Ernest A. Harper
Ernie was born and raised in Palo Alto, California. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1987, he was commissioned in the U.S. Marine Corps. Ernie served in the Marines for 20 years, in various capacities and all over the world. Ernie earned his J.D. from The George Washington University School of Law in 1994, and served as a judge advocate in the Marine Corps. He retired from military service in 2007, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Ernie practiced law with Tremblay and Smith from 2007 until 2016 and is now a proud partner at Royer Caramanis. Ernie focuses on Family Law (divorce, custody, pre and post nuptial agreements, property settlements, separation agreements) as well as Military Law (military justice, command relations, administrative and judicial tribunals, security clearances).
Ernie follows the motto: No better friend, no worse enemy.* Settlement of a domestic relations case is usually the best course of action and Ernie works hard to achieve settlement. But in those cases in which settlement is not possible, trial takes the character of battle.
Admitted
• Virginia
• Maryland
• District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Professional Associations
• Charlottesville – Albemarle Bar Association
• Virginia State Bar
Former member of the Board of Governors of the Military Law Section
• Veterans of Foreign Wars
• Parade Rest
Chairman of the Board of Directors
• Virginia Gators Swim Club
Former president and swim dad extraordinaire
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Virginia
Member of the Board of Directors
Personal
Ernie is the proud father of three fine young adults – scholars, swimmers and good citizens. He has been happily married since 2015 to Amy, a nurse. He enjoys watching and playing nearly all sports, the outdoors, good books and movies, working in the yard and a glass of good bourbon.
*This was the motto of General James Mattis, U.S. Marine Corps, who in turn adopted and adapted it from Sulla, a General and Consul of ancient Rome, whose epitaph reads: “No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full”.