Laura V. Farthing Berthiaume

Laura V. Farthing Berthiaume is a partner at Farthing & Farthing PC in Rockville whose practice centers on estate planning, trusts, probate, elder law, adult guardianships, and special needs planning. She also has substantial experience in estate-related and general civil litigation. Her work includes drafting wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, advising on estate and gift tax implications, and representing clients in disputes involving estates and property.

Berthiaume earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and served on The Georgetown University Law Journal. She also received an M.S. in Foreign Service with academic distinction from Georgetown and a B.A. with high distinction from the University of Virginia. This academic background supports detailed analysis of planning, tax, and litigation issues.

Berthiaume has handled will contests, probate matters, trust disputes, adult guardianships, real estate-related contracts, arbitration proceedings, and civil litigation at administrative, trial, and appellate levels. Earlier in her career, she served as an Attorney Adviser with the U.S. Department of State and worked at Sidley & Austin. She also completed a federal judicial clerkship with Judge Richard J. Cardamone of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Laura V. Farthing Berthiaume is admitted in Maryland, New York, and the District of Columbia. Her background combines estate planning, fiduciary matters, tax-sensitive planning, negotiation, and courtroom experience. She helps individuals and families structure plans, administer estates, address incapacity concerns, and resolve disputes that can arise over property, trusts, guardianships, and inheritance with practical legal judgment.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Farthing & Farthing PC
• Member, District of Columbia Bar
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Member, New York State Bar Association
• President, Friends of the Library, Rockville Chapter (2005)
• Former Member of the Board of Trustees, Baptist Home for Children
• Member, Board of Education, Montgomery County, Maryland (2008-2012)
• Cluster Co-Coordinator, Rockville High School Cluster, MCCPTA (2007)

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• New York

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Magna Cum Laude)
• Georgetown School of Foreign Service
  Master of Science (MS) in Foreign Service with Academic Distinction
• University of Virginia
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges