Maryland Family Law Attorney Serving Prince George's County and Southern Maryland

We handle divorce, custody, support, and protective orders in the courthouses where these cases are actually heard, and the attorney who sits down with you at the consultation is the attorney who stands up for you in court. Family cases go badly when nobody tells you what happens next, so we tell you.

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The Family Matters We Take On in Maryland

Maryland divorce laws changed in recent years, and the rules that decide custody and support are more specific than most people expect. Here is what we handle and what the law actually says about each one.

  • Contested and Uncontested Divorce

    Since October 1, 2023, Maryland grants an absolute divorce on six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent, so a year apart is no longer required. An uncontested case still needs court approval, and a contested one turns on property, support, and custody being resolved first. We handle contested and uncontested divorce in Maryland, and as divorce attorneys in Prince George's County we settle which ground fits your situation before anything gets filed.


  • Child Custody and Visitation

    Maryland decides legal custody and physical custody separately, so one parent can hold decision-making authority while the schedule looks nothing like the label suggests. There is no formula. A judge weighs the best interests of the child, which covers stability, each parent's involvement, and what the arrangement does to the child's day-to-day life. We handle child custody, visitation, and support together, because the three move as one.

  • Child Support

    Maryland runs child support on the income shares model, which combines both parents' incomes and divides the obligation between them. The state guidelines cover combined adjusted actual income up to $30,000 a month, and the Maryland Child Support Administration publishes an online calculator you can run yourself. Above that ceiling, the number is argued, and how it is presented matters.

  • Property Division and Alimony

    Maryland is an equitable distribution state, which means marital property is divided fairly rather than automatically down the middle. Retirement accounts, a house with one name on the deed, and a business built during the marriage all raise questions worth getting right the first time. Alimony is decided on its own set of factors, including the length of the marriage and each spouse's ability to support themselves.


  • Protective Orders

    A final protective order in Maryland is entered on a preponderance of the evidence and can run up to a year, with extensions available in some circumstances. These hearings move fast, and the outcome follows you into custody, housing, and employment. We represent people seeking protective orders and people who have had one filed against them.

  • Prenuptial Agreements

    A prenuptial agreement is easier to draft than to defend, and Maryland courts look closely at disclosure, timing, and whether both people had a real chance to review it. We draft agreements that hold up and review ones already on the table before you sign.

  • Contempt

    When an order for support, custody, or visitation is ignored, contempt is the tool that puts it back in front of a judge. The court needs proof of what the order required and what actually happened. We build that record and file it in the county where your order was entered.


A Family Firm That Has Practiced Here for Fifty Years

We have been practicing law for more than 50 years, roughly 40 of them from the same Fort Washington office. We are small on purpose. Most of our family law clients come to us because someone we already represented sent them, and that is a standard we would rather be held to than any advertisement.

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The attorney you meet at your consultation is the attorney who appears in the courtroom

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Direct access to your attorney from start to finish, not a case manager relaying messages

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Decades of family law practice in front of the judges and courthouse staff who will hear your case

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Child-focused advocacy in custody matters, with a clear read on how a Maryland judge weighs best interests

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A deliberately limited caseload, so your matter is not one of hundreds

We appear in the family courts across this region regularly:

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Prince George's County Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro

Charles County Circuit Court in La Plata

Calvert County Circuit Court in Prince Frederick

St. Mary's County Circuit Court in Leonardtown

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court in Annapolis

Knowing how a particular courtroom runs will not change the law, but it changes how well prepared you walk in.

Our Family Law Process

 Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:


  1. Initial consultation to understand your needs and explain your options
  2. Tailored strategy focused on your goals and finances
  3. Negotiation or mediation to minimize conflict when possible

Court representation when litigation is necessary

Questions Maryland Families Ask Us First

  • How long does a divorce take in Maryland?

    An uncontested divorce in Maryland is often finalized within a few months of filing, once the required paperwork is in order and the court schedules a hearing. A contested divorce takes longer, usually a year or more, because property division, support, and custody all have to be resolved before the divorce is granted. The single largest factor is how much the two sides still disagree about when the case is filed.

  • Do I have to be separated for a year to get divorced in Maryland?

    No. Since October 1, 2023, Maryland grants an absolute divorce on six-month separation, irreconcilable differences, or mutual consent, and the old one-year separation requirement no longer applies. Mutual consent requires a signed settlement agreement covering property and any children. Which ground fits your situation affects your filing date, so it is worth confirming before you file.


  • How is child support calculated in Maryland?

    Maryland uses the income shares model, which combines both parents' adjusted actual incomes and assigns each parent a share of the total support obligation. The state guidelines apply to combined income up to $30,000 a month, and health insurance, work-related child care, and overnight parenting time all factor into the final number. Cases above the guideline ceiling are decided on the child's actual needs and the family's standard of living.


  • What is the difference between legal and physical custody in Maryland?

    Legal custody is the authority to make major decisions about education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Physical custody is where the child lives and the schedule that governs it. Maryland courts decide the two separately, so joint legal custody paired with primary physical custody to one parent is a common outcome.


  • Can I modify custody or support later?

    Yes, but you need to show a material change in circumstances since the last order, and that the change you are asking for serves the child's best interests. A significant income change, a relocation, a new work schedule, or a shift in the child's needs can all qualify. A disagreement with the original ruling, on its own, will not.


  • How do I get a protective order in Prince George's County?

    You file a petition at the District Court or Circuit Court in Upper Marlboro, or with a District Court commissioner after hours, and a judge can issue a temporary order the same day. A final protective order hearing is usually held within about a week, where the court decides on a preponderance of the evidence whether to grant an order that can last up to a year. Bring anything documenting what happened, and get representation before the final hearing.


  • Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

    Maryland does not require one, but an uncontested divorce still produces a binding order on property, support, and custody that is difficult to undo later. The common problems are a settlement agreement that misses a retirement account, a custody schedule too vague to enforce, and paperwork the court rejects. We review or draft the agreement so the terms you agreed to are the terms that get entered.

Get a Straight Answer About Your Case

Call us and you will get an honest read on where your case stands, what the process looks like, and what it is likely to take. We represent families in Prince George's, Charles, Calvert, Anne Arundel, and St. Mary's counties, including family law matters heard at the Leonardtown courthouse. One conversation is usually enough to know what happens next.

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