The lawyers at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC, are experienced Maryland divorce and family lawyers.
Discover what makes us the best divorce lawyers in Maryland.
Thank you for representing me and for all your hard work in getting the judgment RIGHT for my family and me since day one. Because of your thorough work, my children and I have enjoyed a harmonious and peaceful twelve years after the divorce and still going. You cared about us and made sure all conflicts were resolved correctly at the beginning. I cannot thank you enough for your outstanding work. I am one of your most satisfied clients.
Nogah helped me with a very difficult divorce and child custody case. The custody case was made even more difficult by wrongful restraining orders against me by the other party, which were masterfully defended by Nogah, leading to their dismissal. She stays on top of all the issues and is very responsive to emails and phone calls. I totally relied on her advice and experience, even when things looked hopeless. It paid off. The end result was a favorable verdict of child custody for me. I highly recommend Nogah. I was fortunate to have her represent me!
Highly recommend Vince Wills and Morgan Appel. Their knowledge of MD family law and the guidance they provided was invaluable. Vince made sure that i understood the legal process and was comfortable with my decisions. He is well respected among his colleagues and Montgomery County circuit court Judges. Vince is especially strong in advising on cases that are financially involved. I felt that Vince and Morgan definitely put my best interest first and were always quick to respond to my concerns/questions. In addition, the staff and other attorneys of the firm would collaborated on my case, which made me feel even more confident that I had chosen the right representation. Vince and Morgan are an excellent team and I was very pleased with their services.
Divorce is miserable. Vince was someone I could trust, which is invaluable when navigating the confusing terrain of settlement agreements, court dates, and opposing attorneys. I felt confident that Vince made recommendations in my best interests and those of my young daughter. He was willing to fight for me and I had the impression he (a) was well-known and well-respected in the industry and (b) personally cared about the outcome of my divorce. Vince was both professional and caring. He picked up the phone when I called or returned my calls right away. He was responsive to email. His invoices were clear and fair. I do not recommend divorce but, if you are in that boat, Vince is a great person to have on your side. Highly recommended.
Ms. Helfant worked with me to get unpaid child support payments due to me from an earlier period, as well as increased payments due to a large increase in my ex-husband’s income. Ms. Helfant was skillful, kind, reassuring, and responsive. She kept me apprised of the steps in this lengthy, but ultimately successful legal process.
I feel very fortunate to have Neal Meiselman and Nogah Helfant as my lawyers in my divorce case. They both are the best ever! They are both so kind and understanding and really know their laws. They advocated for me till the last minute covering every corner. They were always so well prepared and the PERFECTION of the motions they filed, the timing of the filings, and the laws they sited. They are exceptional attorneys and always very well prepared. I am proud to say they were my lawyers.
Neal Meiselman and Morgan Appel provide first-rate advice and advocacy that can be trusted in the most challenging family law matter. Their knowledge of the law and almost more importantly the way the courts actually work is invaluable. They helped me consider the risks and chart a path forward for me to attain my goals. They are insightful, empathetic, understanding, and never judgmental. I always felt comfortable discussing anything with them — and that is how lawyers should be.
Family law matters can seem overwhelming. We’re here to provide you with assistance, advice, and representation you need to help you get the fair outcome you deserve.
We provide trusted legal services in all areas of family law, including domestic abuse, separation agreements, alimony, division of marital assets, divorce, and all areas of child custody, visitation, and support.
Managing Partner
Nogah B. Helfant is the Managing Partner at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC and has concentrated her practice in the area of family law in Maryland for more than 20 years. She has extensive litigation, mediation, and negotiation experience in contested divorce cases, protective orders, high conflict custody cases, modification, and post-divorce enforcement proceedings. Ms. Helfant is frequently appointed by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland to serve as a Child Privilege Attorney or Best Interest Attorney in contested custody cases.
Ms. Helfant is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A. 1991) and Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts (J.D. 1994). She is a trained mediator and certified Best Interest Attorney.
A member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations, she has been recognized as one of the top-rated family law attorneys in Maryland by Super Lawyers.
Ms. Helfant has been active in the legal community by providing pro bono legal services to low-income clients. Reported cases include Campitelli v. Johnston, 134 Md. App. 689, 761 A.2d 369 (2000), and Walker v. Grow, 170 Md. App. 255, 907 A.2d 255 (2006).
Ms. Helfant and her husband are the proud parents of three children.
Partner
Vincent Wills has been practicing law in Maryland for almost 32 years, with 27 of them focused almost exclusively on family law matters, including contested custody cases and complex financial litigation involving alimony, distribution of marital property, and the division of retirement benefits. He is known throughout the legal community for his knowledge of family law and his courtroom skills. He has also handled numerous appellate cases, five of which have resulted in reported appellate opinions. He is also a mediator, trained parent coordinator, Best Interest Attorney, and has occasionally testified as an expert witness in family law cases.
Vince is one of only 39 members in the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is currently the President-Elect of the Maryland Chapter. He is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association Family and Juvenile Law Section, serving as the Chair in June 2014 to June 2015. He is a former Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association, and a Bar Leader of the Montgomery County Bar Association. He has been a frequent lecturer for the Maryland State Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Vince has also developed and presented continuing legal education programs to Judges and Magistrates at the Judicial College of Maryland. He has co-authored numerous published articles and training materials on topics in family law.
For many years, including 2022, Mr. Wills was named as one of the top lawyers in family law by the Washingtonian Magazine. In 2022, Mr. Wills was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Washingtonian Magazine for being named to the Top Lawyers List for 10 of the past 15 years. For 2023, as in the past several years, Super Lawyers named him as one of the top family law attorneys in Maryland. In 2017, he was named the Family Law Practitioner of the Year by the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association.
Vince is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park (B.S. 1981). Following graduation, he served on active duty for four years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Captain. His service included a three-year assignment in the former West Germany. Mr. Wills earned a master of science degree in business administration from Boston University while serving in the military, and in 1991 he obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore (cum laude). He has also completed the Georgetown University 2016 eDiscovery Training Academy and the Arkfeld Online eDiscovery and Digital Evidence Course. Vince has been married for over 40 years and has two adult children.
Awards & Honors
Presentations
Articles
Partner
Morgan P. Appel, Esquire is a Partner at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Ms. Appel has extensive experience in contested family law cases, including cases involving divorce, custody, child support, alimony, marital property, retirement assets, and domestic violence. Ms. Appel also has experience with drafting separation agreements and prenuptial agreements. She is committed to helping her clients navigate and understand the process while also ensuring that their interests are protected. Ms. Appel will work diligently to assist clients in achieving their objectives.
Ms. Appel was selected to the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Maryland Rising Stars list by Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine.
Ms. Appel is currently the Co-Chair for the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association. She was also the Programming Co-Chair for the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association from 2020 to 2022. Ms. Appel is also a member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Association. She was a fellow for the Montgomery County Leadership Development Academy from 2017 to 2018.
Ms. Appel joined Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC, as an associate in 2016. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Appel served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Bernhardt, Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Howard County, Maryland. She was named Partner in 2023 and continues her high-quality work ethic into her new role.
Ms. Appel received her B.S. in Family Science from the University of Maryland in 2011, and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2015. Ms. Appel graduated cum laude from law school with a concentration in Family Law. As a law student, Ms. Appel participated in the University of Baltimore Bronfein Family Law Clinic for two semesters, solidifying her passion for families and her goal to make the divorce process as easy for her clients as possible.
During her first year as a law student, Ms. Appel interned for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services and developed skills necessary to advocate for all types of families. During her second year, Ms. Appel was elected as Community Service Chair for the University of Baltimore Students for Public Interest Executive Board. The following year, she served as Co-President and was ultimately one of ten students awarded a dean’s citation for the work she performed in that role. Ms. Appel also served on the staff of the University of Baltimore Law Forum for two years.
Of Counsel
Neal J. Meiselman, Esquire, an experienced family lawyer and mediator who has practiced law in Maryland since 1978, is founding partner of Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Mr. Meiselman is a graduate of the University of Maryland (BA 1975) and Boston University Law School (JD 1978).
Mr. Meiselman has completed the certificate program prescribed by the Maryland Rules of Procedure for court-appointed mediators in civil cases, including child custody and access disputes. Mr. Meiselman has served on the Alternative Dispute Resolution panel for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County in family cases since the panel’s inception in 1995.
Mr. Meiselman is the author of “12 Commandments for Divorced Parents,” first published by Ann Landers in her nationally syndicated column on January 23, 1994. The Maryland Bar Journal published Mr. Meiselman’s article, “Recession and Divorce,” Volume XLIII, Number 1, January/February 2010.
Reported cases include Noffsinger v. Noffsinger, 95 Md. App. 265, 620 A.2d 415 (1993); Long v. Long, 141 Md. App. 341, 785 A.2d 818 (2001); and Walker v. Grow, 170 Md. App. 255, 907 A.2d 255 (2006).
Mr. Meiselman is a member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations, as well as the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Mr. Meiselman holds an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as a Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Rockville, Maryland and among Top Attorneys in Maryland by Superlawyers.com.
Mr. Meiselman was raised in Kensington and Silver Spring, Maryland. He is married to Terry M. Shuch.
Associate Attorney
Madison T. Tse, Esquire is an Associate Attorney at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Ms. Tse joined the firm as a law clerk in August of 2023 and became an associate in November of 2023 following her admission to the Maryland Bar.
Ms. Tse received her B.A. in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Case Western Reserve in 2020, and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2023. During law school, Ms. Tse volunteered with the Unemployment Appeals Clinic conducting initial interviews and representing claimants in administrative hearings before the Department of Workforce Development. After her second year of law school, Ms. Tse clerked at the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Wisconsin and had the opportunity to interview and conduct administrative hearings against insurance agents. These opportunities strengthened Ms. Tse’s interest in oral advocacy and working directly with clients throughout the legal process.
Ms. Tse recognizes the personal nature of family law issues and is drawn to the opportunity to work closely with families navigating difficult situations while leveraging broader legal knowledge to protect the interests of her clients.
Ms. Tse was awarded pro bono honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School for her extensive pro bono work and was on the Dean’s Honor List for Fall of 2022. During her final semester of law school, Ms. Tse was awarded the Outstanding Senior Advocate Award from the Unemployment Appeals Clinic. Ms. Tse is a new member of the Maryland State and Montgomery County Bar Associations.
Managing Partner
Nogah B. Helfant is the Managing Partner at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC and has concentrated her practice in the area of family law in Maryland for more than 20 years. She has extensive litigation, mediation, and negotiation experience in contested divorce cases, protective orders, high conflict custody cases, modification, and post-divorce enforcement proceedings. Ms. Helfant is frequently appointed by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland to serve as a Child Privilege Attorney or Best Interest Attorney in contested custody cases.
Ms. Helfant is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz (B.A. 1991) and Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts (J.D. 1994). She is a trained mediator and certified Best Interest Attorney.
A member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations, she has been recognized as one of the top-rated family law attorneys in Maryland by Super Lawyers.
Ms. Helfant has been active in the legal community by providing pro bono legal services to low-income clients. Reported cases include Campitelli v. Johnston, 134 Md. App. 689, 761 A.2d 369 (2000), and Walker v. Grow, 170 Md. App. 255, 907 A.2d 255 (2006).
Ms. Helfant and her husband are the proud parents of three children.
Partner
Vincent Wills has been practicing law in Maryland for almost 32 years, with 27 of them focused almost exclusively on family law matters, including contested custody cases and complex financial litigation involving alimony, distribution of marital property, and the division of retirement benefits. He is known throughout the legal community for his knowledge of family law and his courtroom skills. He has also handled numerous appellate cases, five of which have resulted in reported appellate opinions. He is also a mediator, trained parent coordinator, Best Interest Attorney, and has occasionally testified as an expert witness in family law cases.
Vince is one of only 39 members in the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is currently the President-Elect of the Maryland Chapter. He is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association Family and Juvenile Law Section, serving as the Chair in June 2014 to June 2015. He is a former Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association, and a Bar Leader of the Montgomery County Bar Association. He has been a frequent lecturer for the Maryland State Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association. Vince has also developed and presented continuing legal education programs to Judges and Magistrates at the Judicial College of Maryland. He has co-authored numerous published articles and training materials on topics in family law.
For many years, including 2022, Mr. Wills was named as one of the top lawyers in family law by the Washingtonian Magazine. In 2022, Mr. Wills was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Washingtonian Magazine for being named to the Top Lawyers List for 10 of the past 15 years. For 2023, as in the past several years, Super Lawyers named him as one of the top family law attorneys in Maryland. In 2017, he was named the Family Law Practitioner of the Year by the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association.
Vince is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park (B.S. 1981). Following graduation, he served on active duty for four years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Captain. His service included a three-year assignment in the former West Germany. Mr. Wills earned a master of science degree in business administration from Boston University while serving in the military, and in 1991 he obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore (cum laude). He has also completed the Georgetown University 2016 eDiscovery Training Academy and the Arkfeld Online eDiscovery and Digital Evidence Course. Vince has been married for over 40 years and has two adult children.
Awards & Honors
Presentations
Articles
Partner
Morgan P. Appel, Esquire is a Partner at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Ms. Appel has extensive experience in contested family law cases, including cases involving divorce, custody, child support, alimony, marital property, retirement assets, and domestic violence. Ms. Appel also has experience with drafting separation agreements and prenuptial agreements. She is committed to helping her clients navigate and understand the process while also ensuring that their interests are protected. Ms. Appel will work diligently to assist clients in achieving their objectives.
Ms. Appel was selected to the 2020, 2021, and 2022 Maryland Rising Stars list by Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine.
Ms. Appel is currently the Co-Chair for the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association. She was also the Programming Co-Chair for the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association from 2020 to 2022. Ms. Appel is also a member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Association. She was a fellow for the Montgomery County Leadership Development Academy from 2017 to 2018.
Ms. Appel joined Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC, as an associate in 2016. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Appel served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Bernhardt, Associate Judge of the Circuit Court for Howard County, Maryland. She was named Partner in 2023 and continues her high-quality work ethic into her new role.
Ms. Appel received her B.S. in Family Science from the University of Maryland in 2011, and her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2015. Ms. Appel graduated cum laude from law school with a concentration in Family Law. As a law student, Ms. Appel participated in the University of Baltimore Bronfein Family Law Clinic for two semesters, solidifying her passion for families and her goal to make the divorce process as easy for her clients as possible.
During her first year as a law student, Ms. Appel interned for the Baltimore City Department of Social Services and developed skills necessary to advocate for all types of families. During her second year, Ms. Appel was elected as Community Service Chair for the University of Baltimore Students for Public Interest Executive Board. The following year, she served as Co-President and was ultimately one of ten students awarded a dean’s citation for the work she performed in that role. Ms. Appel also served on the staff of the University of Baltimore Law Forum for two years.
Of Counsel
Neal J. Meiselman, Esquire, an experienced family lawyer and mediator who has practiced law in Maryland since 1978, is founding partner of Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Mr. Meiselman is a graduate of the University of Maryland (BA 1975) and Boston University Law School (JD 1978).
Mr. Meiselman has completed the certificate program prescribed by the Maryland Rules of Procedure for court-appointed mediators in civil cases, including child custody and access disputes. Mr. Meiselman has served on the Alternative Dispute Resolution panel for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County in family cases since the panel’s inception in 1995.
Mr. Meiselman is the author of “12 Commandments for Divorced Parents,” first published by Ann Landers in her nationally syndicated column on January 23, 1994. The Maryland Bar Journal published Mr. Meiselman’s article, “Recession and Divorce,” Volume XLIII, Number 1, January/February 2010.
Reported cases include Noffsinger v. Noffsinger, 95 Md. App. 265, 620 A.2d 415 (1993); Long v. Long, 141 Md. App. 341, 785 A.2d 818 (2001); and Walker v. Grow, 170 Md. App. 255, 907 A.2d 255 (2006).
Mr. Meiselman is a member of the Montgomery County and Maryland State Bar Associations, as well as the Academy of Professional Family Mediators. Mr. Meiselman holds an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as a Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Rockville, Maryland and among Top Attorneys in Maryland by Superlawyers.com.
Mr. Meiselman was raised in Kensington and Silver Spring, Maryland. He is married to Terry M. Shuch.
Associate Attorney
Madison T. Tse, Esquire is an Associate Attorney at Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. Ms. Tse joined the firm as a law clerk in August of 2023 and became an associate in November of 2023 following her admission to the Maryland Bar.
Ms. Tse received her B.A. in Biology with a minor in Psychology from Case Western Reserve in 2020, and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2023. During law school, Ms. Tse volunteered with the Unemployment Appeals Clinic conducting initial interviews and representing claimants in administrative hearings before the Department of Workforce Development. After her second year of law school, Ms. Tse clerked at the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance for the State of Wisconsin and had the opportunity to interview and conduct administrative hearings against insurance agents. These opportunities strengthened Ms. Tse’s interest in oral advocacy and working directly with clients throughout the legal process.
Ms. Tse recognizes the personal nature of family law issues and is drawn to the opportunity to work closely with families navigating difficult situations while leveraging broader legal knowledge to protect the interests of her clients.
Ms. Tse was awarded pro bono honors from the University of Wisconsin Law School for her extensive pro bono work and was on the Dean’s Honor List for Fall of 2022. During her final semester of law school, Ms. Tse was awarded the Outstanding Senior Advocate Award from the Unemployment Appeals Clinic. Ms. Tse is a new member of the Maryland State and Montgomery County Bar Associations.
Office Manager
Cheryl Horency is an experienced professional who brings more than 40 years of legal and administrative experience to her role as Office Manager for Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. She joined the firm in 2013.
Cheryl’s diverse responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s operations including human resources, information systems, and accounting.
The Rockville native began her career in the legal industry in 1979.
In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid reader.
Legal Assistant
Kimberly has worked as a legal assistant for eight years and joined Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC in early 2017. She attended McDaniel College and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree majoring in English and minoring in Writing. While matriculating at McDaniel College, she worked on the Free Press for all four years and ultimately became the Editor-in-Chief of the college newspaper, which honed her attention to detail and time management skills.
She excels at drafting and editing. She also has a demonstrated ability to prioritize and successfully complete tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, communicate professionally and compassionately, meticulously organize both electronic and physical folders in an easily accessible manner, maintain the utmost confidentiality with client information, and thoroughly redact any personally identifiable information from documents. She is also a notary.
She was raised in Maryland and resides in Germantown. She is a proud aunt of two. She enjoys voraciously reading, watching television, playing with her kittens, and spending time with her family and friends in her free time.
Office Manager
Cheryl Horency is an experienced professional who brings more than 40 years of legal and administrative experience to her role as Office Manager for Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC. She joined the firm in 2013.
Cheryl’s diverse responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s operations including human resources, information systems, and accounting.
The Rockville native began her career in the legal industry in 1979.
In her spare time, Cheryl enjoys spending time with her family and is an avid reader.
Legal Assistant
Kimberly has worked as a legal assistant for eight years and joined Meiselman Helfant & Wills, LLC in early 2017. She attended McDaniel College and graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree majoring in English and minoring in Writing. While matriculating at McDaniel College, she worked on the Free Press for all four years and ultimately became the Editor-in-Chief of the college newspaper, which honed her attention to detail and time management skills.
She excels at drafting and editing. She also has a demonstrated ability to prioritize and successfully complete tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, communicate professionally and compassionately, meticulously organize both electronic and physical folders in an easily accessible manner, maintain the utmost confidentiality with client information, and thoroughly redact any personally identifiable information from documents. She is also a notary.
She was raised in Maryland and resides in Germantown. She is a proud aunt of two. She enjoys voraciously reading, watching television, playing with her kittens, and spending time with her family and friends in her free time.