Erin Kopelman
N/A
Licensed for 15 years
Law Degree
Awards
Primary Practice Area
Child custody
Language
English
About
Erin Kopelman is a divorce attorney who handles cases involving domestic relations and family law, including divorce, custody, child support, property settlement, alimony, post-judgment issues, prenuptial agreements, and postnuptial agreements in Maryland and the District of Columbia.Erin is a fierce advocate for those she represents in negotiations and in the courtroom. She is straightforward and communicative, making sure her clients have the information to make the best decisions for themselves and their children. The daughter of two Naval officers, Erin brings a high level of precision and discipline to all her matters.Erin often represents people with substantial assets or income who have issues related to business valuations, trust interests, or non-marital property. She works with many high-level executives at large companies, independent entrepreneurs, and professionals like attorneys in downtown law firms, as well as their spouses, all of whom value her discretion and her understanding of complex compensation and ownership issues. Erin also handles cases involving support for adult disabled children and domestic violence. Prior to joining Lerch Early, Erin practiced law at a boutique divorce and family law firm in Montgomery County.Erin is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Family Law, is listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, and has been named a “Rising Star” in DC Super Lawyers. The Daily Record named her one of Maryland’s “Leading Women,” and Bethesda Magazine readers gave her the “Family Law Practitioner of the Year” award. Active in the Family Law section of the county bar association, she has received both the “Section Chair of the Year” and “Bar Leader” awards.Erin loves the exercise, plus peace and beauty, of being out on the water while kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. When she can’t be on the water, Erin enjoys running in her neighborhood while listening to music or on the treadmill while watching TV.
Practices Areas
Child custody
Child support
Divorce and separation
Family
Language
English
Contact
Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered7600 Wisconsin AvenueSuite 700Bethesda, MD, 20815
Office: N/A
Website: N/AReviews
Erin was my divorce attorney through an extremely messy and contentious situation. During the entire process she was unfailingly patient with me, taking the time to explain some of the more arcane or complex parts of the process to me so that I could better understand (and be responsive to) the many requests by the Court for documents. In addition, Erin was able to rise above the acrimony of the situation and was a constant advocate for fair, negotiated approaches to closing the gap between the parties. In court, she respectfully, but forcefully pushed our positions in a way that was clear, but not antagonizing to the Judge. She is, in short, someone you would be lucky to have on your side. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
I worked with Erin on my rather lengthy, complex divorce proceeding, and from the moment we began working together, I knew Erin was the right fit. She patiently outlined my options at every turn, was incredibly responsive and timely with all filings and inquiries, and presented creative solutions to help navigate what would otherwise have been an incredibly difficult experience. Her whole team of support staff and attorneys were easy to work with, incredibly skilled, and made sure that my divorce proceeding was resolved in the most advantageous way possible. She was available on weekends and after hours as my schedule allowed to check-in on my case, and demonstrated a level of empathy and patience for my situation that left a lasting impression. I cannot recommend her enough for any case of a sensitive or personal nature - she's skilled, professional, and effective, and also supportive and empathetic.
Cant recommend Erin Kopelman enough. She was the second lawyer I hired during the divorce process in 2020 due to an unresponsive "first" lawyer. Erin was there every step of the way - always returned calls promptly, provided pros and cons of every decision, and looked out for my best interests and my childrens'. We settled out of court and used a mediator that both sides could agree on. I ALWAYS felt well represented and confident in her abilities to protect me through this process.
Erin is a tremendous attorney who helped me manage my divorce both legally and personally. Her kind empathy toward me and her sharp, effective engagement with opposing counsel was the perfect balance needed to smoothly navigate a challenging divorce and custody process. I could not imagine going through such a difficult time with anyone else.
I knew that divorce would be stressful, but I can promise you that mine was infinitely LESS stressful than it could have been thanks to divorce attorney Erin Kopelman of Lerch Early. My original lawyer DIED in the middle of the divorce, but Erin took over so smoothly -- and accomplished more in a week than the dead guy had managed in months. Erin was SO good that my POA said she wished SHE was getting a divorce just so she could hire Erin. Erin was SO good that I would watch a reality TV show starring her just I could watch her operate all the time.
I unequivocally recommend Erin as a family law attorney after working with her on my divorce. At the first meeting, Erin instilled a sense of calm and confidence that was sorely needed in a moment of panic. Each time the process hit an obstacle or got bogged down, she kept advancing the ball and did everything she could to protect me from unnecessary noise. When the matter came to a close, she helped me achieve the most favorable result possible from a familial and economic standpoint. Finally, I'd like to point out that Erin deploys her valuable network of divorce-adjacent professionals (therapists, mortgage lenders, other attorneys) as those issues inevitable arise. She is a great advocate and friend when you need it most.
Erin is wonderful to work with. She is very supportive and helped to figure out the best options available for the best interests of my children
I am the POA for a friend who recently went thru a divorce. After a dreadful experience with another attorney, we found Erin thru a personal recommendation. What a game changer! When I say we hit the jackpot, I am not exaggerating. Erin was as different from the former attorney as could be. She was responsive, compassionate, efficient and professional. She was sensitive about the expense of duplicating efforts (because the original attorney's staff could not produce important documents and information), and I'm sure she did not charge us as much as she could have to redo things we'd already paid for. Erin has an extraordinary command of her field and a pretty good BS meter, both of which saved us much time and expense. Despite facing many obstacles, Erin quickly negotiated a settlement we found more-than acceptable. She saved us thousands of dollars by her speed and tenacity, and she was an absolute delight to work with. Bottom line: I recommend Erin Kopelman unreservedly.
Erin helped me renegotiate real estate ownership after my divorce and buy my ex-husband out of the marital home. I was dreading the process and expecting to see my bank account drained by legal fees. I was also somewhat intimidated by the confluence of emotional issues and legal ones. Although going though legal negotiations after divorce is not fun, Erin made it about as painless as it could be. She was straightforward, she explained everything clearly, and she answered all my questions. She was accessible, easy to talk to, and I always felt she was on my side. Further, she was transparent in her billing and her rates were incredibly reasonable. Erin is whip-smart and well-versed in the law. If you hire her, rest assured that you'll be in excellent hands.
At the end of Summer 2019 I went to Lerch, Early & Brewer to meet with Erin Kopelman for the first time. I wanted a divorce from my marriage of 36 years. I had been separated for 9 years but my ex still controlled all the finances. Over time money, which had been plentiful disappeared, in 2019 my ex told me the most he could spare of our money was one thousand a month and that he deserved happiness. He and his girlfriend bought a farm in Montgomery County, Md. Anyone that lives in Montgomery County knows that one thousand a month isn’t going to pay the bills. We owned rental properties that had current tenants, we also had retirement accounts and his life insurance that he stopped paying on. Erin was the only person that knew there was value in that life insurance. At first he ignored Erin’s mail and emails. She decided it was time to get values on the properties so she sent me and an appraiser to each property to get a financial evaluation. That actually got his attention. He hired a lawyer. There were somethings he was insisting be in the final divorce papers but his lawyer didn’t write them up. Erin did, she leveled the playing field for me. She is extremely clever and she untangled my life from his. The only things that got done were the things Erin did. She got my retirement, she had the properties transferred and she helped rescue about 90,000 in life insurance. As of last week the final details are complete and I am free to enjoy my life with half of everything. We were fair although my ex is still bitter. And don’t worry about him, he remarried within a months time. He never did say thank you though.
Erin was my divorce attorney through an extremely messy and contentious situation. During the entire process she was unfailingly patient with me, taking the time to explain some of the more arcane or complex parts of the process to me so that I could better understand (and be responsive to) the many requests by the Court for documents. In addition, Erin was able to rise above the acrimony of the situation and was a constant advocate for fair, negotiated approaches to closing the gap between the parties. In court, she respectfully, but forcefully pushed our positions in a way that was clear, but not antagonizing to the Judge. She is, in short, someone you would be lucky to have on your side. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
I worked with Erin on my rather lengthy, complex divorce proceeding, and from the moment we began working together, I knew Erin was the right fit. She patiently outlined my options at every turn, was incredibly responsive and timely with all filings and inquiries, and presented creative solutions to help navigate what would otherwise have been an incredibly difficult experience. Her whole team of support staff and attorneys were easy to work with, incredibly skilled, and made sure that my divorce proceeding was resolved in the most advantageous way possible. She was available on weekends and after hours as my schedule allowed to check-in on my case, and demonstrated a level of empathy and patience for my situation that left a lasting impression. I cannot recommend her enough for any case of a sensitive or personal nature - she's skilled, professional, and effective, and also supportive and empathetic.
Cant recommend Erin Kopelman enough. She was the second lawyer I hired during the divorce process in 2020 due to an unresponsive "first" lawyer. Erin was there every step of the way - always returned calls promptly, provided pros and cons of every decision, and looked out for my best interests and my childrens'. We settled out of court and used a mediator that both sides could agree on. I ALWAYS felt well represented and confident in her abilities to protect me through this process.
Erin is a tremendous attorney who helped me manage my divorce both legally and personally. Her kind empathy toward me and her sharp, effective engagement with opposing counsel was the perfect balance needed to smoothly navigate a challenging divorce and custody process. I could not imagine going through such a difficult time with anyone else.
I knew that divorce would be stressful, but I can promise you that mine was infinitely LESS stressful than it could have been thanks to divorce attorney Erin Kopelman of Lerch Early. My original lawyer DIED in the middle of the divorce, but Erin took over so smoothly -- and accomplished more in a week than the dead guy had managed in months. Erin was SO good that my POA said she wished SHE was getting a divorce just so she could hire Erin. Erin was SO good that I would watch a reality TV show starring her just I could watch her operate all the time.
I unequivocally recommend Erin as a family law attorney after working with her on my divorce. At the first meeting, Erin instilled a sense of calm and confidence that was sorely needed in a moment of panic. Each time the process hit an obstacle or got bogged down, she kept advancing the ball and did everything she could to protect me from unnecessary noise. When the matter came to a close, she helped me achieve the most favorable result possible from a familial and economic standpoint. Finally, I'd like to point out that Erin deploys her valuable network of divorce-adjacent professionals (therapists, mortgage lenders, other attorneys) as those issues inevitable arise. She is a great advocate and friend when you need it most.
Erin is wonderful to work with. She is very supportive and helped to figure out the best options available for the best interests of my children
I am the POA for a friend who recently went thru a divorce. After a dreadful experience with another attorney, we found Erin thru a personal recommendation. What a game changer! When I say we hit the jackpot, I am not exaggerating. Erin was as different from the former attorney as could be. She was responsive, compassionate, efficient and professional. She was sensitive about the expense of duplicating efforts (because the original attorney's staff could not produce important documents and information), and I'm sure she did not charge us as much as she could have to redo things we'd already paid for. Erin has an extraordinary command of her field and a pretty good BS meter, both of which saved us much time and expense. Despite facing many obstacles, Erin quickly negotiated a settlement we found more-than acceptable. She saved us thousands of dollars by her speed and tenacity, and she was an absolute delight to work with. Bottom line: I recommend Erin Kopelman unreservedly.
Erin helped me renegotiate real estate ownership after my divorce and buy my ex-husband out of the marital home. I was dreading the process and expecting to see my bank account drained by legal fees. I was also somewhat intimidated by the confluence of emotional issues and legal ones. Although going though legal negotiations after divorce is not fun, Erin made it about as painless as it could be. She was straightforward, she explained everything clearly, and she answered all my questions. She was accessible, easy to talk to, and I always felt she was on my side. Further, she was transparent in her billing and her rates were incredibly reasonable. Erin is whip-smart and well-versed in the law. If you hire her, rest assured that you'll be in excellent hands.
At the end of Summer 2019 I went to Lerch, Early & Brewer to meet with Erin Kopelman for the first time. I wanted a divorce from my marriage of 36 years. I had been separated for 9 years but my ex still controlled all the finances. Over time money, which had been plentiful disappeared, in 2019 my ex told me the most he could spare of our money was one thousand a month and that he deserved happiness. He and his girlfriend bought a farm in Montgomery County, Md. Anyone that lives in Montgomery County knows that one thousand a month isn’t going to pay the bills. We owned rental properties that had current tenants, we also had retirement accounts and his life insurance that he stopped paying on. Erin was the only person that knew there was value in that life insurance. At first he ignored Erin’s mail and emails. She decided it was time to get values on the properties so she sent me and an appraiser to each property to get a financial evaluation. That actually got his attention. He hired a lawyer. There were somethings he was insisting be in the final divorce papers but his lawyer didn’t write them up. Erin did, she leveled the playing field for me. She is extremely clever and she untangled my life from his. The only things that got done were the things Erin did. She got my retirement, she had the properties transferred and she helped rescue about 90,000 in life insurance. As of last week the final details are complete and I am free to enjoy my life with half of everything. We were fair although my ex is still bitter. And don’t worry about him, he remarried within a months time. He never did say thank you though.
Erin was my divorce attorney through an extremely messy and contentious situation. During the entire process she was unfailingly patient with me, taking the time to explain some of the more arcane or complex parts of the process to me so that I could better understand (and be responsive to) the many requests by the Court for documents. In addition, Erin was able to rise above the acrimony of the situation and was a constant advocate for fair, negotiated approaches to closing the gap between the parties. In court, she respectfully, but forcefully pushed our positions in a way that was clear, but not antagonizing to the Judge. She is, in short, someone you would be lucky to have on your side. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
I worked with Erin on my rather lengthy, complex divorce proceeding, and from the moment we began working together, I knew Erin was the right fit. She patiently outlined my options at every turn, was incredibly responsive and timely with all filings and inquiries, and presented creative solutions to help navigate what would otherwise have been an incredibly difficult experience. Her whole team of support staff and attorneys were easy to work with, incredibly skilled, and made sure that my divorce proceeding was resolved in the most advantageous way possible. She was available on weekends and after hours as my schedule allowed to check-in on my case, and demonstrated a level of empathy and patience for my situation that left a lasting impression. I cannot recommend her enough for any case of a sensitive or personal nature - she's skilled, professional, and effective, and also supportive and empathetic.
Cant recommend Erin Kopelman enough. She was the second lawyer I hired during the divorce process in 2020 due to an unresponsive "first" lawyer. Erin was there every step of the way - always returned calls promptly, provided pros and cons of every decision, and looked out for my best interests and my childrens'. We settled out of court and used a mediator that both sides could agree on. I ALWAYS felt well represented and confident in her abilities to protect me through this process.
Erin is a tremendous attorney who helped me manage my divorce both legally and personally. Her kind empathy toward me and her sharp, effective engagement with opposing counsel was the perfect balance needed to smoothly navigate a challenging divorce and custody process. I could not imagine going through such a difficult time with anyone else.
I knew that divorce would be stressful, but I can promise you that mine was infinitely LESS stressful than it could have been thanks to divorce attorney Erin Kopelman of Lerch Early. My original lawyer DIED in the middle of the divorce, but Erin took over so smoothly -- and accomplished more in a week than the dead guy had managed in months. Erin was SO good that my POA said she wished SHE was getting a divorce just so she could hire Erin. Erin was SO good that I would watch a reality TV show starring her just I could watch her operate all the time.
I unequivocally recommend Erin as a family law attorney after working with her on my divorce. At the first meeting, Erin instilled a sense of calm and confidence that was sorely needed in a moment of panic. Each time the process hit an obstacle or got bogged down, she kept advancing the ball and did everything she could to protect me from unnecessary noise. When the matter came to a close, she helped me achieve the most favorable result possible from a familial and economic standpoint. Finally, I'd like to point out that Erin deploys her valuable network of divorce-adjacent professionals (therapists, mortgage lenders, other attorneys) as those issues inevitable arise. She is a great advocate and friend when you need it most.
Erin is wonderful to work with. She is very supportive and helped to figure out the best options available for the best interests of my children
I am the POA for a friend who recently went thru a divorce. After a dreadful experience with another attorney, we found Erin thru a personal recommendation. What a game changer! When I say we hit the jackpot, I am not exaggerating. Erin was as different from the former attorney as could be. She was responsive, compassionate, efficient and professional. She was sensitive about the expense of duplicating efforts (because the original attorney's staff could not produce important documents and information), and I'm sure she did not charge us as much as she could have to redo things we'd already paid for. Erin has an extraordinary command of her field and a pretty good BS meter, both of which saved us much time and expense. Despite facing many obstacles, Erin quickly negotiated a settlement we found more-than acceptable. She saved us thousands of dollars by her speed and tenacity, and she was an absolute delight to work with. Bottom line: I recommend Erin Kopelman unreservedly.
Erin helped me renegotiate real estate ownership after my divorce and buy my ex-husband out of the marital home. I was dreading the process and expecting to see my bank account drained by legal fees. I was also somewhat intimidated by the confluence of emotional issues and legal ones. Although going though legal negotiations after divorce is not fun, Erin made it about as painless as it could be. She was straightforward, she explained everything clearly, and she answered all my questions. She was accessible, easy to talk to, and I always felt she was on my side. Further, she was transparent in her billing and her rates were incredibly reasonable. Erin is whip-smart and well-versed in the law. If you hire her, rest assured that you'll be in excellent hands.
At the end of Summer 2019 I went to Lerch, Early & Brewer to meet with Erin Kopelman for the first time. I wanted a divorce from my marriage of 36 years. I had been separated for 9 years but my ex still controlled all the finances. Over time money, which had been plentiful disappeared, in 2019 my ex told me the most he could spare of our money was one thousand a month and that he deserved happiness. He and his girlfriend bought a farm in Montgomery County, Md. Anyone that lives in Montgomery County knows that one thousand a month isn’t going to pay the bills. We owned rental properties that had current tenants, we also had retirement accounts and his life insurance that he stopped paying on. Erin was the only person that knew there was value in that life insurance. At first he ignored Erin’s mail and emails. She decided it was time to get values on the properties so she sent me and an appraiser to each property to get a financial evaluation. That actually got his attention. He hired a lawyer. There were somethings he was insisting be in the final divorce papers but his lawyer didn’t write them up. Erin did, she leveled the playing field for me. She is extremely clever and she untangled my life from his. The only things that got done were the things Erin did. She got my retirement, she had the properties transferred and she helped rescue about 90,000 in life insurance. As of last week the final details are complete and I am free to enjoy my life with half of everything. We were fair although my ex is still bitter. And don’t worry about him, he remarried within a months time. He never did say thank you though.
Erin was my divorce attorney through an extremely messy and contentious situation. During the entire process she was unfailingly patient with me, taking the time to explain some of the more arcane or complex parts of the process to me so that I could better understand (and be responsive to) the many requests by the Court for documents. In addition, Erin was able to rise above the acrimony of the situation and was a constant advocate for fair, negotiated approaches to closing the gap between the parties. In court, she respectfully, but forcefully pushed our positions in a way that was clear, but not antagonizing to the Judge. She is, in short, someone you would be lucky to have on your side. I wholeheartedly recommend her.
I worked with Erin on my rather lengthy, complex divorce proceeding, and from the moment we began working together, I knew Erin was the right fit. She patiently outlined my options at every turn, was incredibly responsive and timely with all filings and inquiries, and presented creative solutions to help navigate what would otherwise have been an incredibly difficult experience. Her whole team of support staff and attorneys were easy to work with, incredibly skilled, and made sure that my divorce proceeding was resolved in the most advantageous way possible. She was available on weekends and after hours as my schedule allowed to check-in on my case, and demonstrated a level of empathy and patience for my situation that left a lasting impression. I cannot recommend her enough for any case of a sensitive or personal nature - she's skilled, professional, and effective, and also supportive and empathetic.
Cant recommend Erin Kopelman enough. She was the second lawyer I hired during the divorce process in 2020 due to an unresponsive "first" lawyer. Erin was there every step of the way - always returned calls promptly, provided pros and cons of every decision, and looked out for my best interests and my childrens'. We settled out of court and used a mediator that both sides could agree on. I ALWAYS felt well represented and confident in her abilities to protect me through this process.
Erin is a tremendous attorney who helped me manage my divorce both legally and personally. Her kind empathy toward me and her sharp, effective engagement with opposing counsel was the perfect balance needed to smoothly navigate a challenging divorce and custody process. I could not imagine going through such a difficult time with anyone else.
I knew that divorce would be stressful, but I can promise you that mine was infinitely LESS stressful than it could have been thanks to divorce attorney Erin Kopelman of Lerch Early. My original lawyer DIED in the middle of the divorce, but Erin took over so smoothly -- and accomplished more in a week than the dead guy had managed in months. Erin was SO good that my POA said she wished SHE was getting a divorce just so she could hire Erin. Erin was SO good that I would watch a reality TV show starring her just I could watch her operate all the time.
I unequivocally recommend Erin as a family law attorney after working with her on my divorce. At the first meeting, Erin instilled a sense of calm and confidence that was sorely needed in a moment of panic. Each time the process hit an obstacle or got bogged down, she kept advancing the ball and did everything she could to protect me from unnecessary noise. When the matter came to a close, she helped me achieve the most favorable result possible from a familial and economic standpoint. Finally, I'd like to point out that Erin deploys her valuable network of divorce-adjacent professionals (therapists, mortgage lenders, other attorneys) as those issues inevitable arise. She is a great advocate and friend when you need it most.
Erin is wonderful to work with. She is very supportive and helped to figure out the best options available for the best interests of my children
I am the POA for a friend who recently went thru a divorce. After a dreadful experience with another attorney, we found Erin thru a personal recommendation. What a game changer! When I say we hit the jackpot, I am not exaggerating. Erin was as different from the former attorney as could be. She was responsive, compassionate, efficient and professional. She was sensitive about the expense of duplicating efforts (because the original attorney's staff could not produce important documents and information), and I'm sure she did not charge us as much as she could have to redo things we'd already paid for. Erin has an extraordinary command of her field and a pretty good BS meter, both of which saved us much time and expense. Despite facing many obstacles, Erin quickly negotiated a settlement we found more-than acceptable. She saved us thousands of dollars by her speed and tenacity, and she was an absolute delight to work with. Bottom line: I recommend Erin Kopelman unreservedly.
Erin helped me renegotiate real estate ownership after my divorce and buy my ex-husband out of the marital home. I was dreading the process and expecting to see my bank account drained by legal fees. I was also somewhat intimidated by the confluence of emotional issues and legal ones. Although going though legal negotiations after divorce is not fun, Erin made it about as painless as it could be. She was straightforward, she explained everything clearly, and she answered all my questions. She was accessible, easy to talk to, and I always felt she was on my side. Further, she was transparent in her billing and her rates were incredibly reasonable. Erin is whip-smart and well-versed in the law. If you hire her, rest assured that you'll be in excellent hands.
At the end of Summer 2019 I went to Lerch, Early & Brewer to meet with Erin Kopelman for the first time. I wanted a divorce from my marriage of 36 years. I had been separated for 9 years but my ex still controlled all the finances. Over time money, which had been plentiful disappeared, in 2019 my ex told me the most he could spare of our money was one thousand a month and that he deserved happiness. He and his girlfriend bought a farm in Montgomery County, Md. Anyone that lives in Montgomery County knows that one thousand a month isn’t going to pay the bills. We owned rental properties that had current tenants, we also had retirement accounts and his life insurance that he stopped paying on. Erin was the only person that knew there was value in that life insurance. At first he ignored Erin’s mail and emails. She decided it was time to get values on the properties so she sent me and an appraiser to each property to get a financial evaluation. That actually got his attention. He hired a lawyer. There were somethings he was insisting be in the final divorce papers but his lawyer didn’t write them up. Erin did, she leveled the playing field for me. She is extremely clever and she untangled my life from his. The only things that got done were the things Erin did. She got my retirement, she had the properties transferred and she helped rescue about 90,000 in life insurance. As of last week the final details are complete and I am free to enjoy my life with half of everything. We were fair although my ex is still bitter. And don’t worry about him, he remarried within a months time. He never did say thank you though.