Melissa Boyd concentrates her practice on family law.  She advocates in various areas including, but not limited to, divorce, pre-nuptial and post-divorce agreements, child custody and support, equitable distribution, alimony, adoptions, protection from abuse and juvenile law.

She has dedicated much of her professional career to preserving the rights of children and their families.  Prior to joining High Swartz in 2004, she was a family law practitioner at a Philadelphia law firm.  Ms. Boyd also clerked for two years for the Honorable Stuart R. Berger in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City in Maryland.

Ms. Boyd is a frequent presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section, as well as the Montgomery Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Areas of Practice:
Family Law

Bar Admissions:

• Pennsylvania, 2001
• New Jersey, 2002
• Maryland, 1999
• U.S. District Court, Maryland, 2000

Education:

• University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1999
• Washington College, B.A., cum laude, 1996

Professional Affiliations & Honors:

• Montgomery Bar Association
  Board of Directors 2012-2014
       Executive Committee, 2012
  Family Law Section:
       Treasurer, 2012
       Member, Practicum Committee, 2004 – 2005
       Chair:  Custody Committee, 2006, 2011
       Chair:  Equitable Distribution/Alimony Committee, 2009
  Member, Women in Law Committee, Co-Chair, 2011
  Member, Children and Youth Committee
  Member, Law Reporter Committee, 2011-2013 - Secretary, 2011, Treasurer 2012
  Member, Diversity Committee
  Member, Community Outreach Committee, Co-chair, 2012
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
  Council Member, Family Law Section, 2007 – 2010, 2011 - Present
       Chair:  Custody Local Rules Committee, 2011
       Member, Program Committee, 2009 – Present
• Doris Jonas Freed American Inn of Court for Family Law, Member
       Frederick Cohen, Esquire - Award of Excellence, 2009, 2011
• 2011 Lawyers on the Fast Track, The Legal Intelligencer
• Rising Star, Philadelphia Magazine, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition, 2008, 2010, 2011
• Ten Leaders, Matrimonial & Divorce Law, Greater Philadelphia, Age 45 and Under, 2010
• Philadelphia Bar Association
• New Jersey Bar Association
• Baltimore City Bar Association
• Maryland Bar Association

Civic & Community Activities:

• Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP), Volunteer Attorney 2011- Present
• Montgomery County Bar Association Civics Program - Educator to 6th Grade Students, 2011-2012
• Schoolhouse Legal Services for Advocates for Children and Youth, Interim Director, 1999

Publications & Presentations:

• Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pennsylvania's New Custody Statute, January 2011
• Presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section Winter Meeting, "Extra! Extra! Pennsylvania's New Custody Statute Enacted!", January 2011
• Presenter, Exclusense Webinar:  "What Family Lawyers Need to Know About Using Facebook as an Effective Tool for Online Evidence, November 2010
• Contributing Author to PBI Press Slicing Up the Pie;  Property Distribution in Pennsylvania, Chapter 9:  Effectuating Distribution of Award/Agreement, 2010
• “Equal Amenities at Both Parents’ Houses Not The Standard for Child Support in High Income Cases in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, March 2009
• “Is a Prenuptial Agreement Right For Your Business?” Philadelphia Business Journal, March 2009
• “When are Gifts Treated as Income?” Sidebar Newsletter, Montgomery Bar Association, 2004