Sarah Novak Nesbitt is a Partner at Family Legal Advocacy Group (FLAG), where she is known for her compassionate, child-centered approach to resolving family disputes. A lifelong Marylander, Sarah earned dual degrees magna cum laude in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame, where she focused her academic work on child development and family systems. Before law school, she taught at a Baltimore scholarship-based middle school serving underserved children—a formative experience that deepened her commitment to helping families in crisis and shaped the trajectory of her legal career. She went on to graduate cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law as a Leadership Scholar, where she engaged in extensive public interest work, including juvenile court clinics, advocacy for children with disabilities through Project HEAL, and domestic violence work with the House of Ruth.
Since being admitted to practice in Maryland in 2009, Sarah has dedicated her career to supporting families with empathy, grace, and a focus on long-term well-being. She has represented clients in a wide range of matters including custody, divorce, adoption, child support, and guardianship, and serves as court-appointed counsel for children in contested custody cases proceedings. At FLAG, she leads a team that prioritizes non-adversarial approaches whenever possible—guiding clients through collaborative law, mediation, and settlement-focused strategies. Her work is anchored in the belief that children thrive when families are supported in resolving conflict outside of court, where outcomes can be more sustainable, respectful, and tailored to a family’s unique needs.
With her experience in family law, Sarah is a highly regarded mediator, regularly appointed by courts and trusted by fellow attorneys to assist in resolving complex family law disputes. Her ability to create a safe, respectful environment where both parties feel heard allows her to guide families toward resolution even in high-conflict cases. Sarah often facilitates agreements in emotionally charged situations, with legal knowledge, emotional intelligence, and practical problem-solving and an emphasis on child-development.
Sarah also has a large practice preparing orders for clients and attorneys through Maryland and the District of Columbia to transfer retirement accounts after divorce. In preparing these orders (often referred to as “Qualified Domestic Relations Orders” or “QDROs”), Sarah knows how tired clients often are after their divorce process. Her goal is to streamline what can be a complex process and keep it as simple as possible for clients. With over ten years of experience in preparing these orders, Sarah also often teaches continuing education classes for other lawyers and serves as an expert witness on topics around post-divorce division of retirement accounts.
Clients consistently praise Sarah for her deep knowledge, steady demeanor, and unwavering commitment to both children and parents. One parent shared, “Sarah helped me navigate an emotional custody situation with so much grace. She never lost sight of what was best for my kids, and I felt heard every step of the way.” Another client noted, “Her strategic ability was stellar, and she watched my costs as well. She truly understood the human side of what I was going through.” Others have described her as “brilliant, honest, and kind,” and someone who “combines technical expertise with emotional sensitivity in a way that is rare.” One review stated simply, “She is the kind of advocate every parent hopes to have in their corner—steady, smart, and completely dedicated.”
Sarah has been recognized repeatedly by Maryland Super Lawyers, first as a Rising Star now as a Super Lawyer. In addition to her legal practice, she teaches Child Custody and the Law as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she helps train the next generation of lawyers to approach family law with thoughtfulness and compassion and educates law students particularly in child development, children with special needs, and parents with emotional challenges.
At the heart of Sarah’s work is a deep respect for the emotional complexity of family transitions. Whether she is guiding parents through a peaceful divorce, protecting a child’s voice in court, or crafting a parenting plan that reflects the realities of co-parenting, her goal is always the same: to help families find stability, dignity, and a path forward. Her clients often return not just with gratitude, but with relief—knowing they were seen, supported, and equipped to move ahead with confidence.
Practice Areas
- Collaborative Law
- Mediation
- Custody
- Child Support
- Divorce Professionals
- Court-Appointed Counsel for Children
- Guardianship of Minors
- Third-Party Custody Cases
- Adoption
- Stepparent and 2nd Parent Adoptions
- LGBTQ+ Advocacy
- Qualified Domestic Relations Orders and Similar Retirement Orders
- Litigation
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Professional Associations
- Howard County Bar Association
- Maryland Collaborative Practice Council
- Howard County Collaborative Practice Chair of Ethics Committee
- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Howard County Women’s Bar Association Vice President
- Maryland Woman’s Bar Association
- Divorce Roundtable Member
- Inns of Court of Montgomery County
