Contact: Hon. Lenore R. Gelfman
               Administrative Judge
Tel:         410-313-2143

The Circuit Court for Howard County is pleased to announce the appointment of Lara C. Weathersbee as Master-in-Chancery. She succeeds Judge William V. Tucker, who was appointed as an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Howard County. Upon Judge Tucker having taken the oath of office as judge, a Master's Interview Committee was established by the Court to evaluate applicants for the Master's position. The Committee was comprised of practitioners familiar with the various matters that come before the Master, such as family law, juvenile offenses, CINA (Children in Need of Assistance) matters, TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) and the like. After a lengthy interview and evaluation process, Ms. Weathersbee was found by the Committee to be “well-qualified” for the position.

Ms. Weathersbee has a long association with Howard County. She was an Assistant State's Attorney here from 1995 to 2008, and served as the Chief of the Juvenile Court Division from 2003 to 2008. From 2008 to 2009, she was engaged in the private practice of law with the firm of Weinberg & Schwartz, LLC, where she represented clients involved in divorce, separation, child custody and support and the like. In 2009, she began her own private practice, specializing in divorce, separation, child custody, marital property, and other family law issues. She is also a Certified Collaborative Law practitioner.

Ms. Weathersbee received her J.D. Degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1994. She has also been active in many professional and community organizations, including Leadership Howard County, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center of Howard County, the Columbia Foundation, and is a member of the Women's Bar Association, the Howard County Bar Association, and the Maryland State Bar Association. It is expected that Ms. Weathersbee will begin her duties on August 20, 2012.