Jim Milko brings three fundamental strengths to the table on behalf of every one of his clients: Experience, Skill and Passion.

Jim has been practicing as a family lawyer for over a quarter century, and is recognized by clients, professional colleagues, and Judges as being preeminent in the domestic relations field. A former Chair of the Family and Juvenile Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association, and one of only approximately three-dozen attorneys selected as Fellows of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Jim’s experience transcends all levels of family law cases, including settlement negotiation, mediation, trial litigation, and appellate advocacy.

At the age of only twenty-four years old and fresh out of law school, Jim argued in banc before all 13 Judges of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in the first reported appellate decision in the United States to address whether a parent’s HIV-positive status should be considered in fashioning custody and visitation rulings. Since that time, Jim has never looked back, assisting clients in navigating all types of complex family law concerns, including custody and visitation disputes; complex marital property matters (including cases involving valuation of business interests and other unique property issues); spousal support/alimony; child support; domestic violence matters; abuse allegations and investigations, prenuptial agreements, and a whole range of additional family law disputes.

A Respected Trial Lawyer in Maryland

A former recipient of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Award, Jim’s courtroom skill and trial presentation preparations are both recognized and well-refined. Accordingly, he has not only been asked to present at dozens of continuing legal education programs for fellow family law practitioners, he is part of the Faculty of the Judicial College of Maryland, and has regularly trained both new Judges and experienced members of the Bench regarding a variety of family law topics. He has served on multiple governmental committees/task forces charged to study specific family law issues and make recommendations for improved Maryland legislation regarding those matters. He is also on the drafting committee for the Family Law Maryland Judge’s Benchbook, a trial resource that is available to every Maryland trial Judge who hears a family law case.

Jim Milko: Empathetic & Compassionate Family Lawyer

Of equal import, Jim is a parent, spouse, divorcee, community member, and regular human being, just like every one of his clients. To each individual case, he brings both a passion for achieving the very best outcome possible for the client, and true empathy and compassion for each person with whom he works. Divorce and family law matters can be extremely difficult, stressful, and emotionally challenging for anyone confronted by a domestic relations dispute. After all, for most people, ‘family’ is more important than anything else. The pressures a client faces with respect to any contested custody issue — or an economic dispute regarding complex marital property matters or spousal support — can be enormous. Jim understands that reality.

The Best Outcome with the Least Expense Possible

Beginning with the very first meeting, he works in partnership with the client to educate, strategize, and set forth a course of action designed to advance the client’s interests in a manner designed to maximize the chance of the very best outcome. He subscribes to the principle that the attorney and client must act in concert with each other toward the established goals. In other words, the attorney must educate the client as to the law, the process, and how the law might apply to the facts of each individual’s particular case. Then, the attorney and client mutually develop clear strategy, planning, and actions in order to achieve well-defined goals.

Every effort and opportunity is explored to achieve these goals without the emotional and financial costs associated with full-blown litigation, if at all possible. These options include both settlement negotiation and mediation. An aspect of the client’s goals should always be to achieve a good outcome while incurring the least expense possible.

If this approach sounds attractive to you, then Jim Milko would likely be the right fit for you as legal counsel.

Jim Milko Outside of the Office

Jim is married to a wonderful wife…has two fantastic kids of college-age years and a great stepson from his current marriage…grew up in North Carolina…loves running, hiking, and skiing.enjoys all forms of outdoor activities…has resided in Maryland for approximately 30 years…went to undergrad at the University of North Carolina…graduated cum laude from law school at American University…likes watching sports…believes that one day the Pittsburgh Pirates might win another World Series.