Ashley Wilburn is the founder of Wilburn Law Office, LLC, where she concentrates much of her practice in family law, mediation, and court-appointed matters. A lifelong Washington County resident, Ashley brings to her practice extensive courtroom experience along with a practical understanding of the difficult decisions families face when navigating divorce, custody disputes, and other significant transitions.

 

Ashley believes effective representation begins long before anyone enters a courtroom. From the initial consultation, she focuses on educating clients about the law, the legal process, the strengths and weaknesses of their case, and the decisions they can make to put themselves in the best possible position. Her approach is candid and practical: an attorney's job is not simply to tell clients what they want to hear, but to give them the information and advice they need to make informed decisions.

 

Although an experienced litigator, Ashley does not believe successful representation means taking every dispute to trial. She prepares cases with litigation in mind while simultaneously exploring opportunities for negotiation and resolution. Her substantial mediation practice—including frequent court-appointed mediations—provides her with a unique perspective on resolving difficult disputes. She is particularly experienced in mediating complex marital property and financial issues, where her analytical approach helps parties understand both the numbers and the practical consequences of their options.

 

Children and families have been a central focus throughout Ashley's legal career. Early in her career, she represented the Washington County Department of Social Services in child welfare proceedings involving allegations of abuse and neglect. Today, in addition to representing parents in custody and other family-law matters, Ashley is frequently appointed by the Circuit Court to serve as a Best Interest Attorney representing children in contested custody cases. Her experience in these different roles has shaped a child-focused approach to family law and an understanding that the decisions parents make during litigation can have consequences that extend well beyond the courtroom.

 

Ashley is also regularly entrusted by the courts with other appointed roles. She serves as a court-appointed mediator and is frequently appointed as guardian of the property for individuals who are unable to manage their own financial affairs, as well as trustee in matters requiring the management or disposition of property.

 

Known for being thorough, organized, and highly prepared, Ashley is frequently consulted by other attorneys regarding unusual, complex, or technical legal and procedural issues. Her practice also includes estate planning and administration, guardianship matters, adoption, and select criminal and appellate matters.

 

Ashley earned dual bachelor's degrees in History and Political Science from Loyola University Maryland before earning her J.D. from Western New England University School of Law in 2013. She graduated among the top ten students in her law school class and served as a Note Editor of the Western New England Law Review.

 

Following law school, Ashley served as a law clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Robinson and the Honorable Elliott D. Prescott of the Connecticut Appellate Court. She returned home to Washington County in 2014 to clerk for the Honorable M. Kenneth Long of the Circuit Court for Washington County. Her experience at both the appellate and trial-court levels established a strong foundation in legal research, writing, procedure, and case analysis that continues to influence her practice today.

 

Ashley is a past President and current member of the Board of Directors of the Bar Association for Washington County. She has also been selected to the Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, including for 2027.

 

Ashley founded Wilburn Law Office in 2023 with the goal of creating a firm that provides high-quality legal representation while recognizing that family matters—both those of the firm's clients and those of its attorneys and staff—matter. The firm is intentionally team-oriented, and Ashley believes the best attorney-client relationships are built on trust, honest advice, communication, preparation, and active participation from both attorney and client.

 

Outside the office, Ashley enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her children and dogs.