Marla Zide

Founding Partner

Print Profile

Marla Zide's path into the legal profession began at an early age when she would inquire about joining her father, a devoted legal expert, during his Saturday office visits. A native of New England, Ms. Zide moved to Maryland in 1993 to attend Goucher College, where she graduated in 1997 with a BA in psychology and a minor in Women's Studies. She then earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2001, focusing on family law. During her time at the University, Ms. Zide spent two semesters in the Family Law Clinic and worked at the Maryland Legal Service Network (MLAN), networking various legal service providers across the state and contributing to the development of the People's Law Library.

Since being sworn into the Maryland Bar in December 2001, Ms. Zide has focused her legal practice on family law. She began her litigation career at the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, representing clients in Protective Order hearings. Her practice mainly serves Anne Arundel County, but she also represents clients in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Harford County, and several Eastern Shore counties, assisting parents, grandparents, other third parties, and children in complex matters involving separation, divorce, custody, visitation, child support, alimony, family support, and adoption.

Ms. Zide is committed to advocating for her clients, understanding the significant stress that comes with family law cases. She aims to provide direction and focus, ensuring each client feels valued and supported throughout their legal journey.

Her dedication to service is reflected in numerous honors and recognitions, including being an Honoree at the Pro Bono Resource Center's 15th Anniversary Gala in October 2005, receiving accolades as a Leading Lawyer by "What's Up Annapolis" in 2009, and being named a "Super Lawyer" Rising Star in both 2010 and 2011. Ms. Zide has consistently been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in Family Law from 2013 to 2025 and has been listed among the "Top 50 Women Attorneys in Maryland" for multiple years, including 2014 through 2025. Her accolades also include being named "Baltimore's Finest" in 2014, recognized as one of the Daily Record's Leading Women 40 and Under in the same year, and featured among the "Top 100 Lawyers in Maryland" from 2015 to 2025. Additionally, she was awarded the Rosalyn Bell Award by the Women's Law Center in 2023, followed by the Daily Record Top 100 Women in 2024.

Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Zide has been actively engaged with the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), the Women's Bar Association (WBA), and the local Anne Arundel County Bar Association. She has served as the past chair of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the MSBA and is involved in various committees, including judicial selection, planning, and public awareness.

Bar Admissions

• Maryland State Bar, 2001

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Adoption
• Divorce

Education

• University of Baltimore School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
  • J.D. - 2001
  • Honors: Student Bar Association, Parliamentarian - Spring 1999 to Spring 2000
  • Honors: Student Bar Association, Third Year Representative - 2000 to 2001
  • Honors: Family Law Clinic, Student Attorney - Spring 2000
  • Honors: Family Law Clinic, Supervising Student Attorney - Fall 2000
• Goucher College, Towson, Maryland
  • B.A. - 1997
  • Major: Psychology
  • Minor: Women's Studies

Relevant Past Employment Positions

• Zide Law Group LLC (formally ZSTS Law Group LLC), Owner/Managing Partner September 2022 – present
• Law Office of Marla Zide, LLC, September 2011-September 2022
• Law Offices of Forman and Zide, May 2004-September 2011
• YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, January 2002-May 2004
• Maryland Legal Services Network, May 2001-January 2002

Current/Past Affiliations or Offices Held

• American Bar Association
  • Family Law Section member
• Anne Arundel Bar Association, member 2001-present
  • Barrister’s Ball Committee past member
  • Board Member June 2013-present
  • Co-Chair Development Committee 2013-2014
  • Co-Chair Social Committee 2014-present
  • Co-Chair Membership 2016-2018
  • Executive Committee 2018 – present
  • 2018 – 2019 – Assn. Secretary
  • 2019 – 2020 – Secretary
  • 2020-2021 Assn. Treasurer
  • 2021-2022 Treasurer
  • 2022-2023 – President Elect
  • 2023-2024 – President
  • 2024-present – Immediate Past President
• Maryland Association of Justice
• Member 2013-present
• Maryland State Bar Association, member 2001-present
• 5th Circuit Representative Young Lawyers Section Council 2004-2005
• Co-Chair Membership Young Lawyers Section Council 2005-2006
• Chair/Co-chair Public Service Young Lawyers Section County 2006-2007
• Executive Committee, Secretary Young Lawyers Section Council 2007-2008
• Executive Committee, Treasurer Young Lawyers Section Council 2008-2009
• Executive Committee, Chair Elect Young Lawyers Section Council 2009-present
• Executive Committee, Chair Young Lawyers Section Council 2010-2011
• Executive Committee, Immediate Past Chair Young Lawyers Section and Maryland State Bar Association Board of Governors (2010-2011)
• Nominating Chair Young Lawyers Section Council 2012-present
• Board of Governors, Young Lawyer Representative 2011-present
• Board of Governors, At-large member Executive Committee 2012-2013 bar year
• Planning Committee 2011-2018
• Judicial Selections Committee, at large member 2011-present
• Judicial Selections Committee, local member 2013-present
• Public Awareness Committee 2011-2018
• Local and Specialty Bar Committee 2013-2021
• Annual Conference of Bar Presidents and Annual Young Lawyers Summit – Break-out sessions – Large Bar committee facilitator
• Women’s Bar Association
• Member 2005-present
• Anne Arundel County Chapter President and member of WBA full board 2005-2006 and 2006-2007
• Executive Committee, Member at Large 2008-2009
• Board member 2011-2013
• Maryland Bar Foundation
• Board Member: June 2013-2024
• Vice Chair of the Fellows 2013-2014
• Chair of the Fellows 2014-2015
• Chair of the Grants Committee 2015-June 2019
• Secretary/Treasurer 2019 – 2021
• President Elect 2021-2022
• President 2022 – 2023
• Immediate Past President 2023 – 2024
• Women’s Law Center
• Member 2003-present
• Board Member July 2013-June 2019
• Chair of the Development Committee – 2014-2017
• Attorney Grievance Committee Peer Review
• Appointed 2020 – 2022
• Appointed 2022 – 2024

Honors and Awards

• Honoree, Pro Bono Resource Center 15th Anniversary Gala, October 2005
• "What’s Up Annapolis", Leading Lawyers 2009
• "Super Lawyers", Rising Stars 2010
• "Super Lawyers", Rising Stars 2011
• Solo Small Firm Practice Section 2011 recipient, David Hjortsberg Award
• Certificate of Recognition Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, Professionalism Committee for participating in the 2010-2011 Mentoring Program
• Certificate of Appreciation from the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, for participation in their Board, 2011
• Maryland Bar Foundation, Elected Fellow June 14, 2012
• "Super Lawyers", Family Law 2013 - 2025
• "Top 50 Women Attorneys in Maryland" 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
• "Baltimore’s Finest" 2014
• Daily Record Leading Women 40 and Under 2014
• "Top 100 Lawyers in Maryland" 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
• ABA Fellow 2020 – present
• Rosalyn Bell Awarded by the Women’s Law Center 2023
• Daily Record Top 100 Women 2024

Pro Bono Activities

• YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County