Hannah Hammitte Surface

Hannah Hammitte Surface represents individuals and family businesses in complex domestic‑relations matters, with particular emphasis on high‑asset divorces, adoptions, business‑owner matters, closely held entities, and trust‑ and estate‑adjacent disputes. A practical strategist and steady courtroom advocate, she guides clients from initial consultation through final resolution—managing discovery, dispositive and evidentiary motion practice, depositions, mediations, and trial.

Before joining Maynard Nexsen, Hannah founded and led a successful boutique litigation practice, serving as sole representative of clients from intake to outcome across sophisticated family-law disputes and related civil controversies. Her work spans high-asset divorces involving closely held businesses, complex custody and relocation issues, and enforcement and modification proceedings, as well as select civil matters—including contract and intentional‑tort claims—that often arise alongside domestic relations litigation. She also advises on entity formation and contract drafting and assists in preparing wills and trusts where fiduciary and family-law considerations intersect.

Previously, as a litigation attorney in a local boutique domestic relations firm, Hannah handled high-asset and high-conflict matters at every stage—managing discovery, motion practice, depositions, mediations (including appellate mediations), and trials—and drafted appellate and response briefs filed with the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Hannah also served the Honorable Patrick J. Ballard of Alabama’s Tenth Judicial Circuit (Civil Division), first as a legal intern and later as a law clerk, where she supported trials and hearings, conducted legislative research, briefed pending motions, and assisted with drafting judicial orders.

Appointed as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for both minors and adults, Hannah brings a child‑ and capacity‑sensitive perspective to contested custody, dependency, conservatorship, and guardianship matters, ensuring that vulnerable interests are fully and thoughtfully presented to the court.

Community & Professional

• Alabama State Bar
• Birmingham Bar Association
• Judge James Edwin Horton Inn of Court, Pupil

• High‑asset divorce and post‑judgment litigation involving closely held businesses, executive compensation, and complex valuation issues.
• Contested custody and relocation actions; paternity and dependency proceedings; and grandparent‑visitation claims.
• Rule Nisi and modification proceedings, including enforcement of support and property‑division obligations.
• Adoption matters and related termination‑of‑parental‑rights proceedings.
• Trusts, wills, conservatorships, and guardianships intersecting with ongoing family litigations.
• Select civil disputes, including intentional tort and contract‑litigation issues arising in the family‑law context.