Child Support Lawyer Rockville, MD

Trusted child support attorneys with decades of experience.

Child support obligations in Maryland are determined by statute, but the calculations are rarely as simple as plugging numbers into a formula. Disputes over income, parenting time adjustments, health insurance costs, and voluntary impoverishment claims turn what should be a straightforward process into contested litigation. When a parent’s financial disclosures don’t add up, the outcome depends on the attorney challenging those numbers. Our Rockville, MD child support lawyer represents parents in initial support proceedings, modifications, and enforcement actions across Montgomery County. Contact Fait & DiLima Family Law to schedule a consultation.

Child Support Lawyer Rockville, MD

Child support in Maryland follows an income shares model. Both parents’ adjusted actual incomes are combined, compared against a statutory schedule, and divided in proportion to each parent’s share of the total. The formula accounts for health insurance premiums, work-related childcare costs, extraordinary medical expenses, and existing support obligations for other children.

A child support attorney in Rockville, MD steps in when the inputs to that formula are in dispute. When one parent earns self-employment income that fluctuates year to year, or when the other parent has taken a lower-paying position to reduce their obligation, the case requires financial analysis that goes well beyond the guidelines worksheet.

Types of Child Support Cases We Handle in Rockville

Fait & DiLima Family Law handles child support matters across the full range of circumstances that bring parents into Montgomery County courts. Some cases are resolved at the initial hearing. Others involve years of post-judgment litigation. We approach every case with the same financial rigor regardless of where it falls on that spectrum.

• Initial child support orders. Whether established as part of a divorce or as a standalone proceeding between unmarried parents, the first support order sets the baseline. Getting the income calculation right at this stage prevents years of underpayment or overpayment. We ensure that all sources of income are identified, documented, and properly attributed.
• Child support modifications. Maryland allows either parent to seek a modification when a material change of circumstance has occurred. Job loss, a significant raise, a change in custody arrangements, remarriage, or the birth of another child can all justify a new calculation. We handle both petitions to increase and petitions to decrease existing orders.
• Enforcement actions. A support order is only as valuable as the mechanisms used to enforce it. When a parent refuses to pay, we pursue contempt proceedings, wage garnishment, and other statutory remedies. Maryland law authorizes driver’s license suspension, professional license suspension, tax refund intercepts, and incarceration for willful nonpayment.
• High-income child support cases. Maryland’s guidelines schedule caps at a combined adjusted income of $30,000 per month. When household income exceeds that threshold, the court has discretion to deviate from the formula and consider additional factors. These cases demand thorough financial disclosure and, in many instances, testimony regarding the children’s actual needs and the marital standard of living.
• Voluntary impoverishment disputes. A parent who deliberately reduces their income to avoid support obligations can be imputed with potential income. The court considers education, prior earnings, employment history, job opportunities, and the parents’ role in creating their current financial situation. Proving voluntary impoverishment requires specific evidence, not speculation.
• Paternity and child support. Before a court can order support from an unmarried father, paternity must be legally established. We handle cases involving voluntary acknowledgment, contested paternity, and genetic testing. Once parentage is confirmed, the support calculation follows the same guidelines that apply in any other case.
• Child custody. The number of overnights each parent has directly affects the support calculation. Shared physical custody arrangements trigger a different formula than sole custody arrangements. When one parent seeks to change custody, the support order often needs to be recalculated at the same time.

Rockville Child Support Infographic

Why Choose Fait & DiLima Family Law for Child Support in Rockville, MD?

Decades of Family Law Practice in Montgomery County

Fait & DiLima Family Law has represented parents in child support proceedings throughout Rockville and Montgomery County for decades. Marjorie G. DiLima, Managing Partner, has earned Super Lawyers recognition for 10 consecutive years and was named to Best Lawyers in 2023 and 2024. The firm received U.S. News “Best Law Firms” recognition in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Marjorie was also named a Bethesda Magazine Top Attorney for 2025.

She holds a J.D. and M.B.A., both earned with honors in 1994, along with a Masters in Taxation from Georgetown University Law. That combination of legal and financial training matters in child support cases where income is disputed, assets are concealed, or a parent’s true earning capacity requires careful analysis. Marjorie also holds a lifetime position in the American Inns of Court and teaches at Montgomery College on integrity and professionalism in the practice of law.

Focused Advocacy for Parents

Child support disputes are often entangled with alimony, custody, and property division. A change in one area affects the others. We understand how these issues interact under Maryland law, and we approach every child support case with the full picture in view. The firm has a record of obtaining favorable outcomes for parents navigating contested hearings and complex financial disputes in Montgomery County courts.

Child Support Case Overview

Child Support Guidelines and How Payments Are Calculated

Maryland’s child support guidelines are codified in Family Law §12-204.

The calculation starts with each parent’s adjusted actual income and proceeds through several steps:

• Adjusted actual income: Gross income from all sources minus preexisting child support obligations, alimony paid, and certain adjustments for additional children in the home.
• Basic child support obligation: Determined by combining both parents’ adjusted incomes and consulting the statutory schedule based on the number of children.
• Add-ons: Health insurance premiums for the children, work-related childcare expenses, and extraordinary medical costs are added to the basic obligation and divided proportionally.
• Shared custody adjustment: When a parent has the child for more than 92 overnights per year, a different formula applies that accounts for duplicated expenses in both households.
• Above-guidelines income: When combined income exceeds the schedule maximum, the court exercises discretion. There is no automatic formula for these cases.

Important Aspects in Your Child Support Case

The accuracy of the income figures each parent submits controls the entire outcome. Everything in a child support proceeding flows from those numbers.

Maryland defines actual income broadly. It includes wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, self-employment income, rental income, interest, dividends, pensions, and workers’ compensation. For self-employed parents, income means gross receipts minus ordinary and necessary business expenses. The distinction between legitimate business deductions and lifestyle spending disguised as expenses is where many cases are won.

• Courts will impute income to a parent found to be voluntarily impoverished. The burden of proof falls on the parent alleging voluntary impoverishment.
• Alimony must be decided before child support is calculated. The amount of spousal support awarded directly changes both parents’ adjusted incomes.
• Health insurance costs are divided between parents in proportion to their incomes.
• Childcare expenses necessary for a parent to work or attend school are added to the basic obligation.

Child Support Case Timeline

The timeline for a child support case in Maryland depends on whether support is being established for the first time, modified, or enforced.

• Filing: A complaint or motion is filed with the circuit court. In cases arising from divorce, child support is typically addressed within the divorce proceeding itself.
• Financial disclosures: Both parents submit financial statements detailing income, expenses, assets, and debts. Supporting documentation including tax returns, pay stubs, and bank statements is required.
• Pendente lite hearing: The court may set temporary support while the case is pending. These hearings typically occur within 30 to 60 days of filing.
• Discovery and preparation: In contested cases, discovery may include subpoenas to employers, requests for business records, and depositions. This phase can take several months in high-income or self-employment cases.
• Final hearing: The court hears testimony, reviews financial evidence, and issues a child support order. Either party may appeal within 30 days.

What to Bring to Your Child Support Consultation

A productive first meeting with a child support lawyer in Rockville requires financial documentation. The more complete the picture, the more precisely we can evaluate your case.

• Federal and state tax returns for the past two to three years
• Recent pay stubs covering at least 90 days
• Documentation of any additional income sources, including rental income, investment returns, or side businesses
• Health insurance premium statements for the children
• Childcare expense records
• Any existing custody or support orders

We will review your financial situation, calculate an estimated guideline amount, and identify the issues most likely to be contested. If the other parent’s income is in question, we will outline the discovery steps needed to obtain accurate figures.

Maryland Legal Resources for Child Support

Maryland provides several resources for parents seeking information about child support laws, calculations, and enforcement.

• The Maryland General Assembly publishes the full child support guidelines, including the statutory income schedule, adjustment formulas, and provisions for shared custody calculations.
• The Maryland Child Support Administration within the Department of Human Services offers application forms, payment information, and case management resources for parents with active support orders.
• The DHS enforcement tools page details the remedies available when a parent falls behind on payments, including wage garnishment, tax intercepts, license suspension, and contempt proceedings.

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

If you need a child support attorney in Rockville, MD, Fait & DiLima Family Law is prepared to advocate for a fair and accurate support order. We represent parents throughout Montgomery County in initial proceedings, modifications, and enforcement actions. Contact our office to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward resolving your child support matter.