Offering You The Family Law Help You Deserve

Rockville Family Law Attorney

Any legal issue involving your family can undoubtedly cause anxiety and worry. After all, the legal outcome can become a defining moment in your life. My name is Greg Abney, and I am a Maryland family law attorney. From offices in Rockville, I represent clients in family law courts in Montgomery County and throughout the surrounding counties. I founded Abney at Law, P.C., to provide one-on-one legal services for clients in the community.

I view every case through the eyes of my client, not simply as a case to be managed. You can count on me to provide personal and responsive help for your family law case. Whether you need legal guidance regarding a prenuptial agreement, help securing child custody and support, or assistance navigating a divorce, I will work to protect your future.

Comprehensive Legal Representation For Family Law

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to family law. Each client’s situation is different, and my strategy reflects that. If you are facing a family law issue in Montgomery County, here is where I can help.

Prenuptial And Postnuptial Agreements

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is a legal contract that protects your financial interests if the marriage ends or a spouse dies. If you are already married and want to address financial concerns or protect assets, a postnuptial agreement gives you that same protection. I can help you negotiate and draft marital agreements that reflect your goals and hold up in court.

Legal Separation

If you are not ready for divorce but need legal structure while you and your spouse live apart, Maryland law provides an option called a limited divorce. This formal court proceeding allows a judge to address spousal support, custody and use of the family home while the marriage stays legally intact. I can help you determine whether this path fits your situation and what a formal separation agreement should include.

Divorce

Divorce in Maryland requires resolving financial matters and any child-related issues. Some couples work through these issues together without court intervention, while others need a judge to make the final call. I guide clients in Rockville and throughout Montgomery County through the divorce process with their long-term financial and parental interests in focus.

Child Custody

Maryland courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child, weighing each parent’s ability to provide stability and continuity. Whether you are establishing a custody arrangement for the first time or need to modify an existing order, I work to reach an outcome that serves your child’s actual needs.

Child Support

Maryland calculates child support based on both parents’ incomes and how much time each parent spends with the child. I help clients secure accurate support orders from the start and pursue modifications when income or custody arrangements change.

Domestic Violence And Protective Orders

Maryland courts can issue protective orders quickly in dangerous domestic situations. Those orders can have an immediate impact on custody and housing arrangements. I represent both people who need protection from abuse and people who have been wrongly accused in divorce or custody proceedings.

How Much Does A Family Law Attorney Cost?

Every family law case is different and requires unique attention. In addition, the legal issues involved can range in complexity. Therefore, the cost of legal services will vary. For example, if a couple who is getting divorced agrees on the terms of their divorce, the cost can be considerably less than if the attorney has to prepare for trial. In many family law cases, going through mediation can help facilitate a settlement agreement.

I come to work every day with a single objective: to help clients find an efficient and cost-effective resolution to their legal challenges so they can move ahead with their lives. I leave work every day feeling confident that I have made a positive difference in people’s lives. I also do everything I can to keep my office overhead low so I can pass lower attorney fees on to my clients.

When To Seek Legal Representation For Family Law Matters

Do you need an attorney for your case? The answer depends on what is at stake. Consider getting professional legal counsel in these situations:

The other party has an attorney: Maryland courts hold unrepresented parties to the same rules as licensed attorneys. When one side has a lawyer and the other does not, the unrepresented party often gives up rights they did not know they had.
Hidden assets are suspected: Finding concealed finances requires formal tools such as subpoenas, depositions and forensic accounting. Without legal help, those tools rarely deliver results.
Retirement accounts or other complex assets require division: Dividing retirement accounts in a divorce requires a special court order. A drafting error can trigger large tax penalties. Dividing business interests and investment accounts without legal guidance carries similar risks.
Child relocation is contested: Relocation cases often involve court-appointed evaluators and can affect your parenting access for years.
Domestic violence is present: Protective order hearings in Maryland move quickly. Without an attorney, you can miss key deadlines or fail to present the evidence the court needs to act.

Court clerks and self-help resources can tell you what the law says. Only a licensed attorney can assess your case and advise you on what to do. That difference matters when your finances or parenting rights are on the line.

The Family Law Process: What To Expect From Start To Finish

Family law cases in Maryland’s Circuit Court move through several defined phases. When parties reach an agreement early, they can skip the later stages entirely. Understanding the full process helps you prepare and make informed decisions at each step.

Complaint filing: The filing party submits a complaint in the circuit court of the relevant county. The court then issues a summons for formal service on the other party.
Service of process: The other party must receive the court papers through formal service by certified mail, a process server or the county sheriff. Once served, the responding party has 30 days to file an answer (or 60 days if served outside Maryland). This phase typically takes one to two months from the date of initial filing.
Scheduling and temporary hearings: The court holds a scheduling conference to set deadlines for discovery and future proceedings. This typically occurs two to four months after filing. If urgent matters need immediate attention, such as temporary custody or interim support, the court schedules a temporary hearing to put short-term orders in place while the case moves forward.
Discovery: Both parties formally exchange financial records and other relevant information. Cases involving disputed assets or contested custody often bring in forensic accountants or court-appointed evaluators. Discovery typically runs three to six months after the court issues the scheduling order.
Mediation: Maryland courts encourage parties to resolve disputes before trial. In Montgomery County, judges regularly order mediation in contested custody matters. Here, a neutral mediator meets with both parties to help them work toward an agreed parenting plan. Neither party can introduce those discussions as evidence in court.
Settlement conference: If mediation does not resolve all issues, the court schedules a settlement conference within 30 to 60 days after discovery closes. Both parties and their attorneys meet with a judge or magistrate to evaluate each side of the case. The court places any agreements reached at this stage on the record immediately, ending the litigation.
Trial: If settlement efforts fail, a circuit court judge issues a binding final judgment on all unresolved issues.

Uncontested cases typically resolve in two to four months. Contested matters with moderate complexity generally take six to 10 months. High-conflict cases involving custody disputes or complex finances can take a year or more to reach a final judgment.

Take note that these time frames are general estimates only. Every case is different, and actual timelines can vary depending on the specific circumstances involved.

What Can Affect Your Timeline?

Cases tend to move faster when both parties share financial information voluntarily and enter the process with a written agreement already in place.

Cases take longer when:

One party delays producing financial records or requested documents
The court orders a custody evaluation or appoints a professional evaluator to assess the child’s situation
Assets such as businesses or retirement accounts require formal valuation by an outside expert

Montgomery County handles a high volume of family law cases, which means trial dates can take significantly longer to secure than in smaller Maryland jurisdictions.

Dispute Resolution Options In Maryland Family Law Cases

Not every family law dispute has to end in a courtroom. When parties cannot reach an agreement on their own, they have several options for resolving their case.

Mediation

Mediation uses a neutral third party to help both parties work toward a resolution. The mediator does not issue rulings or give legal advice. In Maryland, judges regularly order mediation in contested custody matters.

During a session, both parties typically meet together with the mediator. If tensions are high, the mediator can use separate rooms to keep discussions productive. The goal is to work through specific issues and draft an agreement both parties can accept.

Mediation discussions are generally confidential, and neither party can introduce them as evidence in court. Signing a written agreement creates a binding contract, but it must be submitted to a circuit court judge to become an enforceable court order.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative law is a structured out-of-court process. Both parties hire attorneys trained in collaborative practice and sign a written commitment to resolve all issues without going to court.

Neutral specialists such as financial planners or child development professionals often join the process. They help the parties value assets, review support arrangements and develop parenting plans. If either party ends the process and pursues litigation, both collaborative attorneys are disqualified and each party has to hire entirely new litigation counsel.

Litigation

If out-of-court efforts fail, the court hears both sides and issues a final, binding decision on all contested issues. Litigation is sometimes the only way to reach a fair outcome, particularly when a party conceals assets or when domestic violence makes voluntary negotiation unsafe.

Which Approach Is Right For Your Case?

The right approach depends on your specific circumstances. Each option involves trade-offs in cost, privacy, timeline and control over the outcome. I help clients in Rockville and throughout Montgomery County understand their options and decide which path makes sense for their situation.

Tax Implications Of Family Law Decisions

Family law decisions can carry tax consequences that affect both parties long after the divorce is final. Here are the key tax issues to understand:

Divorce changes your tax filing status: Your marital status on December 31, 2018, determines your filing status for that entire tax year. After divorce, you file as “single” unless you have a qualifying child at home for more than half the year, in which case you may qualify for “head of household” status.
Alimony payments have different tax treatment before and after 2019: For agreements signed after December 31, 2018, federal law makes alimony nondeductible for the payer and tax-free for the recipient. Post-2018 alimony is neither deductible nor taxable on Maryland state returns.
Receiving property in a divorce can create a future tax liability: A divorce settlement triggers no immediate tax bill on property transfers. The spouse who receives an appreciated asset such as a home or investment account may owe capital gains taxes when they eventually sell it. Home sales may qualify for federal capital gains exclusions.
Claiming your child as a dependent is a negotiable tax benefit: Federal law gives this right to the custodial parent by default. A settlement agreement can reassign it for specific years, but you must document the reassignment correctly each year for it to remain valid.

Addressing these issues before anything is signed protects the true value of your settlement. If your case involves complex assets or support arrangements, talk to a qualified tax professional alongside your family law attorney to protect what you negotiated for.

Enforcement Of Family Law Court Orders In Maryland

When a former spouse or co-parent refuses to follow a court order, you do not have to accept it. Maryland law provides several tools to address violations and compel compliance, whether the order involves support payments or a parenting schedule.

The most common enforcement tool is a petition for contempt filed in the circuit court. Maryland law recognizes two types:

Civil contempt: This is to compel future compliance. The court gives the noncompliant party a specific action they must take to end the penalty. The petitioning party bears the burden of proving noncompliance.
Criminal contempt: This is punitive. It applies when defiance is open and intentional, and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Beyond contempt, courts and state agencies can enforce orders through wage garnishment, license suspension, tax intercepts or make-up parenting time. Judges can also award attorney fees against the noncompliant party and order incarceration in severe cases.

Enforcement begins with a petition filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court identifying the specific order violated and the dates of noncompliance. Documentation drives the outcome. Financial records, exchange logs and preserved communications all serve as direct evidence before the court.

If someone is violating a court order that affects your finances or your time with your children, I can help you understand your options and take the appropriate next steps.

Consult A Montgomery County Family Law Attorney Today

Discover the difference an experienced lawyer can make. My firm, Abney at Law, P.C., is near the Rockville metro station, just steps from the circuit courthouse. My office hours for consultations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and I am available by appointment. Call me at 301-450-0786 to arrange an initial consultation. You can also send me a message through my website. I accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express for your convenience.