The Law Office Of Michael A. Troy PLLC

Divorce

Maryland and Washington, D.C. Divorce Attorney Helps Clients End Their Marriage

Accomplished firm provides exceptional counsel to Beltway-area spouses

Going through a divorce is often painful, but an effective family lawyer can find solutions that help you complete the process swiftly and successfully. At The Law Office of Michael A. Troy PLLC, we assist parties with every aspect of marriage dissolution, including custody, child support, alimony and property distribution. With more than 20 years of legal experience, attorney Michael A. Troy provides strong advice and advocacy to Maryland and Washington, D.C. clients. Whether your case is uncontested or marked by conflict, our top priority is to protect your interests from start to finish. 

Elements of a divorce order

When your marriage ends, the following four subjects can be addressed in your divorce order:

  • Child custody — Creating appropriate child custody and visitation terms is critical to maintaining strong parent-child bonds. 
  • Property division — Following the dissolution of a marriage, the share of divided property that you receive will affect your financial well-being for years to come. This is particularly important for business owners who could lose much of what they’ve built, as well as spouses concerned about ownership of the marital home, bank accounts, investments and personal property.
  • Child support — Both parents are required to cover the costs of raising their son or daughter. A noncustodial parent is usually ordered to pay child support so that the financial burden is fairly distributed.
  • Alimony — Temporary and post-divorce alimony might be available for someone who relied on their spouse’s income during the marriage.  

During settlement negotiations, mediations and courtroom proceedings, Michael A. Troy is a skillful advocate who is dedicated to helping spouses achieve their objectives.

Timeline of a divorce proceeding

What most people simply call a divorce is referred to as an absolute divorce under Maryland law. This is distinguished from a limited divorce, where spouses live apart but remain legally married. While Washington, D.C. is strictly a no-fault divorce jurisdiction, Maryland spouses have the option of alleging certain traditional fault grounds, such as adultery and desertion. However, most marriages in the state are dissolved on a no-fault basis following a 12-month separation period or when there is mutual consent to the divorce.

How long the divorce process takes depends largely on whether you and your spouse have agreed to terms related to parenting and financial arrangements. Once someone is served with a Maryland divorce petition, they have 30 days to answer if they are living within the state. If a marital settlement agreement has been reached, the divorce order reflecting those terms might be issued within a few months. Disagreements over divorce terms could lead to mediation, which will lengthen the process. In the event that does not lead to a resolution, you and your spouse will prepare for trial based on the court’s calendar. Litigation requires parties to go through the discovery process and pretrial motion practice, so it could be more than a year before a divorce case goes to court. For that reason, it is often in everyone’s interest to reach a settlement through negotiation. 

Factors in a divorce outcome

No two divorces are identical, and if you bring your case to court you cannot be sure how the judge will decide. As you begin the marriage dissolution process, it’s important to have the insight of a seasoned family lawyer so you can make well-informed choices. Numerous factors could affect the outcome of your divorce, such as your financial circumstances, whether you have children with your spouse and whether there is any history of domestic violence in the household.

Speak with an experienced Maryland divorce who handles divorces in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The Law Office of Michael A. Troy PLLC represents Maryland and Washington, D.C. spouses in divorce proceedings. For a free consultation with an accomplished attorney, please call 202-864-2296 or contact us online. Our office is in Greenbelt.