Mary Roby Sanders

Maryland

Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders, P.A.
210 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Suite 420
Towson, MD 21204

Tel: 410-339-4100

Email: msanders@tnsfamilylaw.com
Web: www.tnsfamilylaw.com

Professional Biography

Mary Roby Sanders is an AV Preeminent rated attorney who practices exclusively in the area of family law. Widely respected throughout Maryland’s legal community, she is known for her professionalism, leadership, and longstanding dedication to domestic relations matters.

Mary represents clients in a broad range of family law disputes and has built a distinguished reputation through decades of advocacy and service within the profession. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and previously served as Chair of the Family Law Section Council of the Maryland State Bar Association. She is also a former member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for Baltimore County and remains active within the Baltimore County legal community.

Her professional accomplishments have earned extensive recognition. In 2019, Mary received the Beverly A. Groner Family Law Award, honoring attorneys and judges who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to family law and the highest professional standards throughout their careers. She also received the prestigious J. Earle Plumhoff Award from the Baltimore County Bar Association in recognition of professionalism in the practice of law. In addition, Mary has been recognized as a Maryland Super Lawyer every year since 2007, a Top 100 Super Lawyer since 2014, a Top 50 Women Super Lawyer since 2014, and a Top 10 Super Lawyer in 2023. She was also named a 2021 Leadership in Law Honoree by The Daily Record.

Mary is an active member of the Women’s Bar Association and is both a former chair and current member of the Baltimore County Bench Bar Committee and the Family Law Committee of the Baltimore County Bar Association. She is also a member of the Dissenter’s Club.

Beyond her legal practice, Mary was interviewed for the 2020 documentary Erasing Family, which examines the impact of divorce and separation on parent-child relationships within the American family court system.

Mary earned both her B.A. and J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland.

Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders focuses exclusively on family law matters, representing clients in divorce, custody, visitation, child support, and alimony disputes. The firm’s family law practice is led by partners Mary Roby Sanders, Christopher W. Nicholson, and Rebecca A. Fleming, following the retirement of Ann M. Turnbull (Counsel Emeritus).

The firm’s divorce practice is centered on helping clients navigate emotionally and financially difficult transitions with practical, objective-oriented guidance. Its attorneys work to resolve disputes in a manner that protects clients’ long-term interests and preserves quality of life for both clients and their families.

In custody and visitation matters, the team provides experienced and strategic representation in high-conflict disputes, working closely with clients to achieve arrangements that support the best interests of children while protecting parental rights.

The firm also advises clients on child support and alimony issues, helping families secure fair and sustainable financial arrangements. Through dedicated advocacy and personalized counsel, Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders strives to deliver effective and lasting solutions across all aspects of family law.

Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders, P.A. is a Maryland family law firm that has focused exclusively on domestic relations matters since 1998. Based in Towson, the firm represents clients throughout Baltimore County, Baltimore City, surrounding Maryland counties, and the appellate courts, providing strategic and highly experienced counsel across a broad range of family law disputes.

The firm handles all aspects of divorce and separation, including child custody and access, alimony, property distribution, mediation, collaborative law, parenting coordination, and the representation of children. Its attorneys regularly assist clients in both negotiated resolutions and contested litigation, tailoring legal strategies to the unique personal and financial circumstances of each matter.

Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders is widely recognized within the Maryland legal community for its depth of experience and leadership in family law. The firm and its attorneys have received local, regional, and national recognition, including AV ratings and repeated selection of its partners to Super Lawyers. Its attorneys are also active in bar association leadership, legal education initiatives, and the development of family law scholarship and professional resources.

The firm approaches each case with a focus on achieving successful and practical outcomes through settlement, litigation, or a combination of both where appropriate. Supported by an experienced team of attorneys and staff, Turnbull, Nicholson & Sanders emphasizes professionalism, empathy, and attentive client service while guiding individuals and families through complex and emotionally sensitive legal matters.

“Mary Roby Sanders and TNS have built an extraordinary reputation through decades of excellence in family law advocacy, professional leadership, and dedicated service to the legal community. Widely respected throughout Maryland, Mary and the TNS team are consistently recognized among the state’s leading family law practitioners, with prestigious honors reflecting their professionalism, integrity, and longstanding commitment to excellence in domestic relations matters.”
The Family Attorneys, 2026