Janelle M. Ryan-Colbert

Maryland's Most Trusted Law Firm — Protecting Your Rights with Experience, Empathy, and Results

When a legal matter enters your life — whether it's the loss of a loved one, a family dispute, or a civil rights issue — you need more than a lawyer. You need a trusted advocate who listens, understands, and fights for you without compromise.

At Colbert Law Firm, that's exactly what we deliver. Founded by Janelle M. Ryan-Colbert, a seasoned attorney with more than two decades of courtroom and community experience in Maryland and Washington D.C., our firm is built on three pillars: Experience. Professionalism. Care.

Why Maryland Families and Businesses Choose Colbert Law Firm

Not all law firms are the same. Many treat clients as case numbers on a billing sheet. At Colbert Law Firm, we've built our entire practice around the opposite philosophy — that every client deserves a lawyer who walks in their shoes.

Janelle M. Ryan-Colbert is not only an experienced litigator and estate attorney — she is an active member of numerous bar associations, a sought-after speaker on legal issues affecting Maryland communities, and a committed volunteer with local civic causes. Her credentials aren't just professional; they are personal.

Probate & Estate Planning in Maryland

Guiding families through one of life's most sensitive legal processes

Probate and estate planning are among the most emotionally charged areas of law. When someone you love passes away, the last thing you should worry about is navigating Maryland's Orphans' Court or deciphering a contested will. At Colbert Law Firm, we handle every probate matter with the same rigor we bring to the courtroom — and the same compassion we extend to every client.

What is probate in Maryland? Probate is the legal process by which a deceased person's estate is administered and their assets are distributed — either according to a valid will or, if no will exists, under Maryland's intestate succession laws. The process involves filing with the Register of Wills, identifying and valuing assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing what remains to beneficiaries.

This process can be straightforward — or fiercely contested. Either way, having an experienced probate attorney in your corner means fewer delays, fewer mistakes, and far less stress.

Our Probate & Estate Planning services include:

• Probate administration and estate settlement
• Will drafting, review, and updates
• Trust creation and administration
• Contested will and estate litigation
• Powers of attorney and advance directives
• Guardianship and conservatorship proceedings
• Estate planning for blended families and business owners
   

Family Law in Maryland & Washington D.C.

Protecting what matters most — your family, your future, your peace of mind

Family law cases are unlike any other. They don't just involve legal rights — they involve children, homes, financial futures, and deeply personal relationships. At Colbert Law Firm, we understand the emotional weight of every family law matter, and we approach each case with patience, strategy, and unwavering advocacy.

Whether you're facing a difficult divorce or fighting for custody of your children, you deserve a lawyer who will listen first and litigate when necessary. Janelle M. Ryan-Colbert is known for seeking the best outcome — through negotiation, mediation, or the courtroom — while always centering the well-being of her clients and their families.

Our Family Law services include:

• Divorce — contested and uncontested
• Legal separation and annulment
• Child custody and visitation rights
• Child support establishment and modification
• Alimony and spousal support
• Division of marital property and assets
• Domestic violence protective orders
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Adoption and guardianship

Civil Litigation in Maryland & Washington D.C.

Relentless representation when your rights are on the line

Civil disputes — whether between individuals, businesses, or institutions — can be costly, time-consuming, and deeply stressful. At Colbert Law Firm, we take on tough cases and pursue them with tireless advocacy. We don't settle for less than what our clients deserve, and we don't back down from a fight when your rights are at stake.

Janelle M. Ryan-Colbert has built a reputation throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. for strategic, aggressive, and results-driven civil litigation. From breach of contract disputes to civil rights violations, our firm has the courtroom experience to go the distance.

Our Civil Litigation services include:

• Breach of contract and business disputes
• Personal injury claims
• Landlord-tenant disputes
• Employment disputes and wrongful termination
• Civil rights violations
• Property and real estate disputes
• Debt collection defense
• Small claims representation