Chevy Chase Family Lawyer

A Chevy Chase, MD family law firm handling divorce, custody, support, and related matters, with recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers.

If you are facing a divorce, custody dispute, or another family matter in Chevy Chase, you need an attorney who understands your situation and has the experience to guide you. Family law touches the most personal parts of your life, and the decisions made now can affect your finances and your children for years to come. The right guidance helps you approach those decisions with a clear sense of your options.

At Fait & DiLima Family Law, our attorneys have represented Maryland families across the full range of these matters for decades, and our work has earned recognition from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. Knowing what to expect from our Chevy Chase, MD family lawyer is the first step toward steady footing. To begin, contact our office to schedule a consultation.

Family Lawyer Chevy Chase, MD

A family lawyer represents clients in the legal matters that arise within families, from divorce and custody to support and property division. The work ranges from drafting agreements and negotiating settlements to presenting a contested case at trial. Much of it calls for both careful financial analysis and steady guidance through an emotional period.

A capable Chevy Chase family law attorney also helps a client see how the separate pieces of a case fit together, since custody, support, and property questions frequently overlap. A decision in one area can shift the outcome in another, so the matter is best handled as a whole rather than in isolation. Some matters resolve through agreement, while others require a hearing. A thoughtful attorney sets priorities early so that the most important issues receive attention. Our aim is to protect what matters most to you and reach an outcome you can build on.

Types of Family Law Cases We Handle in Chevy Chase

Family law covers a wide range of matters, and many cases involve more than one. Our attorneys handle the full spectrum for clients in Chevy Chase. The areas below are the ones we are asked about most often.

• Divorce. We handle uncontested and contested divorces, from the initial filing through the final judgment.
• Child custody. We help parents establish legal and physical custody under the best interests standard, and we advocate for a parent when the arrangement is contested or needs to be modified later.
• Child support. We establish, modify, and enforce support using the state guidelines, and we address disputes over income, work history, and the cost of a child’s needs.
• Alimony. We pursue or contest spousal support based on need, the ability to pay, and the standard of living during the marriage.
• Visitation. We build and protect parenting-time schedules that give children consistency.
• Property division. We separate marital from non-marital property and pursue an equitable distribution of the marital estate, including businesses, real estate, and retirement accounts that are often difficult to value. We also account for debts incurred during the marriage.
• High asset divorce. We handle divorces involving businesses, investment portfolios, and executive compensation, where accurate valuation and full financial disclosure are central to a fair result.
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. We draft and review agreements that set clear expectations before or during a marriage.
• Divorce mediation. We guide couples toward resolution outside court when that path serves their goals and their family.
• Domestic violence. We assist clients seeking or responding to protective orders, with close attention to the safety of the family.

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

Local Knowledge and Recognized Experience

Our firm has represented families across Chevy Chase and throughout Maryland for decades, and the right family lawyer can change where a case ends up. Marjorie DiLima guides that work. She has been named to Best Lawyers and recognized by Super Lawyers for ten consecutive years, distinctions that reflect sustained regard from her peers. Beyond that recognition, she has accepted court appointments as a Best Interest Attorney, speaking for children directly in custody disputes, and she handles matters involving high-conflict personalities with a measured and well-documented approach.

Her command of financial detail rests on a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law, which proves valuable whenever assets are intricate or income is contested. She is admitted before the U.S. District Court, the Maryland appellate courts, and the U.S. Tax Court, holds a lifetime position in the American Inns of Court, and teaches integrity and professionalism in the practice of law at Montgomery College.

A Track Record That Holds Up

Results matter in family law, and we bring thorough preparation to every matter we handle. Marjorie maintains an appellate practice and has argued before Maryland’s appellate courts on the financial and custodial questions that often decide family cases. That courtroom experience informs how we build a record from the first filing, because a case that may settle still benefits from being ready for trial. Whether your matter settles through negotiation or proceeds to trial, that preparation is the foundation of how we protect your interests.

Understanding Family Law Cases

Key Areas of Maryland Family Law

Family law in Maryland covers several distinct areas, each with its own rules and standards, and a single case often draws on more than one. Understanding how each area works helps a client weigh the choices ahead. Brief definitions of the main areas appear below. A Chevy Chase family law attorney works across all of them.

• Divorce. Maryland is a no-fault state, and most cases proceed through the divorce process on no-fault grounds.
• Child custody. Decided under the best interests of the child standard, which guides every custody decision a court makes.
• Child support. Set by a guideline formula that draws on both parents’ incomes and parenting time.
• Alimony. Awarded according to need, the ability to pay, and the marital standard of living, as the rules for spousal support provide.
• Property division. Marital property is divided under equitable distribution, a standard that aims for a result that is fair but not equal.

What Are Important Aspects of a Family Law Case?

A few considerations tend to shape how a family law case unfolds. Identifying them early helps a client set realistic priorities and avoid surprises later. Each can stand alone as its own dispute if it is not handled with care.

• Recognizing how custody, support, and property questions interact within a single case.
• Gathering accurate and complete financial information from the outset.
• Protecting children from unnecessary conflict throughout the process.
• Weighing whether negotiation, mediation, or a contested hearing best fits the situation.

What Is The Family Law Case Timeline?

No two family law cases follow the same path, although most move through a familiar sequence of steps. The timeline depends on the issues involved and the level of conflict between the parties. Matters resolved by agreement conclude well before those that require a contested trial.

• Meeting with an attorney and identifying the issues to resolve.
• Filing the appropriate complaint or petition and serving the other party.
• Exchanging financial and other relevant information through discovery.
• Negotiating, attending mediation, or appearing at hearings on contested matters.
• Reaching a settlement or proceeding to trial for a final judgment.

What Should You Bring to Your Family Law Consultation?

Bringing the right records lets us assess your situation efficiently. Bring what you can locate, and we can request anything else afterward.

• Financial records, including tax returns, pay information, and account statements.
• A summary of any children’s schedules and current living arrangements.
• Any existing court orders or written agreements between the parties.
• Notes on the outcome you hope to reach and any pressing concerns.

During the consultation, we will review your goals, explain how Maryland law applies to your circumstances, and outline the path forward. We will also identify the issues most likely to require attention so that you know what lies ahead. Gathering your financial documents in advance makes that first meeting considerably more productive.

What Are Important Maryland Legal Resources for Family Law Cases?

Reliable information supports better decisions in any family matter. The resources below come from the Maryland agencies responsible for the state’s family law and court procedures.

• The Maryland Judiciary provides family court guidance across custody, support, and divorce.
• The Maryland General Assembly publishes the grounds for divorce in the state code.
• The Maryland General Assembly sets out the marital property statute governing distribution.
• The Maryland General Assembly lists the child custody factors a court must weigh.
• The Maryland Department of Human Services administers child support services statewide.

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

Family matters carry lasting consequences for your finances and your children, and sound guidance makes a meaningful difference. Our Chevy Chase family lawyers are prepared to review your situation and explain the options before you. Fait & DiLima Family Law represents clients throughout Montgomery County with care and steady judgment. Contact us to arrange a consultation with us.