Meet Lindsay Hartz, Attorney At Law
I was born and raised in Waverly, Virginia, a one-stoplight town in the County of Sussex, equidistant from Virginia Beach, Richmond, and Williamsburg, but in the middle of nowhere. After graduating with a class of 13 from Tidewater Academy in 2001, I attended Virginia Tech (GO HOKIES!) for my undergraduate degree, graduating in 2004, cum laude. I majored in sociology, with an emphasis in crime and deviance, and unintentionally minored in psychology; little did I know that those subject areas would come in very handy in my future profession.
I attended Regent University School of Law, graduated in 2008, and survived the Bar Exam the same year. I spent 2008 through 2010 as a judicial clerk for three brilliant Judges in the Family Court of the State of Delaware, who took the time to teach me and from whom I loved learning. My daily observation of court proceedings, research for, and interaction with these judges gave me invaluable insight on different factors that affect judicial decision-making, including the impact an attorney can have when she is effective in her role as her client’s advocate.
After working for a prestigious family law firm, as well as for a fast-paced criminal/traffic law firm, both in the Richmond area, I opened my own practice on February 1, 2013. For 10 years, my practice has continued to grow and thrive. I am blessed to be surrounded by positive and intelligent people, and I truly enjoy the practice of law. I serve my clients with honesty, integrity, zeal, and compassion. I also find places for smiles and humor where I can, as without those things, this area of practice becomes unmanageable, as does life in general.
My practice is now devoted solely to family law. I handle all aspects, from adoptions to child custody litigation, and from property settlement agreements to contentious divorces. In 2019, I began serving as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to give children a voice in a process they did nothing to choose. Since I began my GAL work, I have been privileged to meet and represent many bright, kindhearted children, and look forward to continuing to do so for years to come.
I work mainly in the 6th (Sussex, Surry, Greensville/Emporia, Brunswick, Prince George, and Hopewell) and 12th (Chesterfield and Colonial Heights) Districts, advocating on behalf of parents, step-parents, grandparents and, most importantly, children, through my family law and GAL practice.
In my “spare time,” you might catch me coaching volleyball at my Alma Mater (Go Warriors!), spending time with my dog, Seamus, or adding stamps to my passport as often as I can. If I am the person you need to guide you through one of life’s most difficult times with compassion, but also candor, I look forward to meeting with you.
Meet Ashley Somariva, Paralegal & Office Manager
I was born and raised in Chesterfield County, Virginia and graduated from L.C. Bird High School in 2004. In 2006, I relocated to Whidbey Island, Washington, where my husband was stationed for U.S. Navy. We lived there for three years before returning home to Virginia. My husband and I have been blessed with two sons. In 2012, I obtained a new career at a busy traffic law firm in Richmond, where I met Lindsay. In 2013, Lindsay created Hartz Law, P.C. and brought me on board as her Paralegal and Office Manager. I have been blessed to help build this firm with Lindsay and so excited to see where the future will take us. I spend as much free time as I can with my family and friends. In the warmer months you'll find me searching for an addition to my Mermaid collection and when it's cooler, it's time for marathon baking and watching my Pittsburgh Steelers.
Family Law Client
"Calling an attorney's office can always be nerve racking and is normally under unfortunate circumstances. Lindsay Hartz and her paralegal, Ashley Somariva, were most professional at approaching my particular situation, which entailed a child custody dispute. Through meticulous negotiation with the adverse attorney,Lindsay proposed an agreement which solved the issues at hand. Hartz Law, P.C. sets the bar extremely high and strives to ensure their clients receive the best possible outcome based upon their individual needs. Call Lindsay Hartz if you want an attorney that will confront your dilemma head on and still maintain a relationship once finalized."
~ Margaret