Hope Stafford co-founded Delaney Stafford after 13 years of family law practice alongside Lin Delaney in Lin’s prior firm, Delaney McKinney. Before attending law school, Hope obtained an engineering degree and worked as a portfolio analyst at a financial management company in New York City. She left that profession to pursue a career where she would have an opportunity to work more closely with individuals and help families and individuals through difficult times -- but she still has a TI-83 on her desk.
Because of Hope’s background in math and finance, she brings particular expertise to complex financial cases involving alimony, property division (including valuation of assets), child support, and negotiating and drafting prenuptial agreements. Over the years, she has incorporated those analytical skills into her practice in high conflict and other forms of complicated custody cases involving substance use disorders, domestic violence including coercive control, gatekeeping behaviors, and visitation resistance or refusal. Hope is also a strong appellate advocate and has argued appeals in both D.C. and Maryland.
Hope has served as a guardian ad litem for children and has committed substantial time to various family law pro bono activities and organizations in the D.C. area. Prior to entering practice, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable John M. Campbell in the D.C. Superior Court’s Family Court and she has frequently volunteered at the D.C. Family Court’s Self-Help Center.