Katharine Wesley Maddox

Katharine Maddox is equipped to handle all aspects of family law cases: She has been in practice for over 20 years; she is well versed in negotiation and litigation, and she pursues alternative dispute resolution where appropriate.

Katharine is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) where she serves as Vice President of the USA Chapter, and she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). Katharine is also a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL), which according to the ACFTL is a “group consisting of the top 100 family law trial lawyers in the country. Fellowship is extended by invitation only to those who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose careers exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiately. Fellowship is limited to those who are regarded as the best in their state.”

With respect to alternative dispute resolution, Katharine is a Virginia Supreme Court Certified Mediator and can serve as the mediator where both parties agree. In addition, Katharine is equipped to handle collaborative cases and she is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Processionals, the Virginia Collaborative Professionals, as well as the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia.

Katharine strives to work as part of a team with her clients in order to achieve the best outcome possible. This is true whether the case involves complex assets, custody of children, determination of financial support, or any of the other myriad of issues which must be determined pursuant to a separation or divorce. Whenever reasonably possible, Katharine believes that rational settlements are in the best interests of the family unit in order to support the family moving on to the next phase of their lives. However, when litigation is necessary, Katharine is a strong advocate in the courtroom. As her mother (the founding partner of Maddox & Gerock P.C.) taught her, divorce attorneys do not create our client’s difficult situations but we can help to solve them in a respectful and professional manner.

Katharine has been included in Washingtonian’s list of best family law attorneys and she is recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America by the Best Lawyers publication. Katharine has regularly been selected as a both a "Super Lawyer" in the Super Lawyers publication as well as a "Top Lawyer" in the area of family law by Northern Virginia Magazine. Katharine has also been recognized as one of the top lawyers in the field of family law by Virginia Business Magazine and she has received the top rating possible, "Superb, 10 out of 10" from the AVVO ratings website.

Katharine was first published in 2004 and has gone on to co-author the Virginia chapter of an international family law treatise with her law partner, Julie C. Gerock. More recently, Katharine has been published on the topic of parent-child alienation, relocation of children in custody matters as well as best practices for lawyers in a virtual world.

Katharine regularly presents at various legal conferences both domestically and internationally on a host of topics including processing divorces in Virginia, the Virginia rules of evidence, enforcement of custody orders and related remedies, application of the Uniform Child Custody and Enforcement Act, relocation of children (domestic and international), litigating parent-child alienation matters and law office management. Katharine has also co-organized and moderated two symposiums on the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, one in New York City and one in Quebec City.

Katharine received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Virginia and her Juris Doctor (with Honors) from The George Washington University, where she served as the Chairperson of the Law School Academic Integrity Committee. In addition to family law, Katharine is passionate about her own family, her rescue dogs and cooking.