Divorce Law

Maryland & Virginia Divorce Lawyer

Protecting Your Rights, Your Finances, and Your Family’s Future

Divorce is more than a legal process, it’s a life transition that affects your home, your finances, and your peace of mind. When you work with an experienced Maryland and Virginia divorce lawyer at The Burton Firm, you gain an advocate who listens, advises, and protects your interests every step of the way. We guide clients through both contested and uncontested divorces across Southern Maryland and Northern Maryland, including Fairfax County, Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Charles County, and Calvert County.

The Burton Firm led by Attorney Aubrey Burton, Jr., combines deep knowledge of Maryland and Virgina family law with compassionate, client-focused service. We help you navigate complex decisions with clarity, ensuring that your rights and your children’s well-being remain protected from start to finish.

Understanding Divorce in Maryland and Virginia

Divorce law covers both the legal grounds for ending a marriage and the equitable division of marital assets. Whether you’re pursuing divorce or need guidance during a period of separation, The Burton Firm is here to explain your options and prepare a strong legal strategy.

• Absolute Divorce — Ends the marriage permanently and allows both spouses to remarry. Grounds vary depending on your jurisdiction. Maryland uses no-fault grounds, whereas Virginia uses a combination of fault and no-fault grounds.
• Limited Divorce — Provides temporary relief resulting in a legal separation. Spouses remain married.  This relief is only available in Virginia.
• Military Divorce — We assist service members and their families with jurisdiction, benefits, and residency concerns related to military divorce cases .
• Separation, Post-Nuptial, and Pre-Nuptial Agreements — Our team helps clients draft and negotiate clear separation agreements that define property rights, custody terms, and financial responsibilities before divorce is finalized.

What a Maryland and Virginia Divorce Lawyer Can Help You With

At The Burton Firm , we provide comprehensive representation for every aspect of your divorce, including:

• Alimony and Spousal Support — Determining whether support should be awarded and in what amount.
• Division of Marital Property — Ensuring equitable distribution of assets, including homes, businesses, and investments.
• Child Custody and Visitation — Protecting your parental rights and creating a parenting plan that serves your child’s best interests.
• Child Support — Calculating and enforcing fair financial support consistent with Maryland guidelines.
• Retirement and Pension Assets — Dividing long-term benefits and retirement accounts fairly and in compliance with state and federal law.

We strive to resolve disputes through skilled negotiation and mediation whenever possible, but we are always prepared to litigate if that’s what it takes to protect your interests.

Grounds for Divorce in Maryland

Maryland law allows for no-fault divorces. Moreover, in Maryland, parties do not need to live separate and apart to obtain a divorce in certain circumstances.

• 6 month separation
• Mutual consent
• Irreconcilable differences

Your divorce lawyer in Maryland will explain how these grounds may affect alimony, custody, and property division so you can make informed decisions about your case.

Grounds for Divorce in Virginia

Virginia law allows for both “no-fault” and “fault-based” divorces.

• Fault-based: The fault-based grounds include: (1) adultery, sodomy, or buggery committed outside the marriage; (2) conviction of a felony with sentencing to confinement for more than one year, actual confinement, and no resumption of cohabitation after knowledge of confinement; and (3) cruelty, reasonable apprehension of bodily hurt, or willful desertion or abandonment, with a required one-year waiting period from the date of such conduct
• No fault-based: The parties have lived separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption for one year. However, if the parties have entered into a separation agreement and there are no minor children (either born of the parties, born of either party and adopted by the other, or adopted by both parties), the separation period is reduced to six months.

Your divorce lawyer in Virginia will explain how these grounds may affect alimony, custody, and property division so you can make informed decisions about your case.

Speak with a Maryland and Virginia Divorce Lawyer Today

If you’re considering divorce or have already been served with papers, don’t face the process alone. The Burton Firm is here to protect your rights and help you move forward. Call (301) 420-5540 for a confidential consultation.