team-member

Amanda Schmidt

N/A

N/A

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Child custody

Language

English

About

Amanda Schmidt was born and raised in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  She attended Glen Burnie High and graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in sociology, a minor in psychology, and a concentration in pre-law.   While attending Washington College, Amanda realized her dream of becoming a family law attorney.  She went on to attend the University of Baltimore School of Law.During law school, Amanda was a student attorney for the University's Family Law Clinic, where she argued cases in District Court and Circuit Court for economically disadvantaged clients.  Amanda participated in a campaign to reform Maryland's domestic violence laws, and was part of a delegation that testified before the General Assembly to change those laws. She was also a participant in the Center for Families, Courts and Children, where she became involved in the Truancy Court Program.  This program offered a holistic approach to assisting at-risk youths who demonstrated truant behavior.  Amanda also interned for the Honorable Yolanda Tanner and Master Claudette Brown at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Juvenile Division.  Amanda also obtained her mediation certification while attending law school.   After graduating from Law School, Amanda was selected to clerk for Domestic Relations Master William M. Dunn at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Family Law Division. After her clerkship, she immediately went on to work for Ward Pratz & Associates, P.A. where she has concentrated on further developing the family practice of the firm.Amanda is a certified Maryland mediator, and has her certification in Child Counsel’s Training from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Family Administration.  She has served in the capacity of a court-appointed attorney representing children in contested custody cases.

Practices Areas

Child custody

Child support

Divorce and separation

Language

English

Contact

WARD & CO., CHTD.308 Crain Hwy., N.W.Glen Burnie, MD, 21061

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

Bonnie
December 28, 2017

From start to finish my experience with Amanda was flawless. She was always quick to return my calls and emails. If she was not available she would have someone in her office call me. She was knowledgeable and compassionate. I have nothing but positive things to say about her. I don't live close to her office, but she was worth the drive. Thank you for being you, YOU ROCK!

Jordan
June 2, 2015

Amanda was a ray of sunshine in a very dark period in my life. i had been struggling with "obstacles" other attorneys would not and/or could not handle. my case was definitely an uphill battle and although ms. Schmidt was quite honest about the difficulties we had to deal with,, she was unafraid to take on such a daunting task. throughout the entire (custody) case she handled everything with an exceptional balance of professionalism, compassion and tenacity. in the end, a settlement was put on record which was beneficial to all parties... most importantly my daughter. She was the best attorney out of three previous that I had it is my opinion this woman is a shining example as to what is RIGHT with our judicial system. rest assured, with ms. Schmidt representing, you will have one of the best and brightest lawyers in Anne arundel county on your side! thank you from the bottom of my heart you made a very difficult situation much easier for me.

anonymous
February 13, 2015

I retained Amanda Schmidt for a domestic violence case. I had successfully obtained a protective order against an ex-boyfriend and he contested it, and then appealed the order to Circuit Court. In both cases, her professionalism and knowledge led to the order being kept in place. She understood my fear and provided emotional support as well as expert legal advice. I highly recommend Ms. Schmidt and the team at Ward Pratz & Associates.

anonymous
February 28, 2014

I found Ms Schmidt to be very knowledgeable regarding the specifics of my case, timely with document preparation and honest when presenting the available options. While my case may not have been complicated, it felt complicated to me. Ms Schmidt calmly walked me through each option, defined the possible results of any chosen option and made several valid suggestions.

Mary
February 27, 2014

Amanda Schmidt is an outstanding lawyer. My case involved domestic violence. When I needed immediate assistance on a Sunday night, she was informed of the circumstances, and had all the necessary paperwork needed for court on Monday morning. She thoroughly explained what I was to expect, and gave outstanding advice along the way. I ended up going back to court numerous times, as there was a child involved, as well as criminal charges. Amanda was there for every court appearance, made sure that all outcomes were fair, and pulled me back in line when emotions ran high. I not only gained a great lawyer, but a good friend as well. During one especially stressful court date, I told Amanda that every time she met me at the courthouse, she would look for me and shoot me a smile. Once I saw her smile at me, I always felt like I was being hugged and knew that everything was going to be alright. Amanda spent a year handling my case and never failed to keep me informed, up to date, and aware of all procedures that would be expected of me. She was fair, always upbeat, and extremely knowledgeable of the whole legal process. My outcome was more than I ever could have hoped for. I highly recommend Amanda Schmidt's services for legal counsel.

donna
February 26, 2014

I met with 2 other lawyers before meeting with Amanda and I am grateful to the friend who recommended her to me. Amanda was willing to invest in my need and desire to get what was rightfully mine by law. She understood the anger and hurt I experienced at the surrealistic ending of a 40 year marriage. I always felt she had my best interest at heart and I felt comfortable asking questions. She worked hard to get to the truth by getting court orders for financial information not disclosed during discovery. She always kept me informed of options. I will be forever in her debt for helping me trudge forward at a time when it would have been easier for me to sit down and cry.

anonymous
February 11, 2014

I generally don't trust lawyers. I know all too well how they like to fill your head full of hope, then give you a ton of excuses on the day of the trial. I know the trick where they smile in your face, tell you they believe you, then throw you under the bus in front of the judge. I wasn't sure what to expect w/ Amanda. I knew I had an uphill battle as a man accused of every type of violent crime imaginable in AA County, against a vindictive ex. I was trying to get more time with my young son, who I "share" with the ex. When I finally saw Amanda in action, in the courtroom, I was grateful and impressed. Amanda was the polar opposite of some of the crap lawyers I've hired in the past. She was well prepared. Her examinations were thorough and aggressive. Her arguments were logical and convincing. In regards to evidence, Amanda manged to enter significant items that other pricy, high profile local attorneys didn't seemed concerned with. For example, I had accumulated several years' of emails in which the ex admitted to physical abuse, a drinking problem, and a history of false claims. These emails were criticized by 3 more expensive, more experienced attorneys during consultations. Also, the emails were rejected as evidence at a hearing with Child Protective Services. However, as I said, Amanda had them admitted as evidence at our trial at the Circuit Court. As much as I pondered and scrutinized the details of my case over the past 4 years, Amanda pointed out important details that I had overlooked. Overall, Amanda and the team of paralegals and assistants at Ward, Pratz, & Associates obviously did the best they could with my case, under the circumstances. I can't say the same about other law firms in the area. Amanda is young, ambitious, aggressive, thorough, and competitive. From a cost standpoint, she is also easier on the pockets than most. I get a feeling in my gut that she is also more conscientious and morally sound than your typical lawyer. If I felt cheated in any way, believe me, I would bring the wrath of God to this review. I would want to warn the world. I would shout it from the rooftops. For all of the positive things that came about in my case, I credit Amanda and the team at W, P, & A. I hope she remains hungry in her representation of others, and moral among the many wolves she is likely surrounded by on a typical work day. In a nutshell, I have and will continue to recommend Amanda Schmidt, and will surely be calling on her again.

anonymous
August 13, 2012

I used Amanda for a divorce in 2009. I could not have been satisfied with her. While I did not want the divorce, she made it easier on me.

anonymous
July 9, 2012

Amanda was great, she has been representing us since 2009 in an ongoing custody battle. She is on top of all paperwork and proceedings and very knowledgeable about the law and your rights. We have received what we wanted plus more in the standing court order regarding custody and child support. I would recommend Amanda and will continue to use her for custody issues in the future.

anonymous
October 6, 2020

This lawyer literally is the worst at communicating with people. She threatens and demeans opposing parties. She doesnt know the law shes practicing and continues to threaten filing contempt and other things all while opposing parties are in the legal parameters of agreement. She uses scare tactics and fluff language in her emails to get what she wants. She is awful

Bonnie
December 28, 2017

From start to finish my experience with Amanda was flawless. She was always quick to return my calls and emails. If she was not available she would have someone in her office call me. She was knowledgeable and compassionate. I have nothing but positive things to say about her. I don't live close to her office, but she was worth the drive. Thank you for being you, YOU ROCK!

Jordan
June 2, 2015

Amanda was a ray of sunshine in a very dark period in my life. i had been struggling with "obstacles" other attorneys would not and/or could not handle. my case was definitely an uphill battle and although ms. Schmidt was quite honest about the difficulties we had to deal with,, she was unafraid to take on such a daunting task. throughout the entire (custody) case she handled everything with an exceptional balance of professionalism, compassion and tenacity. in the end, a settlement was put on record which was beneficial to all parties... most importantly my daughter. She was the best attorney out of three previous that I had it is my opinion this woman is a shining example as to what is RIGHT with our judicial system. rest assured, with ms. Schmidt representing, you will have one of the best and brightest lawyers in Anne arundel county on your side! thank you from the bottom of my heart you made a very difficult situation much easier for me.

anonymous
February 13, 2015

I retained Amanda Schmidt for a domestic violence case. I had successfully obtained a protective order against an ex-boyfriend and he contested it, and then appealed the order to Circuit Court. In both cases, her professionalism and knowledge led to the order being kept in place. She understood my fear and provided emotional support as well as expert legal advice. I highly recommend Ms. Schmidt and the team at Ward Pratz & Associates.

anonymous
February 28, 2014

I found Ms Schmidt to be very knowledgeable regarding the specifics of my case, timely with document preparation and honest when presenting the available options. While my case may not have been complicated, it felt complicated to me. Ms Schmidt calmly walked me through each option, defined the possible results of any chosen option and made several valid suggestions.

Mary
February 27, 2014

Amanda Schmidt is an outstanding lawyer. My case involved domestic violence. When I needed immediate assistance on a Sunday night, she was informed of the circumstances, and had all the necessary paperwork needed for court on Monday morning. She thoroughly explained what I was to expect, and gave outstanding advice along the way. I ended up going back to court numerous times, as there was a child involved, as well as criminal charges. Amanda was there for every court appearance, made sure that all outcomes were fair, and pulled me back in line when emotions ran high. I not only gained a great lawyer, but a good friend as well. During one especially stressful court date, I told Amanda that every time she met me at the courthouse, she would look for me and shoot me a smile. Once I saw her smile at me, I always felt like I was being hugged and knew that everything was going to be alright. Amanda spent a year handling my case and never failed to keep me informed, up to date, and aware of all procedures that would be expected of me. She was fair, always upbeat, and extremely knowledgeable of the whole legal process. My outcome was more than I ever could have hoped for. I highly recommend Amanda Schmidt's services for legal counsel.

donna
February 26, 2014

I met with 2 other lawyers before meeting with Amanda and I am grateful to the friend who recommended her to me. Amanda was willing to invest in my need and desire to get what was rightfully mine by law. She understood the anger and hurt I experienced at the surrealistic ending of a 40 year marriage. I always felt she had my best interest at heart and I felt comfortable asking questions. She worked hard to get to the truth by getting court orders for financial information not disclosed during discovery. She always kept me informed of options. I will be forever in her debt for helping me trudge forward at a time when it would have been easier for me to sit down and cry.

anonymous
February 11, 2014

I generally don't trust lawyers. I know all too well how they like to fill your head full of hope, then give you a ton of excuses on the day of the trial. I know the trick where they smile in your face, tell you they believe you, then throw you under the bus in front of the judge. I wasn't sure what to expect w/ Amanda. I knew I had an uphill battle as a man accused of every type of violent crime imaginable in AA County, against a vindictive ex. I was trying to get more time with my young son, who I "share" with the ex. When I finally saw Amanda in action, in the courtroom, I was grateful and impressed. Amanda was the polar opposite of some of the crap lawyers I've hired in the past. She was well prepared. Her examinations were thorough and aggressive. Her arguments were logical and convincing. In regards to evidence, Amanda manged to enter significant items that other pricy, high profile local attorneys didn't seemed concerned with. For example, I had accumulated several years' of emails in which the ex admitted to physical abuse, a drinking problem, and a history of false claims. These emails were criticized by 3 more expensive, more experienced attorneys during consultations. Also, the emails were rejected as evidence at a hearing with Child Protective Services. However, as I said, Amanda had them admitted as evidence at our trial at the Circuit Court. As much as I pondered and scrutinized the details of my case over the past 4 years, Amanda pointed out important details that I had overlooked. Overall, Amanda and the team of paralegals and assistants at Ward, Pratz, & Associates obviously did the best they could with my case, under the circumstances. I can't say the same about other law firms in the area. Amanda is young, ambitious, aggressive, thorough, and competitive. From a cost standpoint, she is also easier on the pockets than most. I get a feeling in my gut that she is also more conscientious and morally sound than your typical lawyer. If I felt cheated in any way, believe me, I would bring the wrath of God to this review. I would want to warn the world. I would shout it from the rooftops. For all of the positive things that came about in my case, I credit Amanda and the team at W, P, & A. I hope she remains hungry in her representation of others, and moral among the many wolves she is likely surrounded by on a typical work day. In a nutshell, I have and will continue to recommend Amanda Schmidt, and will surely be calling on her again.

anonymous
August 13, 2012

I used Amanda for a divorce in 2009. I could not have been satisfied with her. While I did not want the divorce, she made it easier on me.

anonymous
July 9, 2012

Amanda was great, she has been representing us since 2009 in an ongoing custody battle. She is on top of all paperwork and proceedings and very knowledgeable about the law and your rights. We have received what we wanted plus more in the standing court order regarding custody and child support. I would recommend Amanda and will continue to use her for custody issues in the future.

anonymous
October 6, 2020

This lawyer literally is the worst at communicating with people. She threatens and demeans opposing parties. She doesnt know the law shes practicing and continues to threaten filing contempt and other things all while opposing parties are in the legal parameters of agreement. She uses scare tactics and fluff language in her emails to get what she wants. She is awful

Bonnie
December 28, 2017

From start to finish my experience with Amanda was flawless. She was always quick to return my calls and emails. If she was not available she would have someone in her office call me. She was knowledgeable and compassionate. I have nothing but positive things to say about her. I don't live close to her office, but she was worth the drive. Thank you for being you, YOU ROCK!

Jordan
June 2, 2015

Amanda was a ray of sunshine in a very dark period in my life. i had been struggling with "obstacles" other attorneys would not and/or could not handle. my case was definitely an uphill battle and although ms. Schmidt was quite honest about the difficulties we had to deal with,, she was unafraid to take on such a daunting task. throughout the entire (custody) case she handled everything with an exceptional balance of professionalism, compassion and tenacity. in the end, a settlement was put on record which was beneficial to all parties... most importantly my daughter. She was the best attorney out of three previous that I had it is my opinion this woman is a shining example as to what is RIGHT with our judicial system. rest assured, with ms. Schmidt representing, you will have one of the best and brightest lawyers in Anne arundel county on your side! thank you from the bottom of my heart you made a very difficult situation much easier for me.

anonymous
February 13, 2015

I retained Amanda Schmidt for a domestic violence case. I had successfully obtained a protective order against an ex-boyfriend and he contested it, and then appealed the order to Circuit Court. In both cases, her professionalism and knowledge led to the order being kept in place. She understood my fear and provided emotional support as well as expert legal advice. I highly recommend Ms. Schmidt and the team at Ward Pratz & Associates.

anonymous
February 28, 2014

I found Ms Schmidt to be very knowledgeable regarding the specifics of my case, timely with document preparation and honest when presenting the available options. While my case may not have been complicated, it felt complicated to me. Ms Schmidt calmly walked me through each option, defined the possible results of any chosen option and made several valid suggestions.

Mary
February 27, 2014

Amanda Schmidt is an outstanding lawyer. My case involved domestic violence. When I needed immediate assistance on a Sunday night, she was informed of the circumstances, and had all the necessary paperwork needed for court on Monday morning. She thoroughly explained what I was to expect, and gave outstanding advice along the way. I ended up going back to court numerous times, as there was a child involved, as well as criminal charges. Amanda was there for every court appearance, made sure that all outcomes were fair, and pulled me back in line when emotions ran high. I not only gained a great lawyer, but a good friend as well. During one especially stressful court date, I told Amanda that every time she met me at the courthouse, she would look for me and shoot me a smile. Once I saw her smile at me, I always felt like I was being hugged and knew that everything was going to be alright. Amanda spent a year handling my case and never failed to keep me informed, up to date, and aware of all procedures that would be expected of me. She was fair, always upbeat, and extremely knowledgeable of the whole legal process. My outcome was more than I ever could have hoped for. I highly recommend Amanda Schmidt's services for legal counsel.

donna
February 26, 2014

I met with 2 other lawyers before meeting with Amanda and I am grateful to the friend who recommended her to me. Amanda was willing to invest in my need and desire to get what was rightfully mine by law. She understood the anger and hurt I experienced at the surrealistic ending of a 40 year marriage. I always felt she had my best interest at heart and I felt comfortable asking questions. She worked hard to get to the truth by getting court orders for financial information not disclosed during discovery. She always kept me informed of options. I will be forever in her debt for helping me trudge forward at a time when it would have been easier for me to sit down and cry.

anonymous
February 11, 2014

I generally don't trust lawyers. I know all too well how they like to fill your head full of hope, then give you a ton of excuses on the day of the trial. I know the trick where they smile in your face, tell you they believe you, then throw you under the bus in front of the judge. I wasn't sure what to expect w/ Amanda. I knew I had an uphill battle as a man accused of every type of violent crime imaginable in AA County, against a vindictive ex. I was trying to get more time with my young son, who I "share" with the ex. When I finally saw Amanda in action, in the courtroom, I was grateful and impressed. Amanda was the polar opposite of some of the crap lawyers I've hired in the past. She was well prepared. Her examinations were thorough and aggressive. Her arguments were logical and convincing. In regards to evidence, Amanda manged to enter significant items that other pricy, high profile local attorneys didn't seemed concerned with. For example, I had accumulated several years' of emails in which the ex admitted to physical abuse, a drinking problem, and a history of false claims. These emails were criticized by 3 more expensive, more experienced attorneys during consultations. Also, the emails were rejected as evidence at a hearing with Child Protective Services. However, as I said, Amanda had them admitted as evidence at our trial at the Circuit Court. As much as I pondered and scrutinized the details of my case over the past 4 years, Amanda pointed out important details that I had overlooked. Overall, Amanda and the team of paralegals and assistants at Ward, Pratz, & Associates obviously did the best they could with my case, under the circumstances. I can't say the same about other law firms in the area. Amanda is young, ambitious, aggressive, thorough, and competitive. From a cost standpoint, she is also easier on the pockets than most. I get a feeling in my gut that she is also more conscientious and morally sound than your typical lawyer. If I felt cheated in any way, believe me, I would bring the wrath of God to this review. I would want to warn the world. I would shout it from the rooftops. For all of the positive things that came about in my case, I credit Amanda and the team at W, P, & A. I hope she remains hungry in her representation of others, and moral among the many wolves she is likely surrounded by on a typical work day. In a nutshell, I have and will continue to recommend Amanda Schmidt, and will surely be calling on her again.

anonymous
August 13, 2012

I used Amanda for a divorce in 2009. I could not have been satisfied with her. While I did not want the divorce, she made it easier on me.

anonymous
July 9, 2012

Amanda was great, she has been representing us since 2009 in an ongoing custody battle. She is on top of all paperwork and proceedings and very knowledgeable about the law and your rights. We have received what we wanted plus more in the standing court order regarding custody and child support. I would recommend Amanda and will continue to use her for custody issues in the future.

anonymous
October 6, 2020

This lawyer literally is the worst at communicating with people. She threatens and demeans opposing parties. She doesnt know the law shes practicing and continues to threaten filing contempt and other things all while opposing parties are in the legal parameters of agreement. She uses scare tactics and fluff language in her emails to get what she wants. She is awful