Contact us by email at: dawn@marylandfamilylawfirm.com to get your free Family Law Divorce Analysis Questionnaire and to see if we might be a good fit to represent you in your divorce or custody case.

The philosophy of Maryland Family Law Firm, L.L.C. is based on a decade of experience in Maryland family law. One colleague described Ms. Bowie as having “an encyclopedic” knowledge of family law. In testimonials, clients have explained that Ms. Bowie is not only knowledgeable about divorce and child custody law — she genuinely cares about her clients.

For a consultation with Ms. Bowie, complete our Initial Office Consultation web form.

At Maryland Family Law Firm, L.L.C. we consider our job to be both your legal advocate as well as your counselor-at-law. Blending sound legal advice with creative problem resolution skills and a full toolkit of problem-resolution tools — from skilled negotiation in the mediation room to powerful courtroom advocacy — we offer you a clear explanation of your legal rights and teach you how to stand up for yourself with fairness and firmness.

Fill out the attached web form for an Initial Office Consultation.

Resolving divorce and custody disputes through the use of mediation is our first approach, but at this Firm, we don’t believe mediation is ever acceptable when the other side’s position is, “Give me what I want, and no one gets hurt.” When that happens, it’s time to use the litigation process — first as a means of reaching a settlement and if that doesn’t work, by advocating for clients in court.

Our Areas:

Divorce, either limited or absolute

Custody, for either married or unmarried parents

Custody modification, when your child’s needs are not being met

Spousal support and division of marital assets

Agreements, whether marital settlement agreements, parenting agreements or prenuptial agreements.

Call us at (301) 769-6846,

Or register online for an Initial Office Conference Register Today!

• I expect my clients be accountable and take responsibility for their actions.
• I see myself as a partner in solving my client’s family problems, not just their legal problems.
• My job is to educate my clients, manage their cases effectively, and advocate for their long-term best interests.
• I’m a fighter when I have to be, but I do my best to be a respectful fighter, even when I have to speak a truth the other side would rather not hear.
• My first approach to resolving clients’ disputes is to find a creative way to do it that does not involve fighting.

I can help you resolve your divorce the same way Ms. Phillips does in Hollywood, right here in downtown Rockville.

“Discovery” is the set of tools lawyers use to get that information.  The tools that can be used are:

• Interrogatories (written questions the other side has to answer in writing);
• Document requests (questions that ask the other side to provide paperwork);
• Depositions (there are two kinds:oral – where a lawyer asks a witness questions about the case while a court reporter records the questions and answers; and records – where a lawyer sends a subpoena to a person or company demanding paperwork); and
• Request for Mental or Physical Examination of a Party (where a lawyer asks the court to order the other party to undergo an examination by a doctor).

There are very specific rules about how these tools should be used.  There are also time limits on when the person answering or responding to the requests for information can respond.  To make it even more complicated, there are unofficial rules about how lawyers should act when they use these tools.  For divorce and custody lawyers, discovery is critical and tedious; for divorce and custody clients, the questions are often intrusive and frightening.  Aggressive divorce and custody lawyers often use the rules any way they like to get the information they want and avoid giving the information the other side needs.  It can be a challenge, but it is one we have been meeting, and improving upon, every day.

If you need help dealing with aggressive discovery tactics, contact us today to see if we can help you!

But what do you do if the only reason you have is that you just don’t get along?

What if there are no fights, no arguments, no conflict?

What if there is only silence?

At Maryland Family Law Firm we often get clients who are still living under the same roof with the person who is formally spouse and practically speaking, a roommate.  The first thing to do is get counseling if you can.  If your spouse won’t go with you, go by yourself.  Try to get help to learn how to sit down with your spouse and have a frank and honest discussion about where each of you stand on the marriage and what it means to continue it.  Believe it or not, there are some people who are perfectly happy and content to have a roommate with a wedding ring on his or her finger.

If you aren’t one of them, and it doesn’t seem that there is anything you can do to change your marriage, you don’t have to start out with litigation.  Chances are that you might be able to get legal help creating a marital settlement agreement.  Before you decide anything, though — especially before you move out or ask your spouse to move out — talk to a qualified Maryland attorney with experience and skill in Maryland family law.  We would be happy to help you discover and consider your options.

We’ve been representing gay parents in custody cases for several years, now we can extend our services to same-sex couples in divorce too.  Call or register on our Virtual Law Office (go to the Contact Page and choose “Your Virtual Law Office” to register) today.

If you are one of this filing for divorce in Maryland this month, contact us today to see how we can help you.

• If I live in the basement and I have a lock on the door so my spouse can’t get in, does that qualify?
• What if the door doesn’t lock?
• What if the basement is a separate apartment we used to rent out?
• What if my spouse agreed that if I lived in the basement, he/she would agree we lived separately so we could get a divorce?
• What if my spouse moves out for a few months and then moves back in no matter how much I said I didn’t agree?

So far, the answer to all of those questions is a resounding “No!”  Of course, if your spouse moves out for awhile, and then moves back in, other areas of Maryland divorce law may come into play.

What with the economic downturn, there are rumblings that the Maryland legislature may consider changing the law to allow separate spaces in the same house to qualify as living separately.  If you aren’t sure what would happen in your Maryland divorce, give us a call, we’d be happy to meet with you and talk about your case.

• Does the issue promote, “a sense of personal safety and security,” for your child;
• Does it develop or enhance his or her interpersonal skills?
• Does it support his or her intellectual abilities (or help the child move through disabilities more successfully)?
• Does it enhance your child’s (nor your) sense of self-worth.

Whether you are bargaining for more time with your child, less time for the other parent, arguing about a choice of school or daycare, applying these child-centered principles to your decision-making can make you a better parent and give you persuasive clout in your custody and visitation case.

Here’s what you’ll find when you walk in our door:

Eryn Chaney, Executive Administrator

Client Waiting Area

Hard at Work