Silhouettes of diverse family members holding hands, including children, adults, and a person in a wheelchair, against a colorful gradient background.

Advocacy for today’s families.

Planning for tomorrow.

Services

    • IEP & 504 Plan Advocacy: Securing proper accommodations, specialized instruction, and measurable goals.

    • FAPE & LRE Compliance: Ensuring your child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

    • Dispute Resolution: Representing parents in Manifestation Determinations, Prior Written Notice disputes, and Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) requests.

    • Litigation & Due Process: Providing rigorous representation during formal mediation, state complaints, and due process hearings.

    • Divorce

    • Child custody & parenting plans

    • Child support

    • Modification to an existing order

    • Alimony (spousal support)

    • Property division

    • Adoption

    • Guardianships

    • Protective order

    • Peace order

    • Contempt

    • Mediation

    • Settlement agreements

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Jillianne J. Trotter

Jillianne's practice focuses on helping individuals and families navigate special education and family law matters. In her special education practice, she represents parents and students in matters involving Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Section 504 plans, eligibility and evaluations, school discipline, access to education records, and dispute resolution with school systems, including mediation and due process. Her family law practice includes separation and divorce, alimony and spousal support, child custody and support, adoption, domestic violence and protective orders, and alternative dispute resolution.

Known for her compassionate and client-centered approach, Jillianne is guided by the principles of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, a perspective that considers how the law affects clients' overall well-being. Whether a family is restructuring after a separation or advocating for a child's right to an appropriate education, Jillianne is dedicated to helping clients navigate life's legal transitions with care, understanding, and a focus on achieving healthy, constructive outcomes, no matter the circumstances. Because the two areas so often overlap, she is well positioned to help families whose custody and co-parenting decisions involve a child with disabilities or unmet educational needs.

Before establishing her own practice and joining our team, Jillianne practiced family law at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport, and Skalny in Columbia, clerked for both the District Court for Baltimore City and the Appellate Court of Maryland, and earned recognition for her innovative community engagement in Howard County, including her time as a Children's Instructor with the Howard County Library System.

A long-time Howard County resident, Jillianne is deeply committed to community service and to advocacy for children and people with disabilities. She currently serves on the Board of Blossoms of Hope, represents Howard County in the Young Lawyers Division of the Maryland State Bar Association, and co-chairs the Division's Public Interest Committee. She has also served on the Board of the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County (2017–2021) and participated in the Disability Rights Maryland Supported Decision-Making Coalition (2020–2022).

Contact Me

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