Business executives & professionals
Discreet counsel when careers, compensation, and business interests are part of the picture.
Family Law & Mediation | Washington, DC and Maryland
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm
(202) 505-6877
Family Law Partners | DC & Maryland
When family is on the line, counsel matters.
D&A Legal represents individuals and families in Washington, DC and Maryland through divorce, custody, and the agreements that shape what comes next. Discreet, prepared, and personally led by founding partners Kristina M. Darwood and Nyree Adams.
Clear fees, honest expectations, and a partner by your side from the first call.
Partner-LedEvery decision guided by a founding partner, never handed off
DC & MDOne team for matters that cross the District and Maryland line
20+ YearsIncluding nine years of major-firm litigation, so every case is court-ready
MediatorMore ways to resolve your matter without a courtroom fight
The Firm
Strategic family law representation in Maryland & Washington, DC.
Navigating a divorce is rarely straightforward, and the emotional and financial stakes are high. Every decision made during this transition directly shapes your family's future.
Whether you are pursuing a smooth, uncontested settlement or facing high-conflict disputes requiring aggressive court intervention, having a dedicated legal advocate is essential. From complex asset division to delicate parenting arrangements, D&A Legal provides the steady, strategic counsel you need to move forward with confidence.
Our legal team brings deep knowledge of family law statutes across Maryland and the District of Columbia. We represent a wide array of clients, including business executives, high-net-worth individuals, and parents focused on protecting their custody rights, delivering tailored legal strategies designed around your personal goals.
At a Glance
Licensed in DC & Maryland
Free 30-minute consultations
5-star client reviews
In person & virtual
Mon to Fri, 9 am to 6 pm
Practice Areas
Devoted to family law.
A focused practice, so every client receives direct attention from a founding partner rather than a rotating team.
DivorceContested and uncontested divorce, legal separation, and the division of homes, retirement accounts, businesses, and debt. Steady, strategic counsel when the stakes are highest.Asset Division / Alimony / Nuptial AgreementsChild CustodyStable, workable custody arrangements that protect your rights as a parent and your children's well-being, from temporary custody filings to post-decree modifications.Legal & Physical Custody / Visitation / ModificationsChild SupportCalculations, modifications, and enforcement across Maryland and DC, with support structures that reflect income realities and meet your child's needs.Calculations / Modifications / EnforcementMediationPrivate, structured paths to agreement outside the courtroom, guided by a trained mediator and collaborative law professional.Divorce Mediation / Custody Mediation / Mediation Advocacy
Who We Represent
Counsel for families with a great deal at stake.
D&A Legal represents a wide range of clients across Maryland and the District of Columbia, each with a legal strategy designed around their goals.
High-net-worth individuals
Careful identification, valuation, and division of complex assets, retirement accounts, and property.
Parents protecting custody rights
Focused advocacy for stable, workable parenting arrangements that put children first.
Couples seeking an amicable resolution
Mediation and collaborative options that resolve matters privately and respectfully.
Our Approach
The aim is not to win a fight. It is to protect a family's future.
No two family law matters are identical. We construct personalized legal approaches tailored to your specific circumstances, whether that calls for negotiated settlements, mediation, or trial litigation. We are committed to safeguarding your financial interests and personal rights every step of the way.
Discretion
Your matter is handled privately and personally. Sensitive conversations stay between you and your attorney.
Clarity
Plain answers to urgent questions, honest expectations about outcomes and cost, and a clear plan from the first meeting.
Resolve
Settlement when it serves you. Thorough preparation and firm advocacy in court when it does not.
What to Expect
A clear path from first call to final resolution.
Private consultation
A confidential conversation about your situation, your goals, and your options.
A clear strategy
A plan built around your family, with honest expectations about timing and cost.
The right path
Negotiation, mediation, collaborative law, or litigation, chosen for your circumstances.
Your next chapter
A lasting agreement or order, and support if life changes later.
The Partners
Partner-led counsel. One standard of care.
A seasoned litigator and mediator, and a child custody advocate grounded in social work. Together they bring both sides of what a family matter demands: strategy and understanding.
Founding Partner
Kristina M. Darwood
A litigator by training. A family lawyer by calling.
Kristina earned her Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 2004 and spent nine years as a litigator at a major Washington, DC firm before devoting her practice to family law, where her work changes people's everyday lives.
A trained mediator and collaborative law professional, she believes in empowering clients to make the best decisions for their families, and she is prepared to advocate firmly in court when agreement is not possible.
- Education
- J.D., Howard University School of Law
- Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia; Maryland
- Training
- Trained Mediator; Collaborative Law
- Memberships
- Collaborative Dispute Resolution Professionals
Kristina Darwood
Full biography
Founding Partner
Nyree Adams
An advocate for children and families, long before law school.
Nyree came to the law through social work. After earning her degree in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley, she worked with at-risk youth and families before attending law school.
As an attorney she has represented children, parents, and the Department of Social Services in child custody cases. She guides clients with compassion through the complexities of the family court system.
- Education
- B.A., Social Work, University of California, Berkeley; J.D.
- Bar Admissions
- Maryland; District of Columbia
- Focus
- Child custody; children and family matters
- Experience
- Represented children, parents, and the Department of Social Services in custody cases
Nyree Adams
Full biography
Client Reviews
In their words.
What clients say about working with Kristina Darwood.
5-Star Google Review
“Kristina is extremely professional and emotionally balanced, which is the type of lawyer needed when trying to navigate a divorce. She ensures that you are clear on all the possible outcomes, and tactfully creates optimism when you get overwhelmed and start to have doubts about your case. I am grateful that I had her by my side during this process.”
5-Star Google Review
“Kristina was great to work with, and I was very fortunate to have found her. This process is painful irrespectively, and Kristina made this as smooth as possible. She’s very responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. I highly recommend her.”
5-Star Google Review
“The services I received from Ms. Darwood were personal and impeccable. She represented my best interests in the most professional way. I was pleased with her courtroom presence, response time whenever I called, and the services overall were outstanding! Thank you Kristina!”
Client reviews reflect individual experiences. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Paths to Resolution
Three ways forward. A firm fluent in all of them.
Few family lawyers practice at the negotiating table and in the courtroom with equal depth. That range lets us recommend the path that fits your family, not the one that fits the firm.
Mediation
A neutral mediator helps both parties reach their own agreement in confidential sessions. Often the fastest and least costly route.
Best suited for spouses who can still communicate and want to control the outcome.
Collaborative Law
Each spouse has their own attorney, and everyone commits to settling outside of court, with financial and family specialists as needed.
Best suited for complex finances or co-parenting where both sides want advocacy without litigation.
Litigation
When agreement is not possible or safety is at stake, the court decides. We prepare every case as though it will be tried.
Best suited for high conflict, emergency custody, or an uncooperative spouse.
Where We Practice
Washington, DC and Maryland.
Both partners are licensed in the District of Columbia and Maryland, and consultations are available in person, by phone, or by video.
District of Columbia
Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Family Court
DC Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division (family mediation)
Maryland
Maryland Circuit Courts, family matters
Mediation and settlement conferences across Maryland
Common Questions
Answers before you call.
Do we have to be separated before filing for divorce?
It depends on where you file and the grounds. DC and Maryland both allow no-fault divorce, and some grounds require a period of separation while others do not. We will explain which options fit your situation at your consultation.
What is the difference between legal and physical custody?
Legal custody is the authority to make major decisions for your child, such as healthcare, schooling, and religious upbringing. Physical custody refers to where the child lives and the daily care arrangements.
Will I work directly with a partner?
Yes. Every client works directly with a founding partner, Kristina M. Darwood or Nyree Adams.
Insights
Guidance for what comes next.
Custody / Guide
Emergency Custody in DC and Maryland: What Qualifies and How Quickly It Moves
Coming soon
Divorce / Explainer
Mediation or Collaborative Divorce? How to Choose the Right Path for Your Family
Coming soon
Property / Guide
Dividing Retirement Accounts and the Family Home in a Maryland Divorce
Coming soonPrivate Consultation
Begin with a confidential conversation.
Share a few details and we will contact you within one business day to arrange a time. In-person, phone, and video consultations are available.
- 1A brief call to understand your situation
- 2A full consultation with a partner
- 3A clear strategy and fee arrangement
Call(202) 505-6877