Mark Oakley
Mark W. Oakley is an established litigation attorney concentrating on civil litigation, personal injury, construction law, and criminal and traffic defense. He also advises business clients, negotiates and drafts contracts, and handles a variety of litigation matters at all levels of the state and federal court systems. Mr. Oakley is trained and certified in the collaborative practice of law. Mr. Oakley is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1987), and the University of Maryland, College Park (B.A. 1984). He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Bar Association of Montgomery County. He is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Authored the winning brief in the case of 1986 Mercedes v. State of Maryland, a precedent-setting decision limiting the State’s power to forfeit private property.
- Criminal Law
- Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
- DUI & DWI
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Personal Injury
- Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
- Construction Law
- Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
- Estate Planning
- Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Free Consultation
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Credit Cards Accepted
Visa, MasterCard, Discover -
Contingent Fees
I handle personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis, meaning if there is no recovery, you do not owe me a legal fee.
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
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- Maryland
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- University of Maryland - Baltimore
- J.D. (1987) | Law
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- University of Maryland - College Park
- B.A. (1984) | English
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- District of Columbia Bar
- Member
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- Maryland State Bar Association
- Member
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- Bar Association of Montgomery County
- Member
- - Current
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- Q. Ex-spouse listed as beneficiary on will in Maryland: inheritance issue?
- A: By law (Maryland statutory code) you ceased to be a beneficiary under your ex-spouse's will as of the date your judgment of absolute divorce was entered on the court docket. The judgment of divorce also would have terminated you as a beneficiary under any beneficiary designation on any financial accounts, retirement accounts, etc., unless there was a new designation dated after the date of the divorce naming you as beneficiary. So, no, you have no right to inherit under your ex-spouse's estate, nor did your ex-spouse have a right to inherit under yours.
- Q. Seeking a criminal lawyer for horse racing gambling charges in Maryland
- A: I do not know how you identify specific lawyes with past experience defending illegal horse gambling schemes, other than googling news reports and articles about others charged in the past with these crimes, and looking to see if their lawyer is mentioned, or looking up those defendants by name in the online Maryland Judiciary Case Search system, which typically will identify the lawyer who represented them. That doesn't mean that the lawyer ever represented another case like it. Most criminal defense lawyers can defend pretty much any crime. I am not aware of a peculiar expertise needed for a horse racing scheme, and the area of criminal law does not strike me as one that would generate ... Read More
- Q. Do I need a legal document to let a neighbor sell inherited furnishings?
- A: From what you say, all property has already passed to you under the estate, and the estate is closed. The property is no longer "estate" assets, but your personal property. Do with it as you please. It may be prudent to have some form of written statement (even an email will do) stating that you have authorized them to sell whatever tangible personal property that is in the home (but not attached to or part of the home), and keep the proceeds of the sale. You might also say that they are to secure the premises when they are done and to not permit any damage to the home. Is part of the deal that they will remove and dispose of all other property from the home that is not sold? In ... Read More
