Please e-mail any documents. DO NOT FAX anything.  Facsimiles are no longer being accepted.

EXPERIENCE

Since 2003, Maggie has been the Hearing Officer for the 16th Judicial District’s Family Court docket. In that capacity, Maggie hears and makes recommendations on all family filings, including custody, child support, domestic violence litigation, spousal support, use of property, community property and any other ancillary issue pending from divorce, custody or domestic violence litigation, including criminal non support.

_______________________________________

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Arts, Broadcast Journalism, Louisiana State University, 1995

Juris Doctor, Louisiana State University Law School, 1998

_________________________________________

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts- Louisiana Chapter. Board of Director, Treasurer,President, 2020-Present.

Supreme Court of Louisiana Protective Order Registry Faculty, Appointed 2008-Present

Louisiana Bar Foundation, Board Member, 2020-Present.

Louisiana State Bar Association, member, 1998- Present.

Louisiana Bar Journal Editorial Board, 2005-Present

Louisiana State Bar Association Young Lawyers Council, Secretary, Elected 2011- 2012. District 3 Representative, Elected 2007-2012

American Bar Association Young Lawyers Council, Children and the Law Chair, Appointed 2006 and Family Law Chair, Appointed 2007.

Lafayette Bar Association, 2008-Present. Board of Directors, President, President-Elect, Secretary, Bench Bar Chair, Hall of Fame Chair.

Lafayette Bar Association, Young Lawyers Association, served as President, President-Elect, Secretary, Community Services Chair, and Mock Trial Chair

Junior League of Lafayette, 2000-Present. President, President-Elect, Financial Vice President, Assistant Financial Vice President, Grants Administration Chair, Fund Research and Development Chair, Sustaining Advisor to the Board.

Association of Family Conciliatory Court, 2021-Present. Treasurer, President, President-Elect.

Maddie's Footprints, 2021-Present. Board of Directors, Treasurer.

Krewe of Xanadu, Queen 2013, Royalty Muse 2009-2010.

Tiger Athletic Foundation, 1998-Present.

_________________________________________

HONORS AND AWARDS

Publications

Louisiana Legal Services and Pro Bono Desk Manual- Author and Editor, Family Law Section.  Published 2022

Louisiana State Bar Journal (Various articles)

Community Membership and Awards

Court Innovation Award. Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts (2024)

Friend of Pro Bono Award.  Supreme Court of Louisiana (2023)

Louisiana State Bar Foundation Presidents Award (2022)

Junior League of Lafayette. President, President-Elect, Financial Vice President, Board of Directors (2001-Present)

Krewe of Xanadu, President, 2016-17, Queen 2013, Royalty Muse 2009-2010, and Royalty Committee member 2010.

Maddie’s Footprints, Secretary, Board of Directors member, 2020-Present

Lafayette Parish Woman of Excellence, 2014

Chez Hope Coordinated Community Response Team Member, 2022-Present

LSBA Access to Justice, Justice for All Taskforce Member, 2022-Present

LECTURES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS (in the areas of Family Law and Professionalism)

Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts National Conference Presenter, Louisiana State Bar Association Dazzling Disney CLE, Young Lawyers Professional Development Seminar, Lafayette Bar Association, Terrebonne Bar Association, Inns of Court (Dewey), LSU Law, Innson the Teche, Lafayette Women’s Foundation, Genesis Program, and other various organizations.

THE FAMILY COURT PROCESS

After a family law case is filed with the Clerk of Court, the Family Law Court will schedule a Hearing Officer Conference. Please note that this office does NOT contact attorney’s to set dates.  We ask that you send a “conflict calendar” of the unavailable dates.

The goal is to get the parties to a Hearing Officer Conference within twenty-one (21) days from the date of filing but that may not always be possible.

Once a Hearing Officer Conference is set, the matter is referred back to the Clerk of Court to set a hearing date before the Judge assigned to the case. The Hearing Office has nothing to do with the date before the judge.
The parties are sent an Order setting forth their obligations and ordering the parties to provide certain information and complete certain affidavits to return to the Hearing Officer five (5) days prior to the hearing.

At the Hearing Officer Conference, the attorneys and parties meet with the Hearing Officer and the issues which need to be resolved are discussed by the parties and their attorneys (if there are attorney’s). An effort is made at this time to facilitate the settlement of the issues at this time between the parties so that they, the persons who are most familiar with the issues involved, can reach an agreement concerning the children, support, the community property, etc.

If the parties reach an agreement on all or part of the issues at the Hearing Officer Conference, a Consent Judgment is prepared by the Hearing Officer containing the agreement of the parties and signed during the conference. If the parties reach an agreement on all of the issues, there is no need for the parties to go before a Judge. If no agreement is reached, or only a partial agreement is reached, the Hearing Officer will prepare Findings and a Recommendation in a Hearing Officer Report for the Court which each party or their attorney will sign before they leave. The other option is that the Hearing Officer may elect, at her discretion, to email the Hearing Officer Report to the parties and/or counsel. The parties then have five (5) days to file an objection to all or part of the Hearing Officer's Findings and Recommendation. Objections by the parties must be specific to each Finding and each Recommendation that the party objects to. This jurisdictiondoes not allow “general objections”.

If no objections are filed within the time period allowed, the Findings and Recommendations contained in the Hearing Officer Report are adopted as an order of the Court. If objections are timely filed, the Court will, on the rule date fixed, take testimony as to only those matters which are objected to with all matters not objected to being adopted by the Court.

After a trial on the objections, the Judge assigned to your case will make a finding as to all issues to which an objection has been filed and render a judgment.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do I call the Hearing Officer?

Hearing Officer, Hearing Officer Simar, Ms. Simar or Ms. Maggie are all acceptable.

What if I can't afford an attorney?

While it is always preferable for you to be represented by an attorney, you can appear without one. The Hearing Officer Conference is in a comfortable setting in a conference room and involves discussions between the parties to attempt to settle issues. There are self-represented resources available to all parties so if you would like this option, the Hearing Officer Assistant, Jessica, can provide you with these resources if you ask her.

The Hearing Officer will explain to the parties the options beyond the Hearing Officer Conference at the conclusion of the Hearing Officer Conference.

What if I am unrepresented, we can't settle at the Hearing Officer Conference and I don't agree with what the Hearing Officer has recommended?

The Hearing Officer will provide you with a form to file an objection so that the Court can decide the issues which are objected to. If she fails to do so, please ask for this form (or how to proceed moving forward).


Do I have to be present during the entire Hearing Officer Conference?

Yes. If you fail to appear or do not stay for the entirety of the Hearing Officer Conference, you can be held in contempt of court and the Hearing Officer may make recommendations contrary to your position.


Can I bring my phone to the conference?

No. If your phone has information which you will need at the conference, please advise your attorney and/or the bailiff's and we may allow you to bring your phone in but your phone must be in airplane mode (where no calls or texts can be received).


Can I bring someone other than an attorney into the Hearing Officer Conference?

No. Only the parties and their attorneys can be present during the Hearing Officer Conference. THIS INCLUDES CHILDREN.  OUR LOCAL RULES SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT CHILDREN ARE NOT TO BE PRESENT AT THE HEARING OFFICER CONFERENCE.


What happens if I do not comply with the Hearing Officer Conference Order?

You can be held in contempt of court for failing to comply with the Order as it is an order of the Court. The punishment for contempt can be a 30 day sentence and/or a fine.


How long will the Hearing Officer Conference last?


Ideally, the conference is expected to last ninety (90) minutes but it can go longer. Please insurethat you have made arrangements for someone to pick up your children from school and don'tschedule any appointments for after the conference as this could result in the parties not being able to reach an agreement or incurring additional attorney fees.