Southern Maryland Child Support Attorneys in Waldorf & Lexington Park
We provide experienced legal representation in Southern Maryland for child support matters related to divorces and separations.
At Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett, we understand the challenges of going through a divorce or separation with children. We have been representing divorcing and separating parents in Waldorf, Lexington Park, and other areas of Southern Maryland for decades. We know that while dealing with child support can be frustrating, ensuring an accurate calculation is also extremely important.
We provide representation for parents in accurately calculating child support and dealing with child support modification and enforcement matters. If you need a Southern Maryland child support attorney for any matter involving child support in Southern Maryland, you can trust our firm to meet your needs.
Testimonials
Clients Trust Southern Maryland Law
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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Anna C, Google
We used this firm for our Chapter 13. Mr. Gormley was very knowledgeable and compassionate throughout the whole process. He definitely went above and beyond to take care of us. After the bankruptcy was complete we were invited to a seminar about bouncing back. That invitation and…Read MoreACAnna C.
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Anna J, Google
I can not say enough about working with this team. Dave Gormley is one of the nicest most knowledgeable, but still down to earth lawyers that I have ever had the privilege of doing business with. He goes above and beyond to help anyone that I have referred to him. Not only is thi…Read MoreAJAnna J.
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Judith K, Google
I want to thank Tucker Clagett of Andrews Bongar Gormley & Clagett for taking my case when other law firms told me I “didn’t have a chance of winning”; well, we did win because Mr. Clagett displays something more than having a JD and experience. He also has a determined…Read MoreJKJudith K.
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Kenya H, Google
I used the firm for filing my Chapter 7. Mr. Gormely was courteous, professional, knowledgeable and responsive to my inquiries. He took time to explain the process to me and answer all of my questions during the first consultation which was free. The entire staff at Gormley &…Read MoreKHKenya H.
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Janery R, Google
Very professional and helpful. Atty. Clagett is very nice person and willingly to help you as much as he can. I love his staff especially Ms. Amanda. She is always there when I have questiones to ask. My case was new for me and I have no clue or idea how to deal with it but she i…Read MoreJRJanery R.
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Michael G, Google
I was involved in a motorcycle collision in 2013, it required a year of physical therapy, and 38 days in the hospital. Tucker Clagett worked with my wife and I while managing all legal affairs for us. I had to only focus on my recover while he and his staff handled all other aspe…Read MoreMGMichael G.
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Shelah P, Google
My husband and I are extremely satisfied with the legal assistance we have received from Dave Gormley. He has been helpful and always answered our questions throughout the process. A long time ago I worked for a law firm in Dallas and the hardest thing would be attorney availabil…Read MoreSPShelah P.
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Wanda B, Google
While caring for our increasing sick Mother, one of the most difficult experiences my sister and I struggle to manage, Dave Gormley and his staff continued to go over and above what was expected. Our Mom was very ill and had not formalized her final wishes. She was too weak to go…Read MoreWBWanda B.
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Delphine B, Google
From the first time that when I met with Attorney Gormley he was attentive and showed concerned about my situation. He was very strategic about his approach to my situation. The staff is very professional and proficient. He is an expert in what he do, and I very grateful and appr…Read MoreDBDelphine B.
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Heather B, Google
Mr. Gormley has been my attorney for years due to an extremely turbulent divorce, which lead to a financial breaking point a few years ago. He’s been nothing short of stellar during the entire debacle, consistently providing courses of action when the situation seemed hopeless….Read MoreHBHeather B.
Use Our Free Resources to Learn About Child Support in Maryland – When dealing with child support in Maryland, it is important to make informed decisions. To learn the basics, we encourage you to read our free Child Custody & Child Support Guide.
Put Your Trust in a Local Family Law Firm – We don’t just serve residents of Southern Maryland, we are residents of Southern Maryland. We have been serving our local community for more than 55 years. Our Southern Maryland child support attorneys are passionate about helping parents in Waldorf, Lexington Park, and other local areas.
We are a Southern Maryland family law firm that takes pride in representing local parents.
Feel Confident in the Outcome of Your Child Custody Matter – When it comes to your children, you need to know that you are making the right decisions. At Southern Maryland Law, our Southern Maryland child support lawyers rely on decades of legal experience to help our clients. We want to make sure you feel 100% confident that you can secure the outcome you and your children deserve.
Maryland Child Support Guide
Maryland Child Support Guide
Family legal matters are scary and emotional. Do you know your options? Do you have a lot of legal questions?
You need answers and you need them now. When you have answers and know your options you can make informed, intelligent decisions.
We are experienced Southern Maryland family legal matters team, and we wrote this free legal guide so you can quickly & easily discover the answers to your legal questions. Know your options and be informed before you make big decisions about your family law case – like hiring a lawyer.
You can learn a lot in just 15 minutes by reading this guide now.
Who Will Handle My Case?
When you hire our law firm for your legal case, you don’t just hire a single lawyer. You hire a team. Each practice area has at least two lawyers who handle that area of law, so you have backup when you need it. Our paralegals are highly trained and have lots of experience. Plus they are unfailingly nice & pleasant to work with. You will love working with them!
Kathryn Lawryszek, Attorney
Child Support Legal Practitioner
Kathryn Lawryszek is an Associate Attorney at Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett. She is our primary family law attorney. Nasheia Smith also helps managing the family law cases, due to her years of experience. Dave Gormley as helps manage the cases with his 30 years of experience.
Together, they are your family law team. Our family law team has decades of experience handling family law cases, including divorce, child custody, child support, and adoption cases.
Kathryn came to us after law school. She also worked in financial services for 2 years. Those financial skills have proven invaluable in cases she has handled.
Nasheia worked for a non-profit agency before she joined our firm, where she represented thousands of family law clients. During that time she developed a passion for family law issues, and gained the skill of cultivating positive relationships with clients to counsel them through difficult, emotional issues.
Learn more about Kathryn here, and learn more about Nasheia here.
Will I (or My Spouse or Partner) Have to Pay Child Support?
In Maryland (as in most states), the general rule is that the parent with primary physical custody receives child support from the other parent following a divorce or separation. If the parents share physical custody, then the higher-earning parent will typically pay child support.
However, there is far more that goes into arriving at an accurate child support calculation. From custody rights to child-related expenses, there are numerous factors that must be considered when calculating child support in Maryland.
As you begin thinking about child support, there are a few fundamental principles to keep in mind.
Obligation to Support Children
Both parents are required to help financially support their children. Even if you are not ordered to pay child support (i.e. you receive child support as a result of your separation or divorce), you still have a legal obligation to contribute to meeting your children’s financial needs.
Purpose of Child Support
The purpose of child support payments is not for parents to cover their own expenses. During a separation or divorce, the calculation of child support is based on the children’s needs and the parents’ respective abilities to pay. If you need additional financial support, you will need to seek an alimony award in addition to an award of child support.
Custody Affects Support Obligations
Due to the heavy impact of child custody rights on child support payment obligations, it will be necessary to address custody prior to (or concurrently with) calculating child support.
Maryland Child Support Guidelines
The Maryland Child Support Guidelines (the Guidelines) form the basis for all support calculations in Maryland. As you move forward, it will be important to have a clear understanding of how the Guidelines apply to your family and financial circumstances.
Under the Maryland Child Support Guidelines, there are several factors that must be considered when calculating a child support award. The basic factors include:
- The parents’ individual and combined incomes;
- Any pre-existing child support or alimony payment obligations from prior relationships;
- Health insurance coverage provided by either parent;
- Work-related childcare expenses incurred by either parent;
- Any medical needs (of the children) not covered by health insurance; and
- Reasonable and necessary expenses for the children’s education and transportation.
However, within each of these categories, there are several specific considerations that need to be addressed. While the Guidelines can serve as a roadmap for divorcing parents, it is important to work with an experienced child support lawyer in Maryland to ensure that you do not overlook any important considerations.
Can I Seek More (or Seek to Pay Less) Child Support After My Separation or Divorce is Final?
In Maryland, divorced and separated parents have two options for seeking to modify child support payments.
First, both parents have the right to request a review once every three years to determine whether an adjustment (up or down) is warranted.
Second, parents can request a child support modification at any time based on a “material change in circumstances.” Examples of material changes include things like losing a job, receiving a substantial pay cut or raise, or being unable to work due to a disability.
What If My Former Spouse or Partner Isn’t Paying Child Support in Southern Maryland?
If your former spouse or partner has stopped paying child support, our Lexington Park child support attorney can help you enforce your right to payment in court. Maryland law affords several options for enforcing parents’ child support payment obligations. These may include garnishing wages and diverting tax refunds to the recipient parent.
What do I do next?
To learn more about the basics of child support in Maryland, please read our free Child Custody & Child Support Guide. To get legal advice that is custom-tailored to your circumstances, schedule an initial consultation with our highly-skilled Waldorf child support lawyer at Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett.
While Maryland’s child support laws are complicated, dealing with child support issues does not have to be difficult or overwhelming. At Southern Maryland Law, our child support attorney in Maryland simplifies the process; and, while we will need your help, we will do as much as we can on your behalf.
Whether you are preparing to go through a divorce or separation or you need help dealing with an issue involving an existing child support order, our Southern Maryland child support attorneys can help you make the right decisions. We can ensure that you pay or receive an appropriate amount. We have been providing these services to Southern Maryland residents for more than 55 years.
If you are preparing for a divorce or separation, it will be important for you to begin preparing in advance. If you need to seek modification or enforcement of an existing child support award, acting quickly will allow our child support lawyers to achieve a favorable result as soon as possible.
Our experienced legal team also handles other types of family law cases, including:
- Alimony,
- Child Visitation, and
- Divorce.
Do you need to speak with a child support lawyer in Southern Maryland? Contact us to schedule a confidential initial consultation at Southern Maryland Law today.
Why Choose Southern Maryland Law?
We are your community law firm
We have been a vibrant part of Waldorf for over 60 years. Waldorf has been very good to us, and we try to repay that kindness with community service. We believe giving back to our Waldorf community is part of our job.
Large enough, yet small enough
We are large enough to provide full service, but small enough to focus on you. The large firms that have satellite offices in Waldorf have dozens of attorneys who don’t live here. They use case managers to handle their clients. At Southern Maryland Law, you will be a name – not a number.
The senior law firm in Waldorf
We are the oldest law firm in Waldorf, and the 2nd oldest in all of Southern Maryland! We have stayed busy because we get results and treat our clients right. We would never have lasted this long if we did not.
Not your grandfather’s law firm
While our firm has been around a long time, we are not what you think lawyers are like. We pride ourselves on being a little more approachable, a little more casual, and a little more likeable than the average lawyer. We are real people with real solutions to your real problems.
