Kathryn Sharkey McDonough

I am proud of the many successful outcomes I have obtained for my clients, both in litigating contested matters in the courtroom, as well as in negotiating favorable settlements for them. I am committed to representing my clients’ interests in the most ethical, professional, results-driven, and cost-effective manner possible.

My legal career for the past 15+ years has been focused primarily in the area of family law. The other two areas in which I practice are (1) probate and contested estate and trust matters, and (2) collections, judgment enforcement, and civil litigation.

My family law practice covers the full range of divorce, separation, child custody, guardianship, adoption, alimony, and child support matters from negotiating contractual agreements to mediation to litigating complex issues at trial and appeal hearings. I am a court-certified Best Interest Attorney; having been appointed by Judges to represent minor children in contested custody cases. I am frequently appointed by the court to serve as a guardian for vulnerable or disabled adults. I am also a trained mediator and Collaborative Law facilitator.

As for probate and estates matters, I have successfully litigated and prevailed in Court proceedings so that my clients’ rights have been well-protected and bequests made to them ultimately disbursed. I have assisted hundreds of clients who have been named as Personal Representatives in their loved one’s Wills and I am well-versed in the probate and estate administration process. I have also been appointed by the Court to serve as Personal Representative or Trustee in such cases.

In my collections and civil litigation practice, I have assisted many individuals and businesses, including law firms, medical practices, private schools, and construction companies, in recovering debts and accounts receivables owed to them from vendors, contractors, clients, and tenants.

I have extensive experience at all court levels, including Federal District Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, as well as District and Circuit Courts throughout the State of Maryland. I have argued before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and been victorious in each of my cases at the appellate level. I am admitted to the Bar for the United States Supreme Court.

In 2011, I was nominated, selected and recognized by the Daily Record as a Maryland “Leading Woman”—an award bestowed to a small group of women, all under the age of 40 years, in recognition of their accomplishments to date in their business and legal careers. Additionally, I have been named a “Rising Star” in the area of family law by Super Lawyers Magazine each year from 2012 through 2021 and a "Super Lawyer" each year thereafter.  

My professional memberships include the Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland and its Family Law Section, of which I served as co-chair from 2013-2015; the Maryland State Bar Association; the Montgomery County Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association, of which I served as President from 2015-2016; and the Inns of Court.

I am a Montgomery County native and a graduate of Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. I earned my Bachelor of Science, with a double-major in International Affairs and Spanish and a minor in Latin American Studies, from Xavier University. My Juris Doctor is from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.

I am fluent in Spanish, and serve the needs of the Spanish-speaking community in Montgomery County.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 3 children. I am also an avid fan of Xavier basketball, the Washington Nationals, and Colombian futbol.