James J. Gross is managing partner of the law firm of Thyden Gross and Callahan in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He has practiced family law and business law for over thirty years. He has represented hundreds of fathers in their efforts to secure their parental rights.
Mr. Gross received his Masters of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University in 1982; a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri in 1975, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Missouri in 1970.
Mr. Gross has been named one of the top divorce lawyers by Maryland Superlawyers, Washington DC Superlawyers, and Washingtonian Magazine. He appears frequently on television and radio in connection with fathers' rights and family rights. He is the author of Father's Rights; coauthor of How to File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia; and coauthor of Money and Divorce. Mr. Gross is a columnist for The Daily Answer Desk at DivorceNet.Com and he is the Maryland legal expert for DivorceInfo.Com.
Mr. Gross teaches divorce classes at the Montgomery County Commission for Women. He is a member of the Family Law Sections of the American, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Montgomery County Bar Associations. Mr. Gross is a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. He is the co-founder and past president of the Collaborative Family Law Society of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Gross, formerly in-house counsel to Satellite Business Systems and an attorney with the Federal Communications Commission, is rated AV by his fellow attorneys-the highest rating in Martindale-Hubbel.
He lives with his wife, Holly; two sons, Jake and Nicholas; and two Himalayan cats, Xena and tlineLola; in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Using Self-Help Law Books -
Introduction -
Section 1: What You Need to Know
Chapter 1: Marriage and Divorce -
-Marriage
-Common-Law Marriage
-Marriage Counseling
-Divorce
-Legal Separation
-Pendente Lite Relief
-Annulments
-The Emotional Divorce
Chapter 2: Lawyers -
-Doing it Yourself
-Needing a Lawyer
-Attorney's Fees
-Finding a Lawyer
Chapter 3: Red Flags -
-Bank Accounts
-Credit Issues
-Insurance
-Utilities
-Dating
-Wills
-Domestic Violence
-Social Security
-Red Flag Items Checklist
Chapter 4: Get the Facts -
-Snooping
-Documents to Gather Checklist
Section 2: Settlement Out of Court
Chapter 5: Alternatives to Trial -
-Talking with Your Spouse
-Negotiation
-Mediation
-Collaboration
-Arbitration
-Children
Chapter 6: Different Types of Divorce -
-Contested Divorce
-Uncontested Divorce
-Length of Time
-Cost
-Separation Agreements
Chapter 7: Separation Agreements -
-The Essence of Divorce
-What to Include in Your Separation Agreement
-Sample Separation Agreement
Section 3: Court Procedures
Chapter 8: Legal Requirements for Divorce -
-Constitution
-Codes
-Cases
-Rules
-Where to Find the Law
-Jurisdiction
-Residency
-Venue
-Grounds for Divorce
-Maryland Grounds
-Virginia Grounds
-District of Columbia Grounds
Chapter 9: Starting the Divorce -
-The Complaint
-Maryland Complaint for Absolute Divorce
-Virginia Complaint for Divorce
-District of Columbia Complaint for Absolute Divorce
-Answer
Chapter 10: Information Reports -
-Maryland Civil-Domestic Case Information Report
-Virginia Divorce Case Cover Sheet
-District of Columbia Certificate of Divorce
Chapter 11: Service of Process -
-Maryland Service
-Virginia Service
-District of Columbia Service
-Once You Have Served Your Spouse
Chapter 12: Finding Your Spouse -
-Attempts to Locate Your Spouse
-Maryland Alternative Service
-Virginia Alternative Service
-District of Columbia Alternative Service
Chapter 13: Default Divorce -
-Maryland Default
-Virginia Default
-District of Columbia Default
Section 4: Uncontested Divorce
Chapter 14: Maryland Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing a Complaint
-Service of Process
-Answer
-Joint Request to Schedule an Uncontested Divorce Hearing
Chapter 15: Virginia Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing Your Complaint for Divorce
-Request for Ore Tenus Hearing
Chapter 16: District of Columbia
-Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing Your Complaint
-Service of Process
-Answer
- Praecipe for Uncontested Divorce
Chapter 17: Preparing for the Uncontested Divorce Hearing -
-Maryland Uncontested Divorce
-Maryland Uncontested Divorce Checklist
-Virginia Uncontested Divorce
-Virginia Uncontested Divorce Checklist
-District of Columbia Uncontested Divorce
-District of Columbia Uncontested Divorce Checklist
Chapter 18: The Uncontested DivorceHearing -
-Courtroom Behavior
-Public Records
-Maryland Hearing
-Virginia Hearing
-District of Columbia Hearing
Section 5: Contested Divorce
Chapter 19: Preparing for a Contested Divorce Trial -
-Settlement Negotiations
-Trial Preparation Checklist
Chapter 20: The Contested Divorce Trial -
-Elements of the Trial
-Tips for Your Testimony
Section 6: Children
Chapter 21: Custody -
-Legal Custody and Physical Custody
-Best Interests of the Children
-Maryland Custody Factors
-Virginia Custody Factors
-District of Columbia Custody Factors
-Custody Trial
-Parenting Plans
Chapter 22: Visitation -
-Typical Visitation Schedules
-Visitation Disputes
-Withholding Visitation
-Grandparent Visitation
-Sample Guidelines for Effective Parenting
Chapter 23: Child Support -
-General Overview
-Maryland Guidelines
-Virginia Guidelines
-District of Columbia Guidelines
Section 7: Other Financial Issues
Chapter 24: Financial Statements -
-Maryland
-Virginia
-District of Columbia
Chapter 25: Alimony -
-General Information
-Alimony Factors
Chapter 26: Property -
-Equitable Distribution
-Equitable Distribution Factors
-Pensions
Chapter 27: After the Divorce -
-Finances
-Difficult Former Spouse
-Appeals
-Changes
- Records
- Bankruptcy
- Postdivorce Checklist
Glossary
-
Section 8: Maryland
Appendix A: Summary of Maryland Divorce Laws -
Appendix B: Child Support Guidelines in Maryland -
Appendix C: Maryland Resources -
Appendix D: Maryland Blank Forms -
Section 9: Virginia
Appendix E: Summary of Virginia Divorce Laws -
Appendix F: Child Support Guidelines in Virginia -
Appendix G: Virginia Resources -
Appendix H: Virginia Blank Forms -
Section 10: District of Columbia
Appendix I: Summary of District of Columbia Divorce Laws -
Appendix J: Child Support Guidelines in the District of Columbia -
Appendix K: District of Columbia Resources -
Appendix L: District of ColumbiaBlank Forms -
Index -

Simplify the Divorce Process
A divorce can be the most painful and expensive experience of your life. Whether you use a lawyer or not, protect yourself by getting all the information you need about divorce laws and your legal rights. Let File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia help you get control over this stressful time in your life.
Learn how to:
- File an Uncontested or Contested Divorce
- Protect Your Assets, Yourself and Your Children
- Save Money when Working with a Lawyer
- Negotiate Child Support and Visitation Agreements
Essential documents you need to:
- End the Marriage and Start Fresh
- Resolve Property Disputes
- Calculate Child Support
- Develop a Visitation Schedule
- And much more . . .