, formerly Executive Committee Director, Membership Chair
• American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1992-96 Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section 1992-Present Presenter, Writer, 1996-Present Council Member, PBA Family Law Section, Rules Committee Co-chair Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, PBA Legal Services for Exceptional Children Committee, PBA Children's Rights Committee; Liaison with PBA Family Law Section, 2002- present Pennsylvania Bar Association Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Committee, 2002- present
• Montgomery County Bar Association Family Law Section Treasurer, 1999; Secretary, 1998, 2000, Vice-Chair 2001, Chair 2002; Continuing Member Chair, Divorce & Equitable Distribution Committee, 1996; Chair, Practicum Committee 1998, 2000; Chair, Custody Committee, 1998; Chair, ADR Committee, 1999; Chair, Mediation Committee, 2000-01, Mediation Committee, 1999-present Family Law Support Committee, 1996-99 Family Law Custody Sub-committee, 1996-98 Appointee, Ad Hoc Mediation Advisory Committee to evaluate and report on Custody Mediation in Montgomery County, 1997-present Mediation Training Seminar Instructor, 1999-Present Member, Young Lawyers Section Co-Chair, Doctor/Lawyer Project; Young Lawyers Section, 1994-96, Presenter 1994-Present Member, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 1995- present Presenter: Mediation Seminar 1995, 1998; Course Planner and Presenter, 1996; Writer and Presenter: Revised Arbitration Manual, 1997-98
• Member, Collaborative Family Law Affiliates; 2004 to present
• Member, Lecturer, Writer - Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Montgomery County Bar Association: 1995-present; Family Law Practicum Committee Chair, Writer-1999, 2000; ED Update Seminar, 1996; Family Law Arbitration & Mediation, 1997; Domestic Tort Seminar 1998; Inn of Court Presentation on Act 58 and presentation on new Rules of Evidence, 1998; Act 58 Presentation to Family Law Section, 1998, 1999, 2000; Plenary Session of PBI Summer Meeting, 1998, 2000; Four County Practice, 1998, 2001; Family Court Reform Task Force Member and Presenter at Winter Meeting, 1999, Summer 1999; Domestic Torts Seminar, Montgomery County, 1999; Lawyers & Mediators, Strange Bedfellows, 2000; Mediation Training Seminar, 1999, 2000, 2001; Member Services Presentation, 1999, 2000, 2001; Support Update, 2002, ADR Institute, 2005
• Member, Committee for Women in the Law, 1996-98
• Member, Bench Bar Committee, 1998
• Member, Board of Directors and Chairs-Montgomery Bar Association, 1999-present Co-Chair, Member Services Committee, 1999 Chair, Member Services, 2000, 2001 Co-Chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2003; Chair, 2004-2006
• Member, Trial Lawyers Section, 1999-Present
• Lecturer & Writer; National Business Administration; Family Law

Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court, 2002
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1991
• Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1992
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1992
• Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, 1992
• Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, 1992

Publications

• Instructional Videotape Series, ESS Science Pilot Program, Anchorage School District, 1970
• "The Domestic Relations Preliminary Conference: Its Potential Power as the Court's Hidden ADR Asset", Scholarship Award, Sigma Delta Kappa Law Foundation, Inc., 1991
• "The Evolution of Support Guidelines", Scholarship Award, Sigma Delta Kappa Law Foundation Inc., 1991
• "Cigarette Litigation: Is The Tide Changing?", H. Schwabb Literary Contest, Honorable Mention, 1991
• "From the Perspective Of A DRO Officer", Putting on the Writs, Bucks County Bar Association Legal Reporter, 1992
• "Self Help Guide to Support", brochure, Women's Commission Of Montgomery County, 1993
• "Legal View", Family Law Videotape Series and Instructional TV Presentation, "Self Help Guide to Support", Women's Commission Of Montgomery County, 1993; Divorce and Equitable Distribution, 1997
• "Act 58, The Reality of the Fantasy", Montgomery County Law Practicum Guide, 1999, 2000
• "Casenote: Vacarello vs. Vacarello", Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, 2001
• "Dischell's Troops Blast Canada", Sidebar Article, Montgomery Bar Association, 2002
• "Common Law Marriage-For Better or For Worse", Sidebar Article, Montgomery Bar Association, 2003

Continuing Legal Education - New Jersey

Skills Training Courses, New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1992

Criminal Trial Preparation, Administrative Law, Small Business Practice, Bankruptcy, Civil Trial Preparation, Family Law, Real Estate Law, Will and Probate Practice, Professional Responsibility

Continuing Legal Education - Pennyslvania

• Montgomery County Bar Association, Anatomy of a Custody Case, 1992
• PBI, Ethical Concerns in Today's Practice, 1992
• PBI, Ethical Issues Affecting Domestic Relations Lawyers, 1993
• PBI, Ethical Issues: Domestic Relations, 1993
• PBI, Equitable Distribution Update; 1993, 1996 (Instructor, Author, 1996)
• PBI, Finding Income & Hidden Assets: Tax Forms & Financial Statements, 1993
• PBI, Four County Domestic Relations Practice, 1993, 1998, 2001 (Instructor, Author, 1998, 2001)
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Practicum,1993-1999 (Instructor, Author 1994-1999, 2005)
• PBI, Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, 1993, 1996
• Westlaw, CD Rom Workshop, 1993, 1997
• PBA, Family Law Section Summer Workshops, 1992- present 1998 Writer and Presenter; Plenary Session; Cohabitation, Common Law Marriage and Partition; 2000 Writer and Presenter, Lawyers and Mediators: Strange Bedfellows 1999 Writer and Presenter; Uniform Court Reform
• PBA, Family Law Section Winter Workshops, 1993- present 1999 Author/Presenter, Unified Family Court System
• PBI, Advanced Equitable Distribution, 1994
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Ethical Issues in Custody Litigation, 1994
• PBI, Winning With An Expert Witness & Discovery in Family Law Litigation, 1994
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution: The Mediation Model, 1994; Mediation, 1995 (Instructor); Appellate Mediation for the Third Circuit, 1996; Business Mediation, 1996 (Course Planner);Arbitration Program, 1998 (Writer and Presenter);Court-Annexed Arbitration (Presenter; revised Manual)
• PBI, Divorcing the Elderly, 1995
• PBI, Tax Traps in Divorce Law, 1995
• Montgomery County Bar Association, Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994, 1995
• Family Law Symposium, 1996
• PBA Malpractice Avoidance Seminar, 1996
• Finplan Divorce Planner Training Program, 1996
• Lawyers and the Internet, 1996
• PBI, Advanced Custody Issues, 1997
• PBI, Arbitration & Mediation, 1997 (Instructor, Author)
• PBI, Fundamentals of Family Law, 1997
• PBI, Update on the Support Guidelines, 1997
• PBI, Matrimonial Appellate Practice, 1997
• PBA, Family Law Section, Commission of Women in the Profession, Annual Conference, 1997
• PBI, Open Discovery, The Future of Family Law, 1997
• PBI, Stress Management, 1998
• PBI, Domestic Torts, 1998 (Writer, Presenter)
• PBI, Support Practice Update, 2002 (Presenter)
• PBI, ADR Institute, 2005 Author and Presenter
• PBI, View From The Bench, 2005
• Montgomery County, Practicum, Author, 1996, 1997; Procedural Roadmap for Family Law Litigation, 1998 (Chair, Writer and Presenter); 1999 Author- Support; Dotting Your I's and Crossing Your T's, 2000 (Author and Lecturer); 2002 Evidence in Family Court; 2003 - Custody/Child Development (Presenter and Planner); 2005- How To Conduct a Montgomery County Custody Case Without Being Trying; Presenter and Planner
• PBI, Use of Trusts in Estate Planning, Intermediate and Advanced Sessions, 2005
• National Business Institute, How to Draft Effective Wills and Trusts for Your Clients in Pennsylvania, 2006
• The Doris Freed Inn of Court: National Conference Participant; 1999 Equitable Distribution Updates, 1996 Ethical Concerns in Family Law: Fraud, Confidentiality and Bargaining Concerns in Agreements and Duties Owed a Child Not Represented by the Lawyer, 1997 When Lawyers Divorce, 1997 Alimony in the 21st Century; Practical Experiences and Changes Ahead, 1997 Depositions in Family Law: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, 1997 The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, 1997 Ethical Aspects of a Spousal Abuse Case, 1998 Custody Parenting Class in Chester County, 1998 An Expose on Ex Parte Communications, 1998 Act 58 Presentation, 1998 (Writer and Presenter) New Rules of Evidence, Author/Presenter 1998 Cross Examination of an Expert, 1999 Ethical Conduct in the Courtroom, 1999 Stock Options Complications/Divorce and Support, 1999 New Support Guidelines, 1999 Family Law Jeopardy, 1999 Joint State Government Commission Presentation, 1999 Support and APL; The Skinny on Some Fat Issues, 2000 Technology Issues in Family Law, Presenter, 2000 Legal Malpractice Avoidance For Family Lawyers, 2000 New Trends in Custody, 2000 Estate Planning and the Divorce Lawyer, 2000 Changing Face Of Protection From Abuse, 2001 Pitfalls Of Matrimonial Accounting And How To Avoid Them, 2001 Use of American Psychological Association's Guidelines in Custody Cases, 2001 Dangerous Habits and Addictions in Custody, 2001 The Respective Roles of Mediators and of Counsel in Divorce and Custody Proceedings, 2001 UIFSA and Support Problems, 2001 Business Valuations, 2002 Surviving the Adversarial Process, 2002 The Ten Commandments of Cross Examination, 2002 Initial Contact: Client Interview and Discovery, 2002 The Custody Trial, 2002 Issues in Support, 2003 Appellate Issues, 2003 Ethical Issues from "The Verdict", 2003 Where Do We Draw The Line Between Zealous Advocacy and Professionalism?, 2004 Custody Evaluations, 2004 The Four Way Conference: And why not?, 2004 Impact and Ramifications of the 2005 Divorce Code, 2005 The Friendly Custody Battle; Parent Coordinators, 2005 Domestic Torts, 2005 Recent Developments Affecting Us All (Guidelines/Bankruptcy), 2005 What Happens in Equitable Distribution When One Spouse Dies and Grounds for Divorce Have Been Established? 2006 The Crossroads Between Family and Criminal Law, 2006
• PBI, Evidence for Family Lawyers, 1999
• Author/Presenter; Four County Domestic Relations Practice, 1999, 2001
• Author/Presenter; Matrimonial Torts; A Virtual Trial, 1999
• Presenter, New Support Guidelines, Montgomery Co. General Practice Committee, 1999
• Support Guidelines Update, 1999, 2002 (Author and Presenter)
• Wordperfect 8 Computer Training, 1999
• Mediation Training Seminar Instructor, 1999-present
• Author & Presenter: Lawyers and Mediators: Strange Bedfellows; How To Have a Successful & Profitable Relationship, Plenary session, Family Law Section Summer Mtg, 2000
• Adoption of a Child-The Interstate and Complex Legal Path, 2000
• Montgomery County Discovery Process, 2000
• National Business Institute Author and Presenter, Family Law Litigation, 2000
• PBI, Presenter, General Practice Update, 2001
• Speaker, Support Update, PBI, 2002
• Mediation: Anger Management Seminar, 2002
• Author and Presenter, Mediation: Process, Purpose &

Perspectives, Author 2002

• A View From The Bench, Family Law Issues and Code of Civility, 2003
• Author and Presenter, Mediation in the New Millenium, Chester County Bar, 2003
• Advanced Family Mediation workshop, 2001
• Advanced Microfocus on Transformative Process & Practice, 2002
• Collaborative Family Law Training, 2003
• Mediation Process, Purpose & Perspective, 2002
• Domestic Abuse Screening Seminar, 2004
• Looking Back, Looking forward; Institute for Study of Conflict Transformation, 2004
• Hot Topics in Mediation Confidentiality, Presenter/Author, 2003
• Impact and Ramifications of the 2005 Divorce Code Amendments, 2005

Accomplishments

• Speaker, Rockledge-Cheltenham Rotary Club, 2005
• Strathmore's Who's Who Recipient, 2004-2005
• Selected for membership; Collaborative Family Law Affiliates
• Alumni Award, 2003 Outstanding Service Award, Widener School of Law
• Award, Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court, 2003
• Award, Montgomery Bar Family Law Section, 2002
• Law Day Elementary School Instructor, 3rd grade, 2001
• Life Member of the National Registry of Who's Who, 2000
• Chosen instructor for National Business Institute Presentation
• Representative to National Conference of American Inns of Court, 1999
• Speaker, Willow Grove Rotary Club, 1999
• Appointed by Montgomery County Bench as Guardian Ad Litem and Child Advocate
• Selected by Montgomery County Bench and Counsel as Arbitrator in Equitable Distribution and Special Master in an Annulment proceeding and Special Master to adjudicate grounds trial in Divorce case
• Continuing Legal Education PBI and Montgomery County Bar Lecturer/Author
• Instructor, Community Program; Legal View Seminar
• Member, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
• Panel Judge Participant for mock trial competition, Young Lawyers of Montgomery Bar Association
• 97% Settlement rate for Domestic Relations Support complaints and enforcement conferences
• Maintained support enforcement caseload of 3000 cases utilizing Federal and State remedies
• Established training procedures for DRO Officers
• Developed comprehensive remedial programs for learning disabled students
• District demonstrator for pilot Science program
• Faculty representative on Principal Selection Committee
• Art and Drama coordinator for 26 member faculty and 600 Students

Community Involvement

• Member, Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce
• Member, Laymen Playmen Drama Group, Hatfield, PA
• Member, Pre-Cana Team, St. Maria Goretti Parish
• Member, Pre-Jordon Team, St. Maria Goretti Parish
• Member, Building Fund Campaign Captain, St. Maria Goretti
• Lector, St. Maria Goretti Parish
• Facilitator for Scripture Study, St. Maria Goretti Parish
• Outreach Program member, St. Maria Goretti Parish
• Beauty Consultant, Team Leader, Mary Kay Cosmetics