Portrait of Cheryl L. Hepfer

Cheryl L. Hepfer

Principal

chepfer@offitkurman.com
Bethesda, MD – 240.507.1752
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Cheryl Hepfer is a highly-regarded attorney who has practiced family law for more than 40 years.  She has been rated by her peers and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and as a top lawyer in the Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, and Super Lawyers.  She is past president of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Her practice consists primarily of domestic litigation involving significant assets and business interests.  She has a wealth of experience in complex cases involving significant assets and property distribution, alimony, child custody and access.   She has significant experience representing owners of businesses and their spouses, and those with significant assets, and works with business valuation experts and forensic accountants to maximize the benefits to her clients.

Although Cheryl frequently appears before trial and appellate courts, she is often able to resolve cases through negotiation, settling most of her cases out of court because she explores settlement options early, hoping to limit client costs and enhance the opportunity for an amicable resolution.  Her decades of experience as a trial lawyer provide her with the ability to evaluate her cases, and to determine when settlement is or is not in the client's best interest.  In the event that settlement is not the best option, her trial skills allow her to proceed to trial when that is in the client's best interest.

As a mentor to other family lawyers, Cheryl teaches at the Institute of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers every year, and provides guidance to local family lawyers who aspire to become fellows of the AAML. Cheryl is certified by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as a Family Law Arbitrator.

Additional Practice Areas: Divorce, Custody and Visitation, Collaborative Law

Cheryl is a frequent lecturer on matters of family law, including issues of the valuation and division of marital assets, custody, access and general divorce related topics, such as divorce litigation. She also has been quoted by several national and regional media outlets such as CNN, ABC's Nightline, The New York Times, WBAL Radio and National Public Radio. Some of her features and quotes can be found in the links below.

    Education

    • American University Washington College of Law (J.D.)
    • Carnegie Mellon University (B.S.)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • United States District Court for the District of Columbia
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

    Professional Affiliations

    • Bar Association of Montgomery County
    • Maryland State Bar Association
    • Montgomery County Chapter of the Maryland Women's Bar Association
    • Maryland Women's Bar Association

    Recognitions

    In September 2012, Cheryl was sworn in as the President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), which is comprised of 700 of the most highly regarded family law lawyers throughout the world. She is also Past-President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), which is comprised of 1700 accomplished family law attorneys in the United States who specialize in all issues related to divorce and family law. Cheryl is the only Maryland Diplomate in the American College of Family Trial Attorneys, which is comprised of the top 100 family law trial attorneys in the United States.

    Cheryl has received numerous honors, awards and recognition by publications, surveys and associations including:

    • 2025 Top Attorney for Family/Divorce, Bethesda Magazine 
    • Doyle's Guide Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Lawyer – Washington D.C., (2025 - 2026)
    • Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers, 2025, 2027
    • Top 50 Women Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2024
    • Washingtonian Top Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine, 2022 - 2025
    • Maryland Super Lawyers, Cover Story, January 2020
    • Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent® Top Rated Lawyers, 2019
    • Top Attorneys, Family Law, Bethesda Magazine (recognition honors the region’s most respected legal practitioners, as chosen by their peers), 2019 - 2023
    • Named The Best Lawyers in America® for Closely Held Companies and Family, Business Law, Family Law, 2003-2027
    • Top Lawyer List, Washingtonian Magazine, Divorce & Family Law, 2018
    • Family Law Practitioner of the Year of the Family Law Section, Montgomery County Bar Association, 2015-2016
    • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® for Family Law, 2007-present
      • Top 10 Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2017
      • Top 100 Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2012-2025
      • Top 50 Women Maryland Super Lawyers, List, 2011-2023, 2026, 2027
      • Top 25 Women Maryland Super Lawyers List, 2007-2011
    • Selected to Washington D.C. Super Lawyers® for Family Law, 2007-2019
      • Top 100 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers List, 2008-2019
      • Top 50 Women Washington D.C. Super Lawyers List, 2008-2019
    • Best Divorce Lawyers, Washingtonian Magazine, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011-2021
    • Top Divorce Lawyers, Bethesda Magazine, 2010 and 2013-2017
    • Top 25 Women Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2011-2012
    • Top 50 Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2011-2017

Services

Featured Publications & News

<p>32 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Edition of Maryland Super Lawyers </p>

32 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Edition of Maryland Super Lawyers 

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  • Biography
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