$ 375-375 per hour
Mary G. Commander
also known as CommanderLaw
About Mary
Biography
Mary Commander was born and raised in Hampton Roads, and only strayed as far away as Richmond for law school. She has worked with the court systems here for more than 35 years and knows how things work.
Commander Law's goal is to make whatever legal service you require as easy on you as it possibly can be. With the firm's experience, no one will be experimenting with you or your case. This firm is not a training ground for new associates. It is a place to come when you want the tried and true; when you want the right answer the first time.
Commander Law also includes Attorney, Tatiana Mendez. She joined the firm in 2016 and has worked closely with Ms. Commander on all types of family law cases. She also handles misdemeanor criminal cases and traffic cases. For more information on Ms. Mendez, find her on Avvo!
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Divorce and Separation
45%
45 years
Mediation
25%
45 years
Adoption
10%
45 years
Child Custody
10%
45 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Virginia for 44 years
State: Virginia
Acquired: 1981
No misconduct found
Location
Law Offices of Mary G. Commander
5442 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA, 23509
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Mary G. Commander's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
34 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (34)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
Showing 6 - 10 of 12 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge
Posted by Adriana | April 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Divorce
Ms. Commander and her team did an excellent job when it came to my divorce. Even though I was not in Virginia, they were on top of any issues I had with my ex husband. If I had issues they responded in a timely manner to his attorney making sure there were no delays in my case. They were very knowled...
Posted by Joseph Caleb Meade | August 03, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Custody
Please if you get anything out of this review just hire Mary. I was a father at the time active duty as medical support with Naval Special Warfare and was granted custody. My friend a Chief in the Navy was awarded custody of his son using Mary. Mary is willing to use her skill set to help better yo...
Posted by Kelly | October 28, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Best Family Attorney in Norfolk
Mary represented me on a child custody dispute with my ex over my two children. She always made herself accessible, responded to any of my concerns promptly, and worked efficiently through the entirety of the case. Firstly, she has the reputation of being the best family attorney in the area, comin...
Posted by VBM | June 30, 2014 | Divorce & Separation
Your future depends on your choosing the most knowledgeable and respected attorney.
The author of the military divorce guide books mentioned Ms. Commander in an online article. That mention and the intention of a prayer group scattered across the world ensured that Ms. Commander one state and five hours away would help to secure my future. Ms. Commander was my only choice for ...
Posted by Remell | August 28, 2013 | Divorce & Separation
Military Divorce and property distribution
Attorney Commander assisted me with a very complex (in my opinion) divorce and property distribution case as a result of an unsuccessful previous attempt with another attorney. She was confident and professional in all aspects of the process with an emphasis on my concerns. I was comfortable with ...
Mary G. Commander's Lawyer Endorsements
"Mary has been a fierce adversary on several contested matters -- yet she is always professional and pleasant to work with."
"Mary is a very experienced and accomplished attorney who works in adoption and workers' compensation. She is very smart. I have sent her cases for years."
"I have used Mary as a mediator in family law cases and have found her to be a very effective mediator."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I proudly endorse Mary. She has an excellent reputation among her peers because she treats her colleagues with respect and does not engage in the gamesmanship so often prevalent in family law. She is nevertheless a tireless and effective advocate for her clients."
"I have been involved with numerous cases with Ms. Commander. She has a superior knowledge of the law, and her client's enjoy her expertise in the family law area. I highly endorse her."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I have worked as opposing counsel with Mary on a number of cases. She is sharp, knowledgeable, and tenacious in court, yet extremely personable and able to work well in a non-adversarial role, too. Mary's clients are always well-represented."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I am familiar with the quality of her work through my research of case law in Virginia in which she has been involved as counsel for one of the parties."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Commander's reputation in the Tidewater area is unbelievable as one of the top attorneys in the area. She has even co-authored a couple CLE books that I have in my office that I consider an invaluable resource."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Mary from many years in the Tidewater area, as a top rate lawyer with a real passion for helping her clients. I know her work to be among the best in the Tidewater Domestic Relations bar. Although my practice is now in Northern Virginia, I would recommend her to anyone seeking legal help."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Commander is an outstanding attorney with an excellent reputation. She is a strong and zealous advocate for her clients and a credit to the legal profession. I highly endorse her."
"I highly endorse this lawyer's work."
Lawren Burroughs
Family lawyer
Linda Shin
Family lawyer
Mona Flax
Family lawyer
Justin Bush
Divorce and separation lawyer
Brent Rowlands
Unknown lawyer
Barbara Williams
Personal injury lawyer
Mary Davis
Family lawyer
Jim Hurley
Personal injury lawyer
James Lewis
Medical malpractice lawyer
Gary West
Unknown lawyer
Cheshire Eveleigh
Unknown lawyer
Ellen Carlson
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
John Cooper
Personal injury lawyer
Experience
Honors
2015
Client's Choice Award, Avvo
2015
Top 50 Women Lawyers in Virginia, SuperLawyers
2015
Best Lawyers in Hampton Roads, Coastal Virginia Magazine
2015
Legal Elite Family Law, Virginia Business Magazine
2015
Family Law, SuperLawyers
2015
Family Law and Family Mediation, Best Lawyers in America
2014
Family Law, SuperLawyers
2014
Family Law, "Legal Elite"
2013
"Legal Elite"-Alternative Dispute Resolution, Virgnia Business Magazine
2012
"Top 50 Women Lawyers in Virginia", SuperLawyers
2012
"AV" Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
SuperLawyer-Family Law, Law & Politics Magazine
2011
SuperLawyer-Family Law, Law & Politics Magazine
2010
"Legal Elite" in Domestic Relations, Virginia Business Magazine
2010
SuperLawyer, Law & Politics Magazine
2009
SuperLawyer, Law and Politics Magazine
2008
Family Law Section Public Service Award, Virginia State Bar
2008
Leaders In The Law, Virginia Lawyers Weekly
2007
Jefferson Award For Public Service (Regional Award Winner), American Institute For Public Service
2007
Entrepreneur of the Year (Finalist), National Ass'n of Women Business Owners
2006
Woman Of the Year (Law), YWCA
Work Experience
2010 - Present
Partner, Commander & Carlson, Attorneys And Mediators
2000 - 2010
Owner, Mary G. Commander, Attorney & Certified Mediator
2000 - 2007
Substitute Judge, Norfolk Juvenile and General District Courts
1985 - 2000
Partner, Goldblatt, Lipkin & Cohen, P.C.
1983 - 2003
Administrative Hearing Officer, Commonwealth of Virginia
1982 - 1985
Associate, Heilig, McKenry & Fraim
1981 - 1982
Law Clerk to Hon. John A. MacKenzie, U.S. District Judge, United States District Court (E.D. Va)
Associations
2013 - Present
American Bar AssociationFellow
2013 - Present
Virginia State Bar, Family Law SectionBoard of Governors
2007 - Present
National Center For Family LawBoard Member
2004 - Present
International Academy of Collaborative ProfessionalsMember
2004 - Present
Virginia Academy of Collaborative ProfessionalsMember
2000 - Present
Better Business BureauMember
1995 - Present
MemberVirginia Mediation Network
1985 - Present
Virginia Women Attorneys Association (Norfolk Chapter)Past President Local Chapter and Member
1983 - Present
Virginia Trial Lawyers AssociationMember
1983 - Present
Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar AssociationLaw Library Board Member
1980 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
Family Law Association of Hampton Roads
Member
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Member
2001 - 2004
Virginia State BarCircuit Representative
1999 - 2015
Old Dominion University Intercollegiate FoundationBoard Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Bomar v. Bomar
Circuit Court reversed by Court of Appeals
Education
1981
University of Richmond, The T. C. Williams School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1977
Old Dominion University
B.A.
Speaking Engagements
2015
Mediator Certification Training
Support, Equitable Distribution and Divorce
2015
Annual Advanced Family Law Conference
Ethics For Lawyers
2014
Continuing Legal Education
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
2011
Mediator Training
Spousal Support
2011
2011 Virginia Women's Conference
Divorce
2010
Divorce For Navy Lawyers
Separation Agreements/Divorce For Navy Lawyers
Publications
2015
Family Law Quarterly
Ethics For Mediators
2008
Adoption: Practice and Forms For The Virginia Lawyer
Fourth edition of treatise
1991
University of Richmond Law Review
Annual Review-Law of Workers' compensation
1981
University of Richmond Law Review
"Education or Discrimination," Minimum Competency Testing
Languages
Spanish
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
My license was suspended due to child support arrears. A DL is required by my current employer. How can it be reinstated?
10 Nov 2014
Q&A
Does a Separation Agreement expire if you get back together again for a period, then decide that divorce is inevitable later on?
02 Aug 2014
Q&A
How far behind in child support do you have to be before your drivers license is suspended in Virginia?
28 Jul 2014
Legal Guides
Legal Guide
DANGER: DIVORCE LAWYERS
02 Sep 2015
Legal Guide
Cooperative Versus Collaborative Divorce
28 Oct 2012
Legal Guide
Defenses to Adultery in Virginia Divorce Actions
26 Jul 2011