Mary Ann Scherer, R.N, .J.D., has practiced in the area of Family and Marital Law for 20 years.  She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1978. Education: University of Miami, R.N.B.S with honors 1974; Nova University, J.D. 1978. Scherer is licensed in the State of Florida and is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, The Florida Bar, The Broward County Bar Association, and holds to the highest standards of practice as required by those associations.  Mary Ann also serves as a Special Public Defender in the Dependency division of the Circuit Court in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  She encourages birth parents that have become involved in the system because of abuse, abandonment, or neglect to become actively involved and to take responsibility for the care and welfare of their children.  She has a private practice in Family Law where she represents clients in divorce and other related family matters in a manner best designed to preserve the family unit that will continue, that between parents and child. She handles related matters such as premarital agreements, annulments, child custody and support, dependency, adoption, and paternity actions.  PRACTICE AREAS: Family law, adoption, dependency, and name change, re-adoption of international adoptions, stepparent and grandparent adoption, guardianship, custody and child support, domestic violence, and Petitions for Custody by Extended Family members. Scherer's law office is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  She practices in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and For Broward County Florida.  Mary Ann Scherer provides services to birth and adoptive parents in private placement within and without the state of Florida, and assists with home study coordination, medical, and subsidy referrals. She assists with international adoption referrals and coordination of dossier and INS requirements. She provides re-adoption services to adoptive parents of international children.