ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
Divorce | Haskell & Dyer
However Your Divorce Starts, We Protect Your Rights and Your Future.
Whether your divorce is amicable or contested, we handle the property, the support, and the parenting questions so you can move forward with your life on solid ground.
Where to Start
You do not have to have it all figured out yet.
Most people come to us unsure how any of this works. That is fine. We explain your options, walk you through what divorce in Maryland actually involves, and help you make decisions one step at a time. You bring the questions, we bring the map.
Two Paths
Amicable or Contested
Divorces fall along a spectrum. Where yours lands shapes the work, but either way your rights deserve protection.
When You Agree
Uncontested Divorce
If you and your spouse agree on the major issues, we keep the process clean and efficient, put the agreement in proper form, and make sure nothing important is missed. Smooth does not mean unprotected, and we keep your interests covered.
When You Don't
Contested Divorce
When there is real disagreement over property, support, or the children, we advocate hard for you. We prepare the case, push for a fair resolution, and are ready to take it to court if that is what protecting your future requires.
What a Divorce Decides
The Issues We Handle
A divorce settles several questions at once. We cover all of them so the result holds together.
Grounds and filing
Property division
Spousal support
Child custody
Child support
The final agreement
Why It Matters
What Is on the Line
A divorce sets the terms of the next chapter of your life. Getting it right protects what matters most.
Children
Your time and role as a parent
Finances
Property, support, and your footing
Home
Where you and your kids will live
Closure
A clean, final break to move on
The Process
What the Divorce Process Usually Looks Like
Every divorce is different, but most follow a similar path. One spouse files a complaint, the other is served and files an answer, and the case is open. From there, the work is sorting out the issues: property, support, and anything involving the children.
While the case is pending, the court can put temporary orders in place for things like support, custody, and use of the home, so no one is left in limbo. Both sides exchange financial information, and most cases reach a settlement through negotiation or mediation. If real disputes remain, a judge decides them at trial.
Maryland has also changed its grounds for divorce over the years, including options that do not require proving fault. Which grounds fit your situation can affect timing and strategy. We confirm the current rules and the path that serves your goals, so you are not guessing at the process.
Attorney Insight
Most people walk in bracing for a courtroom battle. The truth is, the majority of divorces settle. My job is to protect what matters to you and keep the fight to only the things actually worth fighting over.
Matthew J. Dyer, Esq.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer
How We Handle Your Divorce
We aim for the result that protects you, with as little damage along the way as your situation allows.
We Explain Your Options
You will understand the path, the choices, and the likely outcomes before you make any major decision.
We Protect Your Interests
Property, support, and parenting time. We make sure your fair share and your role are not signed away.
We Settle When We Can
A fair agreement is often faster and easier on everyone. We pursue that first when it serves you.
We Litigate When We Must
If the other side will not be reasonable, we are ready to make your case in court and fight for you.
Common Questions
Divorce, Answered
How long does a divorce take in Maryland?
It depends. An uncontested divorce where both spouses agree can move relatively quickly, while a contested case with disputes over property, support, or custody takes longer. Maryland also has its own rules about grounds and any separation period, which affect timing. We look at your situation and give you a realistic timeline rather than a guess.
What's the difference between contested and uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce means you and your spouse agree on the major issues: property, support, and the children. A contested divorce means you do not, and the disputed issues may need to be resolved through negotiation or by a judge. Most cases settle somewhere in between. We help you reach agreement where possible and fight for you where it is not.
Do I need grounds to file for divorce?
Maryland law sets out the grounds for divorce, and the rules have changed over time, including options that do not require proving fault. Which grounds apply can affect timing and strategy. We confirm the current grounds for your situation and file in the way that fits your goals, so this is one less thing for you to untangle on your own.
Will I lose the house or have to sell it?
Not necessarily. The home is part of property division, and there are several ways it can be handled depending on finances, the children, and what each spouse wants. One spouse may keep it, it may be sold, or it may be balanced against other assets. We work to protect your fair share and a stable place to live.
Should I move out before the divorce is final?
Talk to a lawyer before you do. Moving out can affect custody, use of the home, and other issues in ways that are not obvious, and what is right in one case is wrong in another. There is no single answer. We look at your specific situation and advise you before you make a move that is hard to undo.
Facing a Divorce? Let's Talk Through Your Options.
You do not have to face this alone or figure it out in advance. Reach out and we will explain where you stand and how to protect your rights and your future. The first conversation is a conversation, not a commitment.
Prefer to talk now? Reach us at 301-627-5844
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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