Potomac Divorce Lawyer

Divorce Lawyer Potomac, MD

If you are facing a divorce in Potomac, the choices you make in the weeks ahead will make a big difference in your finances, your relationship with your children, and the life you build after the marriage ends. This is not a situation that benefits from guesswork. At Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC, our Potomac, MD divorce lawyer draws on years of experience handling the full range of divorce matters throughout Montgomery County. We work through mutually agreed separations and highly contested proceedings alike. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

Why Choose Fait & DiLima Family Law for Divorce in Potomac, MD?

Not every attorney who handles divorce in Maryland brings the same depth of experience to the table. Fait & DiLima Family Law has represented clients in complex family law matters throughout this region for decades. As an established family law firm rooted in Montgomery County, we understand the financial and personal circumstances that come with Potomac divorce cases and approach every matter with the seriousness it requires.

Attorney Credentials and Legal Background

Marjorie G. DiLima is the Managing Partner of Fait & DiLima Family Law, LLC. She earned both a J.D. and M.B.A. with honors in 1994 and went on to complete a Masters in Taxation (LL.M.) at Georgetown University Law Center. That background in financial and tax analysis translates directly into more effective representation in Potomac divorce cases where business interests, investment portfolios, deferred income, and complex assets are at issue. She is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court. She also holds a lifetime position in the American Inns of Court, an organization devoted to professional excellence in the legal profession.

Partner Dorothy R. Fait dedicated decades to complex family law work across Maryland and Washington, D.C. Her appellate record helped establish precedents that continue to govern courts throughout the region today. Her reported decisions address equitable distribution, alimony, military pension division, and child support calculations, issues that arise regularly in divorce proceedings in Potomac, MD.

Nationally Recognized Standards

Marjorie DiLima has been listed on Super Lawyers for 10 consecutive years and recognized by Best Lawyers in both 2023 and 2024. The firm has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law Firms for multiple consecutive years. Dorothy Fait earned recognition as a Maryland and D.C. Super Lawyer from 2006 through 2016 and received the Daily Record Leadership in Law Award in 2013. These distinctions come from independent third-party evaluations, not self-reporting.

Financial Analysis in Complex Divorce Matters

Potomac is home to executives, business owners, government contractors, and investment professionals. The financial structures that accompany that professional landscape demand more than a generalist approach. Executive compensation packages, deferred income, real estate portfolios, business ownership interests, and trust assets all require careful analysis before any settlement term is proposed. Our Potomac, MD divorce attorneys build that financial analysis into the strategy of every case from day one.

What Our Clients Say

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“After a 25 year marriage, I didn’t know where to begin to find legal representation with the knowledge, professionalism, and support to guide me through the tribulations of divorce. Ms DiLima listened, explained my options, helped me understand what I was entitled to, and won the custody and alimony arrangement that was in the best interests of my children and me. Fait & DiLima literally wrote the book on divorce in Maryland and when the opposing attorneys cited outdated laws and attempted unprofessional tactics, Ms DiLima simply corrected and clarified them with class in a calming manner, making it all look like child’s play. I tried two attorneys before finding Ms DiLima and what I thought was ‘the cheaper attorney’s fee’, was recovered four times over with Fait and DiLima. These women are simply the best and I am forever grateful for their services!” — Janet Getz

Read more reviews on our Google Business Profile.

Types of Divorce Cases We Handle in Potomac

Fait & DiLima Family Law handles a broad range of divorce and dissolution matters in Potomac and throughout Montgomery County. Whether your situation is relatively straightforward or involves significant financial interests and unusual legal challenges, our divorce attorneys are prepared.

• High-conflict divorce. When one party is operating in bad faith, withholding financial disclosures, or weaponizing the court process, the case requires an entirely different level of strategy. We have significant experience managing these emotional situations and protecting our clients’ rights when the other spouse is not playing by the rules.
• High-net-worth divorce. Significant assets carry significant risk if not handled correctly. We address cases involving business ownership, investment accounts, executive compensation structures, trusts, and substantial real estate holdings, and we pursue accurate, defensible valuation of all marital property.
• Contested divorce. When parties cannot reach agreement on property, custody, or support, the court decides. We prepare rigorously for contested proceedings and advocate for outcomes grounded in Maryland law and the facts of your case.
• Uncontested and mutual consent divorce. When both spouses are ready to resolve all issues by agreement, we review every proposed term with care, making sure the final document is legally sound, complete, and fully protective of your interests before it is filed with the court.
• Child custody and visitation. Custody is often the most emotionally significant aspect of any divorce. We approach every custody matter carefully, building parenting plans that reflect your children’s best interests and your rights.
• Alimony. Spousal support determinations in high-income Potomac households can shape a client’s financial picture for years. We know how Maryland courts analyze these claims and build positions grounded in the statutory factors.
• Alternate dispute resolution. Marjorie DiLima is certified to conduct both mediation and collaborative proceedings. For clients who prefer to resolve their divorce outside of court, these processes offer a structured, less adversarial path to resolution.

Maryland Legal Requirements for Divorce

Maryland’s divorce law changed substantially on October 1, 2023, when amendments to the Family Law Article took effect. Under the current version of § 7-103, Maryland now recognizes two grounds for absolute divorce. The first is mutual consent, which requires a written settlement agreement signed by both parties covering all material issues. No separation period is required under this ground. The second is a six-month separation, meaning the spouses have lived separately and continuously apart for at least six months. Maryland eliminated the prior fault-based grounds for divorce, including adultery, desertion, and cruelty, as standalone bases for dissolution, though evidence of such conduct may still be considered in connection with alimony and certain property determinations.

Residency is also a threshold requirement. At least one spouse must be a Maryland resident for a minimum of six months before a complaint can be filed. Potomac residents bring their cases before the Montgomery County Circuit Court. The current statute in full is available through the Maryland General Assembly website.

These requirements directly shape your timeline and your approach. A Potomac divorce attorney at our firm will walk you through exactly where your situation stands.

Important Aspects of a Potomac Divorce Case

Equitable Distribution of Marital Property

Maryland distributes marital property on an equitable basis, which means fairly under the totality of the circumstances, not necessarily in equal shares. Courts consider the duration of the marriage, each spouse’s financial and non-financial contributions, and economic conditions at the time of division. In Potomac, marital property often includes retirement accounts requiring Qualified Domestic Relations Orders, multiple real estate holdings, and investment assets that need independent professional appraisal.

Identifying and Addressing Hidden Assets

Maryland law requires full financial disclosure from both parties throughout the divorce process. In cases involving executives, business owners, or investment professionals, one spouse may attempt to obscure income streams, undervalue a business, or conceal accounts. Marjorie DiLima’s training in tax law sets our approach to discovery in these situations. We know what documentation to pursue and how to use it to surface hidden assets before any final order is entered.

Custody Determinations in Practice

Maryland courts apply a best interests of the child standard in all custody decisions, examining each parent’s fitness, the child’s established routines and relationships, and the stability of each proposed living arrangement. Getting the initial order right matters. Modifying a final custody order later requires demonstrating a material change in circumstances, which is a genuine legal burden — not a formality.

Alimony in High-Income Households

Alimony determinations in Potomac divorces can carry financial consequences that outlast the proceedings themselves by years. Maryland courts apply a multi-factor statutory analysis, looking at the duration of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning capacity, and the standard of living maintained during the relationship. Where income disparities between spouses are significant, these determinations are often the most consequential financial outcome in the entire case.

Post-Divorce Modifications and Enforcement

A final divorce decree does not always close every issue. Custody arrangements evolve as children grow. Support obligations may need adjustment when incomes shift significantly. And some provisions simply go unenforced. Our firm handles post-divorce matters including contempt filings, formal enforcement actions, and court modification requests throughout Montgomery County.

Contact Fait & DiLima Family Law

If you are searching for a divorce attorney in Potomac, MD, we are ready to help. From your first conversation with our firm, you will receive direct, honest guidance about your legal situation and your realistic options under Maryland law. We do not tell clients what they want to hear. We tell them what they need to know, build a strategy around their goals, and see it through. To connect with our Potomac divorce lawyer team, call our offices or fill out our secure contact form for a consultation.