Divorce and Family Law
The divorce lawyers at Thyden Gross and Callahan have deep experience with divorce and family law. In fact, we literally wrote the book on how to get divorced in Maryland, DC and Virginia!
Lead attorneys James Gross and Mike Callahan have the background and experience to handle your needs in a smart way. We routinely find ways to get clients results without needlessly running up the bills.
Come to us for:
- Prenuptial agreements
- Marital settlement agreements
- Absolute divorce complaints
- Limited divorce complaints
- Legal separation petitions
- Motions to establish or modify child custody and support
- Our attorneys practice in the courts of Maryland, DC and Virginia.
Our Divorce and Family Law Expertise
We represent individuals in all aspects of divorce and family law including disputes over child custody, child support, alimony, taxes, legal fees and property division.
Our approach is to negotiate or mediate a settlement that will keep you and your family out of court. This keeps your lawyer fees and other legal costs down. When that is not possible, we will file a lawsuit with the court. We guide you through the litigation process.
Our Approach
First, we collect all the facts of your unique financial and family situation. Next, we help you determine your goals and objectives. Then we develop a strategy with you to meet your needs and your family’s needs.
We help you plan the right actions to take in your case. The family law documents we prepare will address your needs. We take time to explain them to you. You will understand the law and get legal advice in plain language.
Our divorce resources page provides more background information about the divorce process in Maryland, Virginia, and DC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do first?
Contact us so we can begin to get all the facts. In a divorce case, for example, we will want to see copies of your pay statements, tax returns, deeds and mortgages, bank and retirement statements, credit card statements, and other financial documents. We may also ask you to prepare a history of the marriage.
Do I need to move out to file for divorce?
Not necessarily. DC requires the parties separate for a period of six months if they both agree or one year if only one wants a divorce, but both parties can remain in the same home. Virginia also allows separation in the same home. Virginia and Maryland have separation periods and also have alternative grounds for divorce that do not require separation.
How is child custody decided?
Child custody is determined by the judge based on the best interest of the child. Sometimes a judge will consider the opinion of custody evaluators.
How is child support calculated?
Child custody is determined by tables which are based onL
- Incomes of the parents
- Health insurance and day care expenses
- Number of overnights with the children.
Child support above certain income levels is decided by the judge.
How is alimony determined?
Alimony can either be for a certain period or for an indefinite period. The judge considers certain factors set forth in the statutes of each jurisdiction to determine the amount and duration of alimony.
How will our property be divided?
In Maryland, the court cannot change the ownership of property except for retirement funds and the marital residence. The court determines and values all the property, determines what property is marital, and then makes a martial award to one of the spouses to achieve equity (fairness). DC and Virginia follow a similar process.
