About Melanie
Melanie Newkome Jones, Board Certified Family Law Specialist
Melanie is one of twelve Board Certified Specialists in Family Law in Baton Rouge, offering both litigation and mediation services. With her 26 years of practice, Melanie has vast experience in the courts and with attorneys practicing in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area. While she encourages the parties to resolve their conflicts through mediation or other amicable means, she is an experienced and aggressive litigator when the matter requires it. She is a compassionate and conscientious advocate for her clients, and strives to assist them in navigating the path of family conflict as painlessly as possible.
Background
Melanie was raised in Baton Rouge, graduating from Baton Rouge Magnet High School and Louisiana State University with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Sociology. Melanie then graduated from the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where she was a member of the Moot Court Board.
Melanie worked for two small firms in Baton Rouge before opening her own firm in 1997. She specializes in family matters, but also handles personal injury, succession and other general litigation matters. She is a certified Family and Civil Law mediator, and is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist in Baton Rouge, which certification is through the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization.
Melanie has been providing legal services to individuals and families for over 26 years as an attorney and mediator in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. She strives to encourage an amicable resolution, particularly in custody matters, as cooperation between the parents is in the children's best interest when possible. However, Melanie is also a competent, experienced trial lawyer if the matter cannot be amicably resolved.
Areas of Practice
I. Family Law
~ Divorce
~ Custody
~ Child Support
~ Paternity (Disavowal and Establishment)
~ Community Property Partitions
~ Adoptions (Intra-family and private adoptions)
II. Personal Injury
III. Qualified mediator (Family and Civil matters)
IV. Wills and Successions
Parishes of Practice
- East Baton Rouge Parish Family Court
- East Baton Rouge Parish Juvenile Court
- East Baton Rouge Parish 19th Judicial District Court
- West Baton Rouge 18th Judicial District Court
- Pointe Coupee Parish 18th Judicial District Court
- Iberville Parish 18th Judicial District Court
- Ascension Parish 23rd District Court
- Assumption Parish 23rd Judicial District Court
- Livingston Parish 21st Judicial District Court
- East Feliciana Parish 20th Judicial District Court
- West Feliciana Parish 20th Judicial District Court