Chevy Chase Child Support Lawyer

Experienced Chevy Chase, MD child support attorneys, recognized by Super Lawyers and named to Best Lawyers.

If you and your child’s other parent cannot agree on support, the right attorney can help you reach a number that is fair and holds up over time. The amount entered will affect your household budget and your child’s daily care for years to come. Our attorneys at Fait & DiLima Family Law have guided Maryland parents through these disputes for decades, and that work has drawn recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. A conversation with our Chevy Chase, MD child support lawyer is a reliable place to start. Contact our office to arrange a consultation.

Child Support Lawyer Chevy Chase, MD

A child support lawyer represents a parent in setting, changing, or enforcing the financial support owed for a child. The work involves far more than filling out a worksheet. It requires establishing each parent’s true income, accounting for parenting time and the costs of raising a child, and presenting the case clearly to the court.

A Chevy Chase child support attorney also anticipates the disputes that arise when one parent’s earnings are difficult to pin down or when an order goes unpaid. Some matters are resolved by agreement, while others require a hearing. A skilled attorney reads the situation early and prepares the financial record accordingly, rather than treating every case the same way. Our role is to confirm that the figures are accurate and that the resulting order is both fair and enforceable.

Types of Child Support Cases We Handle in Chevy Chase

Child support questions arise in many settings, from an initial divorce to a modification years later. Our attorneys handle the full range of these matters for parents in Chevy Chase. The cases below are the ones we encounter most often.

• Establishing support. When parents separate or were never married, the court enters the first order, sometimes after establishing paternity. We assemble income records and apply the guidelines so that the starting figure is sound.
• Divorce. Support is frequently decided alongside the other terms of a divorce, and the two are closely connected. We address it as part of the larger case.
• Modifying an order. Incomes rise and fall, jobs end, and parenting schedules change over time. We petition to adjust support when a material change justifies it.
• Enforcement and arrears. When payments stop, the balance owed grows quickly. We pursue wage withholding, contempt proceedings, and other remedies to recover what is due, and we keep an accurate accounting of the amounts at stake.
• Income disputes. Self-employment, bonuses, and irregular pay make the income figure harder to fix. We document earnings on both sides so the calculation rests on real numbers rather than guesswork. In cases with hidden or understated income, that documentation often decides the outcome.
• Voluntary impoverishment. A parent who leaves work or takes a lower-paying job to reduce support invites closer scrutiny. Courts may assign income based on earning capacity, and we marshal the evidence either way.
• Child custody. Overnight parenting time feeds directly into the support figure, so the two are rarely considered apart.
• Alimony. When alimony is requested, the court decides it first because it shifts each parent’s income. We handle both in the correct sequence.
• High-income matters. When the parents’ combined income is substantial, the standard schedule no longer controls. We advocate for an amount tied to the child’s actual needs.

Why Choose Fait & DiLima Family Law as my Child Support Lawyer in Chevy Chase, MD?

Local Knowledge and Recognized Experience

Our firm has represented parents across Chevy Chase and throughout Maryland in child support matters for decades. The selection of a child support attorney matters, because the outcome rests on how carefully income and expenses are presented. Marjorie DiLima leads that work at our firm. Her ease with numbers, sharpened by a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law, suits cases where a parent’s earnings are complex or concealed. That same skill carries into high asset divorce, where support and income questions frequently overlap. Super Lawyers has recognized her for ten consecutive years, she has been named to Best Lawyers, and she is admitted before the U.S. District Court, the Maryland appellate courts, and the U.S. Tax Court. She holds a lifetime position in the American Inns of Court and teaches integrity and professionalism in the practice of law at Montgomery College.

A Record That Reflects Real Preparation

Results matter in family law, and we bring thorough preparation to every support matter. Marjorie maintains an appellate practice and has argued before Maryland’s appellate courts on the financial questions that often decide family law cases. Whether your matter is settled at the table or decided after a hearing, that preparation is what allows us to press for an accurate figure and to protect it as circumstances change.

Understanding Child Support Cases

How Child Support Is Calculated in Maryland

Maryland sets child support using an income shares model, which estimates what parents would have spent on a child had the household stayed together. The calculation draws on both parents’ incomes, the number of children, and the time the child spends with each parent, along with certain added costs. The resulting figure carries a presumption of correctness, although a court may depart from it when applying the guidelines would be unfair in a particular case.

• Parental income. Both incomes form the starting point, and the obligation is divided in proportion to each.
• Parenting time. The number of overnights with each parent can raise or lower amount.
• Health insurance. The cost of covering the child is built into the total.
• Child care. Work-related care expenses are added to the basic obligation.
• Support for other children. Amounts owed for children in another household may be taken into account.
• High combined income. Above the top of the schedule, the court uses its discretion based on the child’s needs.

What Are Important Aspects of a Child Support Case?

A few questions tend to drive the result in most support cases. Resolving them early keeps the matter manageable and reduces the time spent in court. Each one can become its own contest if it is left unaddressed.

• Pinning down each parent’s true income, including self-employment and bonuses.
• Accounting for the parenting schedule and the overnights it produces.
• Allocating health insurance, child care, and any extraordinary medical costs.
• Deciding whether a modification is warranted by a change in circumstances.
• Choosing whether to resolve the matter by agreement, through mediation, or at a hearing.

What Is The Child Support Case Timeline?

No two cases move at the same speed, although most proceed through a familiar order of steps. The pace depends on whether the parents agree and how clear the income picture is.

• Filing a petition to establish or modify support.
• Exchanging financial statements, pay records, and tax returns.
• Calculating the guideline amount and identifying any disputes.
• Attending a support hearing or finalizing an agreement.
• Entering the order and, when necessary, arranging enforcement.

What Should You Bring to Your Child Support Consultation?

Bringing the right records lets us estimate support quickly and identify the points most likely to be contested. Bring what you can locate, and we will help gather the rest.

• Recent pay stubs, tax returns, and proof of any bonuses or self-employment income.
• The current parenting schedule and a count of overnights with each parent.
• Costs for the child’s health insurance, child care, and any special needs.
• Any existing support order or written agreement between the parents.

During the consultation, we will review your goals, walk through how the guidelines apply, and explain the likely range of outcomes. We will also flag the issues most likely to be disputed so that you know what to expect. Gathering your financial documents beforehand makes that first meeting considerably more useful.

What Are Important Maryland Legal Resources for Child Support Cases?

Reliable information supports better decisions about support. The resources below come directly from Maryland agencies responsible for the state’s child support system and family law.

• Child Support Services: Maryland Department of Human Services offer help with establishment and enforcement.
• Child Support Guidelines: Maryland General Assembly publishes the rules used to calculate awards.
• The Maryland General Assembly also directs courts to apply those guidelines absent good reason to depart.
• The Maryland Judiciary provides family law guidance on support and related matters.
• The Maryland General Assembly sets out the alimony factors the court weighs before fixing support.

Reach Out to Fait & DiLima Family Law to Schedule a Consultation

A child support order touches your budget and your child’s well-being for years, and sound guidance makes a meaningful difference. Our Chevy Chase child support attorneys are prepared to review your circumstances and explain the options before you. Fait & DiLima Family Law represents parents throughout Montgomery County with care and steady judgment. To begin, contact us to arrange a consultation, and we will respond promptly to find a workable time.

Child Support Statistics in Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase borders Washington, D.C., and its residents include a concentration of federal employees, attorneys, lobbyists, and professionals whose income structures are more complex than those of standard salaried workers. The median household income in the Chevy Chase CDP exceeds $230,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2019-2023 5-year estimate). In Chevy Chase Village specifically, the Census Bureau places the median above $250,000, which is the highest bracket the survey reports. These are not hypothetical numbers. They feed directly into the guidelines worksheet and produce obligations proportionally larger than those in lower-income communities.

The Maryland Judiciary has reported more than 32,000 family law filings statewide in recent fiscal years. Montgomery County carries a disproportionate share of that caseload relative to its population, and Chevy Chase is part of that volume. The CDC reports Maryland’s divorce rate at 2.7 per 1,000 residents for 2023, but child support proceedings are not limited to divorce. Cases involving unmarried parents, post-judgment modifications, and enforcement actions all generate support disputes that have nothing to do with a marriage ending.

• The median age in Chevy Chase is 50, which is significantly higher than both the state and national medians. An older population means more established careers, more accumulated retirement assets, and more complex income profiles involving equity compensation, deferred bonuses, and federal pension benefits.
• About 16.3% of the population is under 15, and another 13.7% falls between 15 and 24. Child support obligations in Chevy Chase often involve school-age children enrolled in private institutions where tuition, activity fees, and transportation costs become contested additions to the guidelines calculation.
• The employment rate is 97.8%, and the poverty rate falls below 3%. Financial disputes in Chevy Chase child support cases rarely involve a parent’s inability to pay. They involve disagreements about how much income exists and how it should be counted.

What Should You Expect During a Child Support Case?

The process of establishing or modifying child support in Maryland follows a predictable structure, but the disputes that arise within each stage depend on the facts of the case. A child support lawyer in Chevy Chase, MD can walk through each phase before it begins, which reduces uncertainty and allows for better preparation.

• The petition is filed. One parent files a complaint or motion in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. The filing identifies the parties, the child, and the relief requested, whether that is an initial support order, an upward or downward modification, or enforcement of an existing order.
• Financial disclosure begins. Both parents must produce income documentation. Tax returns, W-2s, pay stubs, and business records are standard requests. For parents with complex tax situations or income from multiple sources, the disclosure process is where most disputes originate. Incomplete or delayed production can result in the court drawing adverse inferences about a parent’s true earnings.
• Income is verified and disputed. The court needs a reliable income figure for each parent before it can calculate support. When one parent is self-employed, receives bonuses on an irregular schedule, or earns income through a business entity, the other parent has the right to challenge the reported figure. A forensic accountant may be retained to analyze the financial records and present an adjusted income number.
• The guidelines worksheet is completed. Maryland’s child support formula under Family Law § 12-204 takes both parents’ adjusted actual incomes, the number of overnights each parent has, and certain additional expenses, then produces a presumptive obligation. The worksheet is mechanical, but the inputs are not. The accuracy of the final number depends entirely on the accuracy of what goes into it.
• Deviation arguments are raised. Either parent can argue that the guideline amount is unjust or inappropriate based on the child’s needs or the family’s circumstances. These arguments require evidence, and the court must state its reasons on the record if it departs from the presumptive figure. Deviation is not common, but it is available when the facts support it.
• Mediation or negotiation may resolve the case. Many child support disputes in Montgomery County settle before a hearing. Parents can negotiate through their attorneys or participate in court-referred mediation. Settlements allow for creative structures, including agreements about private school tuition, extracurricular costs, and how decisions are made about the child’s financial needs.
• A hearing is held if the case does not settle. Each parent presents evidence to the court. The judge reviews the financial disclosures, hears testimony, applies the guidelines, and enters an order specifying the amount, payment schedule, and any additional provisions such as health insurance coverage or childcare cost-sharing.
• The order is entered and enforced. Once entered, the order is binding. If the paying parent fails to comply, the receiving parent can pursue enforcement through wage garnishment, contempt proceedings, tax refund intercepts, and license suspension. The long-term enforceability of the order depends on how precisely it was drafted.

Chevy Chase, MD Child Support Lawyer FAQs

How is child support calculated in Maryland?

Maryland uses an income shares model under Family Law § 12-204. Both parents’ adjusted gross incomes are combined and entered into a statutory schedule that produces a basic obligation. That obligation is divided proportionally. Work-related childcare costs, health insurance for the child, and extraordinary medical expenses are added on top. If both parents have the child for more than 92 overnights per year, a shared custody formula applies that typically produces a lower obligation for the higher-earning parent.

Can child support be modified after the order is entered?

Yes, when there has been a material change in circumstances. A significant change in income, a new custody arrangement, the birth of another child, or a substantial shift in the child’s needs can all justify a modification petition. The court recalculates the guidelines with updated figures and enters a new order if the result is materially different from the existing one.

What happens if the other parent does not pay?

The receiving parent can file a motion for contempt. Montgomery County courts have authority to order wage garnishment, intercept tax refunds, place liens on property, suspend driver’s and professional licenses, and impose incarceration in extreme cases. The Montgomery County Office of Child Support Enforcement also has investigative and collection resources. Parents who are owed unpaid support should act promptly because arrearages accumulate interest and become harder to collect the longer they are left unaddressed.

How long does child support last in Maryland?

Support continues until the child turns 18, or 19 if the child is still enrolled in secondary school and living with a parent. Maryland courts do not have statutory authority to order support through college. Parents can, however, include post-majority educational support in a voluntary settlement agreement.

Does the custody arrangement affect child support?

It does. The overnight count determines which formula the court applies. When one parent has primary physical custody, the standard formula is used. When both parents exceed the 92-overnight threshold, the shared custody formula applies. Any change in the parenting schedule that shifts the overnight count can become the basis for a support modification.

What income is included in the calculation?

Gross income from all sources is included. That means wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, pensions, Social Security benefits, and certain other payments. Courts look beyond the W-2 to assess what a parent actually earns, and business owners or self-employed parents face additional scrutiny because of how income moves through entities.

Can a parent waive child support entirely?

No. Child support belongs to the child, and Maryland courts will not approve a settlement that eliminates the obligation. Parents may agree to amounts above the guidelines, and in limited circumstances the court may approve a below-guidelines figure, but a full waiver is not enforceable.

How much does a child support attorney in Chevy Chase cost?

There is no flat fee. The cost depends on whether the matter involves contested income, whether a modification or initial establishment is at issue, and whether the case goes to hearing or resolves through agreement. Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC discusses fees at the initial consultation.

Can child support be established if the parents were never married?

Yes. The legal obligation is the same regardless of whether the parents were married. If paternity has not been legally established, that step is completed first. Once parentage is confirmed, the guidelines apply the same way.

What should I do if I lose my job after the order is entered?

File a motion to modify as soon as possible. Do not stop paying or reduce payments on your own. The existing order remains in effect until the court changes it, and every missed or short payment accrues as an arrearage. Financial preparation for a modification hearing requires current income documentation and evidence that the income loss was involuntary.

Important Resources for Chevy Chase Child Support Cases

Chevy Chase Family Court and Local Resources

Chevy Chase does not have its own courthouse. All child support cases for Chevy Chase, MD residents are filed at the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, located at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. The court’s Family Division manages case scheduling, mediator referrals, and family services programs. The Maryland MACRO office maintains a directory of court-connected mediation programs available to Montgomery County residents involved in child support and related family disputes.

What Are Important Local Resources for Chevy Chase Child Support Cases?

The following organizations serve Montgomery County residents in child support proceedings.

• Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, 4805 Edgemoor Lane, 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-0717. Provides free mediation for Montgomery County residents, including family financial and co-parenting disputes.
• Montgomery County Department of Human Services, 51 Monroe Street, Rockville, MD 20850, (240) 773-4400. Administers Temporary Cash Assistance, childcare subsidies, and programs that intersect with child support proceedings.
• Maryland Family Law Hotline, (800) 845-8550. Volunteer attorneys answer questions about child support, custody, and related family law matters Monday through Friday.

Listing of these resources does not constitute an endorsement by Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC.

About Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC

Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC has represented parents in Montgomery County child support cases since the early 1990s, with offices in Rockville and Frederick. Managing Partner Marjorie G. DiLima serves as a Best Interest Attorney in certain matters, representing the child’s interests rather than either parent’s position. Bethesda Magazine named her a Top Attorney for 2025 for her leadership in family law. The Maryland Bar has recognized her multiple times for her commitment to the delivery of legal services. The firm handles child support establishment, modifications, enforcement, and income disputes, including cases involving federal employee compensation and preparing for the financial restructuring that accompanies separation.

What Our Clients Say

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“I communicated often with them during my divorce and am very satisfied with the advice and help I received. I was particularly impressed with their knowledge of federal employee issues regarding divorce. They were invaluable in drafting the various documents and the MSA.”

• John Wack

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Additional Resources for Chevy Chase Child Support Cases

• Child Support in Maryland: Frequently Asked Questions
• Fighting for Spousal and Child Support
• Child Support: When Child Support Isn’t Paid
• 5 Tips for Successful Co-Parenting
• Co-Parenting Apps: How to Reduce Stress

Contact Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC

A child support order shapes your household finances and your child’s daily care for years. A child support attorney in Chevy Chase can verify income figures, apply the guidelines accurately, and ensure the court order reflects the actual financial picture on both sides. We represent custodial and non-custodial parents throughout Montgomery County. Contact us to schedule a consultation at our Rockville office today.