Stephen W. Payne

Stephen W. Payne is an associate attorney with M.C. Thomas & Associates, PC in Washington, DC. He focuses on divorce and family law in the District of Columbia, including contested and uncontested divorce, child custody and visitation, modifications of custody and support orders, contempt proceedings, civil protection orders, alimony, and equitable distribution of property. His work includes courtroom litigation as well as settlement negotiations, alternative dispute resolution, and mediation.

Stephen earned a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Florida, graduating summa cum laude. His education provided the legal and analytical foundation for a practice involving family relationships, financial disputes, court procedure, and negotiated resolutions. Before joining his current firm, he practiced civil litigation, employment law, and family law in Ogden, Utah, giving him additional experience with contested civil matters before focusing on Washington, DC family cases.

Stephen represents clients across the practical issues that arise when marriages and parenting arrangements change. His work can involve custody schedules, visitation, support obligations, enforcement and contempt issues, protective orders, alimony, and division of property. He advises clients in settlement and mediation when negotiated solutions are appropriate and litigates when disputes require court intervention. This combination allows him to address family-law matters through both adversarial and resolution-focused processes.

Stephen W. Payne is admitted in the District of Columbia and Utah and before the US District Court for the District of Utah. He has practiced with M.C. Thomas & Associates since 2014 and works from the firm’s Washington, DC office. His family-law practice is built around litigation, negotiation, mediation, and careful management of the legal and financial issues that accompany divorce and custody disputes. He brings prior civil-litigation experience to sensitive family matters requiring clear procedural strategy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, M.C. Thomas & Associates, PC
• Member, District of Columbia Bar
• Member, Utah State Bar

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Utah

Education

• University of Miami (FL) School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Florida
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges