Maribeth Blessing, JD
 E-mail Address mblessing@divorcedoneright.com |
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 &
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
Perspectives, Author 2002
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