Lerch Early’s experienced divorce attorneys help people in Maryland and Washington, DC with the least possible impact on their emotions and their wallets.

Understanding the Divorce Process

If you’re considering divorce, you should act quickly to consult with an attorney and learn how to protect yourself. Lerch Early’s divorce attorneys will review your situation, the law, and your goals with you.

Divorce can take an emotional toll – you can’t un-ring the bell once you go down this path. If you are the primary earner or saver, you may consider getting divorced sooner because division of assets is based on accumulation. If you are the dependent spouse, get your ducks in a row and develop a plan first. Before acting, a plan with an attorney is key.

How Our Lawyers Can Help You Through the Divorce Process

People going through the upheaval of divorce need access and information. Our responsive attorneys answer their own phones, and include clients in the process at every step of the way, sharing copies of pleadings, correspondence, and emails so clients know exactly where things stand.

Alimony

Alimony payments, also commonly referred to as spousal support, are payments by one spouse (or in a domestic partnership in DC, by one partner) to the other for their support. Whether there is alimony and if so, the amount and duration, is subjective and depends on multiple factors, which differ depending on whether you’re in Maryland, DC, or Virginia.

Whether you may pay or receive alimony, our attorneys bring clarity and confidence to your unique situation. We provide careful and intentional consideration and understanding for the roles, obligations, and rights between the partners.

Business Ownership Issues

There are many potential issues when one or both members of a divorcing couple own all or part of one or more businesses.

In most cases, property acquired during a marriage is marital property, meaning that if one spouse created or grew a business during the marriage, the other will have an interest.

Child Support

Our law firm’s approach to your child support case and the economic drivers that underpin it ensure that the needs of your children are met without creating an undue hardship for either parent.

Our child support attorneys have the financial acumen to address your unique situation, including high-income, high-asset cases. As in all matters involving children and their best interest, we seek to find the appropriate balance that is fair to both parents and their children. 

Custody

Child custody is who cares for and makes important decisions for your children. Our primary goal as child custody lawyers is to protect the well-being of your children.

Divorce Decision Appeals

Sometimes a person, unhappy with the result of a divorce proceeding, will decide to take it to a higher court. Lerch Early attorneys file and defend against divorce-related appeals. We review the trial record, research and analyze the legal issues, write compelling briefs, and prepare and deliver persuasive oral arguments before the court.

Divorce Litigation

The litigation process can be used at any time, but it is commonly used when two people cannot resolve their issues through any other means, a party needs information, or a party needs to file to protect their rights.

We can help you determine whether you need to file and when, and if you are already in litigation, we can help you navigate the court process, including deadlines, hearings, and trials.

Enforcement of Divorce Agreements and Court Orders

Lerch Early attorneys work with enforcement, breach of agreement, and court order issues. We also work diligently with clients to craft strategies for enforcing agreements or court orders in a swift and cost-effective manner.

In addition, we work with parties to develop agreements that include remedies, security, and/or financial penalties to encourage timely performance. This means structuring agreements so the benefit(s) our clients receive are secure and collectible in the event of breach.

Grandparents’ Rights and Other Third Parties’s Rights

Grandparents may obtain rights to custody or visitation of their grandchildren. Similarly, some third parties may obtain rights to custody or visitation in certain circumstances.

Lerch Early attorneys are well-versed in grandparents and third party custody and visitation laws.

Property Distribution

In a divorce, people often disagree about property distribution — who is entitled to what? There are two types of property considered in divorce: marital property and non-marital property (Maryland), or marital property and separate property (DC).

Marital property is property acquired by one or both of the parties during the marriage. In Maryland, non-marital property includes property acquired before the marriage, property acquired by inheritance or gift from a third party, property excluded by valid agreement, or property that is directly traceable to these sources.

The court divides marital property equitably after consideration of a number of factors. Lerch Early attorneys help people reach, and enforce agreements and court orders dividing property.

Mediation and Arbitration

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution where the parties work together with a neutral third-party mediator (usually a lawyer) to resolve any number of issues, including divorce, child support, alimony, and custody matters. Mediation can happen before or during litigation. 

Arbitration is a formal dispute resolution in which the parties present their issues to a mutually agreeable third party who is empowered to issue a binding decision. Some compare arbitration to “picking one’s judge.”

Modifications of Divorce Agreements and Court Orders

Certain provisions of court orders and agreements may be subject to modification in the event of a change in circumstance.

Court orders regarding child support, alimony, and child custody are subject to future modification if there has been a material change in circumstances since the court issued the last order.

Relocation After Divorce

When one parent elects to relocate, either for personal or professional reasons, the growing distance between homes may make shared custodial arrangements impossible to cultivate or maintain.

Whether you want to move out of the area for a new job opportunity or marriage, or your ex wants to relocate closer to family, divorced people with minor children have a variety of issues to consider when one of the parent’s wishes to move.

Schedule a Consultation With a Seasoned Divorce Lawyer

Lerch Early’s divorce attorneys help their clients protect their children, their assets, and their dignity—so they can not only survive, but thrive. Whether your divorce is amicable or contested, Lerch Early’s divorce lawyers are here to help you make informed decisions at every stage. Reach out to our team today to learn more.

Success Stories

Gaining Physical Custody in Relocation Case

Challenge

The mother of our client’s children planned to move away for a new job opportunity, taking the children with her. She had been the primary parent, so our client wished to gain sole physical custody of the children, allowing them to remain in the DC area.

Strategy

Lerch Early argued before the court that the children would be best served to stay in this area with their father. We worked with key experts to demonstrate that a move to the new location would be detrimental to the children’s interests.

Result

The judge awarded sole physical custody to our client, allowing the children to remain in the environment where they attended school and had friends.

Insights