{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"99. Family Law Essentials for Stepmoms: A Conversation with Maria Simon","description":"Family Law Insights From a Real Housewives' Lawyer In today's episode, we\u2019re getting into all the legal things around stepfamily life with an award-winning family law expert who has represented many high-profile clients in their divorces, including Ashley Darby of the Real Housewives of Potomac. About Maria: This week, I'm talking to a rockstar and award-winning attorney in the family law area. She is Managing Partner at the Geller Group and specializes in family law, divorce, custody disputes, collaborative divorce, and litigation.  Maria has been continually recognized as Virginia Business\u2019 Legal Elite and selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Virginia and the District of Columbia. She\u2019s a frequent speaker and is a member of the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia (CPNV), the D.C. Academy of Collaborative Professionals (DCACP), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Maria graduated cum laude from the Honors Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. She is active in the DC community and served two years as General Counsel for Crispus Attucks Development Corporation. Our worlds have overlapped along the way, too. Maria was General Counsel for the Taste of the South Charity, which I was involved with for years, and she\u2019s a member of the Junior League of Washington, where I served as President.  Along with Maria\u2019s zeal for the practice of law, she is an avid runner and yoga practitioner, and loves cooking and spending time with her husband and three sons.  You Can Find Maria: Thegellerlawgroup.com On Instagram Want Your Question Answered On The Podcast? Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular. Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries? If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It\u2019s super easy \u2013 all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select \u201cwrite a review.\u201d Then just let me know what you like best! And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I\u2019ll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It\u2019s normally $49 and it\u2019s a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you\u2019ll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint! ","author_name":"The Stepmom Diaries Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/stepfamilysolutions.com\/podcast","html":"