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Elizabeth Selmo

Partner

202-466-8960
eselmo@ftlf.com

“It’s a privilege and a responsibility to assist clients in some of the most sensitive areas of their lives, and to help protect the people and things that matter most to them.”

Elizabeth Selmo

Elizabeth Selmo brings skills in both negotiation and courtroom advocacy in helping clients successfully resolve family law matters and move forward with their lives. She represents a wide variety of individuals, from successful professionals to spouses of primary earners, and empowers them to make educated choices for their futures. Elizabeth works with clients to identify solutions that will achieve their goals, while striving to reduce hostility and keep cases outside of court. At the same time, she recognizes that litigation can be a powerful tool and utilizes it effectively to her clients’ advantage when necessary.

Elizabeth offers clients the benefit of her experience in handling a broad range of family law matters, including child custody and co-parenting, domestic violence, and the division of high asset marital estates. Understanding how consuming the emotional and financial problems of a divorce can be, Elizabeth encourages clients to address volatile issues in constructive ways without further enflaming matters. With every case, her goal is to ensure that clients feel a sense of restoration at the end of the process, that they have created a roadmap for the rest of their lives.

Elizabeth has focused on family law for all of her legal career.  Prior to joining Feldesman Tucker, Elizabeth practiced family law in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she received her J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. Elizabeth is admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C. and California. Away from her practice Elizabeth enjoys running and baking. She and her husband live in northern Virginia, and spend time together exploring the DC region.

Honors/Awards

  • Selected to the Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2019

Past Employment

  • Owner/Principal Attorney, Selmo Family Law, PLLC, 2014-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Berra Stross & Wallacker, LLP, 2012-2013
  • Legal Research Attorney-Unified Family Court, California Superior Court, County of San Francisco, 2010-2011

Introduction

Elizabeth Selmo brings skills in both negotiation and courtroom advocacy in helping clients successfully resolve family law matters and move forward with their lives. She represents a wide variety of individuals, from successful professionals to spouses of primary earners, and empowers them to make educated choices for their futures. Elizabeth works with clients to identify solutions that will achieve their goals, while striving to reduce hostility and keep cases outside of court. At the same time, she recognizes that litigation can be a powerful tool and utilizes it effectively to her clients’ advantage when necessary.

Overview

Elizabeth offers clients the benefit of her experience in handling a broad range of family law matters, including child custody and co-parenting, domestic violence, and the division of high asset marital estates. Understanding how consuming the emotional and financial problems of a divorce can be, Elizabeth encourages clients to address volatile issues in constructive ways without further enflaming matters. With every case, her goal is to ensure that clients feel a sense of restoration at the end of the process, that they have created a roadmap for the rest of their lives.

Elizabeth has focused on family law for all of her legal career.  Prior to joining Feldesman Tucker, Elizabeth practiced family law in the San Francisco Bay Area, and she received her J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. Elizabeth is admitted to the bar in Washington, D.C. and California. Away from her practice Elizabeth enjoys running and baking. She and her husband live in northern Virginia, and spend time together exploring the DC region.

Honors/Awards

  • Selected to the Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, 2019

Past Employment

  • Owner/Principal Attorney, Selmo Family Law, PLLC, 2014-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Berra Stross & Wallacker, LLP, 2012-2013
  • Legal Research Attorney-Unified Family Court, California Superior Court, County of San Francisco, 2010-2011

Videos

How to Achieve Effective Co-Parent Communication

Posted By: Elizabeth Selmo

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Click to Read Transcript

How to Achieve Effective Co-Parent Communication

Elizabeth Selmo – Partner Family Law

Washington, DC Divorce Lawyer, Elizabeth Selmo discusses effective co-parenting tips.

The most important piece of a co-parenting relationship is effective communication. My three tips for effective communication would be first to think of the other parent as a co-worker. You want all of your communication with them to be professional in tone, not sarcastic, and really focusing on the important matter at hand. The second tip is to focus on the present. Avoid blaming your partner for something they have done in the past. This type of communication is rarely helpful to resolving a time sensitive issue in particular. Lastly, you want to follow the golden rule with co-parent communication in that anything you would expect the other parent to tell you, you should tell them. Another important thing for parents to keep in mind is that conflict between them actually hurts their children and that has been shown over and over again. When you are reaching out and being polite to the other parent, you are doing your child a benefit and that is really important to keep in mind and will hopefully give you the strength to do that as you move through some really difficult times.

My top goal with working with clients, especially those going through divorce and those with children, is to bring down their stress level. I try to do that by minimizing conflict and helping them resolve their legal issues in a straight forward manner as possible. I want my clients to be able to focus on the things that are really important to them like enjoying their children and succeeding in their careers. I want them to focus on what’s exciting about the future.

Practices

  • Family Law

Education

  • Golden Gate University, School of Law, 2009 J.D.
  • California State University, Chico, 2006 B.A.
  • 40-Hour Divorce Mediation Certification
  • 20-Hour Child Access Mediation Certification
  • 12-Hour AFCC Parenting Coordination Training

Bar/Court Admissions

  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Massachusetts (Inactive)

Publications / Blog Posts

  • Should I Tell My Divorce Attorney About My Affair?
    October 25, 2019
  • What Questions Should I be Asking When I Need a Business Valued for Divorce?
    February 08, 2019
  • When Your Spouse Takes an Extreme Position in Your Divorce
    September 05, 2018
  • Does My Spouse Have an Interest in My Business in Our Divorce?
    November 02, 2017
All Articles by this Attorney

Professional Memberships

  • DC Bar Association – Family Law Section
  • Woman’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia- Sustaining Member
  • American Bar Association
  • Alexandria Bar Association
  • Washington Council of Lawyers

Attorney Accolades

  • Selected to the 2019 Washington, DC Rising Stars list
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