
Tracey Coates
Principal
301-968-1650
301-654-7354 FAX
tcoates@paleyrothman.com
Tracey Coates is Co-Chair of the firm's Family Law department and a member of its Litigation practice group. In working in the former capacity, she handles a variety of domestic relations matters, including pre-marital agreements, divorce and separation, child custody, child support modification, enforcement of court orders and agreements, adoption, and guardianships. Her clients include all types of individuals and couples, in a wide range of family structures.
Tracey works hard to engage in background conversations with her clients to understand family dynamics and build rapport and trust. She goes into every case with a caring, but realistic approach with her clients. She is often touted for being accessible to her clients, understanding how important it is to respond to clients when emotions are heightened.
Prior to joining Paley Rothman, Tracey spent three years as an associate with Wendy H. Schwartz and Associates. She was previously a clerk for then-Chief Presiding Judge John S. Leonardo of the Pima County (Ariz.) Superior Court and worked as a Staff Attorney for the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau in Baltimore.
Tracey is a member of several bar associations, including the American Bar Association, D.C. Bar Association, Maryland Bar Association and Montgomery County Bar Association. In 2013, she was selected to participate in the inaugural Leadership Development Academy program for the Montgomery County Bar Association. The Leadership Development Academy was created to develop young lawyers into bar leaders and to encourage them to be more involved not only in the legal community, but in the Montgomery County community, by providing services and programs that will enrich the community.
In addition to her bar memberships, Tracey has a mediation training certificate for completing 40 hours of coursework. Outside of her billable work, Tracey volunteers and is a member of the Board of Directors for the D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project (DCVLP), an organization whose mission is to provide high-quality, free legal services to low-income D.C. residents in family law cases. She provides pro bono legal representation, doing custody, divorce and guardian ad litem work for survivors of domestic violence and children in high-conflict custody cases.
Maryland
District of Columbia
J.D., Hamline University School of Law
- Member, National Moot Court Team
- Law Clerk Grant Recipient, Maryland Legal Aid Bureau
- President, Black Law Students AssociationB.A., Smith College
Mediation Training
- Certificate of Completion of 40-Hour Basic Mediation Training (2009)
- Certificate of Completion of Custody Mediation Training (2015)
Best Lawyers in America - Best Lawyers (2021)
- Family Law"Top Divorce Lawyers," - Washingtonian magazine (2019)
"Top Attorneys," Bethesda Magazine (2019)
- Family/Divorce"Top Lawyers" - Washingtonian magazine (2018, 2020)
Maryland Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" (2013-2016)
Washington D.C. Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" (2013-2016)
- Six Attorneys Named “Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine - December 2020 Issue
- Tracey Coates and Carlos Lastra Provided Commentary in Article titled “Pandemic wreaks havoc on divorce, custody and family law cases”
- Tracey Coates and Carlos Lastra Provided Commentary in Article titled “Lawmakers, experts weigh changes to Maryland’s child custody court process”
- Twenty Paley Rothman Attorneys Selected to 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- Tracey Coates Provides Commentary in Article titled “People Are Discovering Affairs While Quarantined With Their Spouses”
- Six Attorneys Listed in Washingtonian’s December 2019 Edition
- 6 Paley Rothman Attorneys Named “Top Lawyers” by Washingtonian Magazine
- The Divorce Chronicles, a New Podcast from Tracey Coates
- Tracey Coates Joins the Board of Directors at DCVLP
- Michelle Chapin, Tracey Coates and Kevin D’Anna Named Principals of Paley Rothman
- 16 Paley Rothman Attorneys Named to 2016 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers & Rising Stars Lists
- 15 Paley Rothman Attorneys Named to 2016 Maryland Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
- Tracey Coates Publishes Article in MSBA Bar Bulletin Newsletter Devoted to Family & Juvenile Law
"Law Firm Origination Policies: Climbing the Mountain to Equity," Law Practice Today, June 15, 2020
“Revisiting the Parental Rights of Same-Sex Parents in Maryland Following the Downfall of DOMA,” MSBA Bar Bulletin, November 2013
Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD - Executive Committee Member
Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland - Peer Review Committee
Maryland State Bar Association - Judicial Appointments Committee
D.C. Volunteer Lawyers Project - Board of Directors, Volunteer
Bar Association of Montgomery County
- Member, Family Law Section
- Member, Leadership Development AcademyAmerican Bar Association - Member, Family Law and Young Lawyers Sections
Women’s Bar Association of D.C. - Member
Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE) - Past Volunteer
Thurgood Marshall Academy Public Charter High School - Past Mentor
The House of Ruth - Past Volunteer
Virginia Juvenile Court System - Past Court Appointed Special Advocate
Hamline University School of Law - Past Alumni Board Member
Smith College Club of Washington, D.C. - Past Secretary, Executive Board
"Insight on Child Custody Around The Holidays," WHUR 96.3, December 2017
"Family Law, Child Support, Child Custody, and Grandparent Rights," Montgomery College Single Parent Conference, August 2017
"Lessons We Can Learn from High-Profile Divorces,” Good Day DC, WTTG, January 4, 2021
"Study Finds Divorce Rates Spiking Amid Covid-19," Good Morning Washington, WJLA, September 28, 2020
"Cardi B Amends Divorce Documents," Good Day DC, Fox 5, September 17, 2020
"What exactly is the emancipation of a minor?" Great Day Washington, WUSA, September 9, 2020
"Divorce Rates Skyrocketing," Good Day DC, Fox 5, September 3, 2020
"Pandemic wreaks havoc on divorce, custody and family law cases," The Maryland Daily Record, June 2020
“Lawmakers, experts weigh changes to Maryland’s child custody court process,” The Maryland Daily Record, August 26, 2020
"Divorce in the Time of COVID," Good Day DC, Fox 5, July 13, 2020
"Divorce & The Holidays," Just Like Us with Madelyne Woods, Majic 102.3 | 92.7, December 16, 2018
“Relationships and the Road Ahead.” The Laura Coates Show. SiriusXM Urbanview, channel 126, May 18, 2020.
“COVID-19 and the Family Courts.” The Laura Coates Show. SiriusXM Urbanview, channel 126, May 6, 2020.
“COVID-19 and Child Custody.” The Laura Coates Show. SiriusXM Urbanview, channel 126, April 20, 2020.
“Divorce and COVID-29.” The Laura Coates Show. SiriusXM Urbanview, channel 126, April 13, 2020.
"People Are Discovering Affairs While Quarantined With Their Spouses," Washingtonian magazine, April 10, 2020
"Helping Couples Co-Exist During COVID-19 Quarantine," Good Day DC, Fox 5, April 1, 2020
"Divorce & The Holidays: Keeping Spirits Bright," Good Morning Washington, WJLA, December 17, 2019
"The Divorce Chronicles," Good Day DC Fox5, October 3, 2019
"Back to School Tips for Divorced Parents," Great Day Washington, WUSA9, August 22, 2019
"Scared of ‘What If?’ It’s Okay to Have a Prenup Before Marriage," Great Day Washington, WUSA9, February 12, 2019
"Divorce & The Holidays: How to Keep the Peace," Great Day Washington, WUSA9, December 12, 2018
21. Family Building During a Divorce, November 28, 2019
20. Helping Families Transition Through Hard Times, October 24, 2019
19. Before You Hit the Nuclear D Button, October 10, 2019
18. Coaching Isn’t Just for Athletes, September 26, 2019
17. The Power of Forgiveness, September 12, 2019
16. Hitting the Restart Button After a Divorce, May 2, 2019
15. Recharging Your Personal Life During the Divorce Process with Guest Karen M. Pierce, April 4, 2019
14. Navigating the Legal and Emotional Aspects of Divorce, March 28, 2019
13. Our Family Wizard – Online Communication Tools for Parents with guest Jai Kissoon, March 21, 2019
12. Top 8 Changes to Family Law with the Passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act with Guest Eric Rollinger, March 14, 2019
11. Post Divorce Financial Tips with Guest Heather Locus, February 28, 2019
10. Estate Planning after a Divorce with Guest Michelle Chapin, February 14, 2019
9. Repeal of Alimony Law - 75 Years in the Making, January 17, 2019
8. The Often Overlooked Emotional Aspects of Divorce with Guest Robin Tucker, December 11, 2018
7. The Impact of Domestic Violence on the Divorce Process With Guest Sara Tennen, October 9, 2018
6. Tips for Unrepresented Parties in Domestic Matters With Guest Bibi Berry, September 18, 2018
5. Mortgage Lending Issues Unique to Separating Couples With Guest Margie Hofberg, August 21, 2018
4. The Impact of International Family Law Issues During the Divorce Process With Guest Melissa Kucinski, July 31, 2018
3. How a Divorce Coach can Help you Navigate the Divorce Process with Guest Cherie Morris, July 17, 2018
2. Discussing Collaborative Law as an Alternative to the Divorce Process with Guest Sheila Gardner, July 17, 2018
1. Introduction to The Divorce Chronicles with Tracey Coates, Esquire, July 13, 2018