200 Washington Avenue
La Plata, MD 20646

301.859.4063

Areas of Practice

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Practice Areas Overview

In Southern Maryland, individuals in need of quality legal advice and representation in criminal defense, family law, personal injury, and other matters turn to the experienced attorneys at the La Plata law office of Devine & Fanning, P.A.   Our extensive courtroom experience gives us the knowledge, skill, and background to assist clients across a wide range of legal fields.

Criminal Defense

The firm's criminal defense practice is led by Pat Devine, a former prosecutor with the Charles County State's Attorney Office with a firsthand, intimate knowledge of the laws and procedures of the Maryland criminal justice system.

We represent people charged with misdemeanor and felony offenses in state and federal court, including burglary, robbery, and assault, with a particular emphasis on drug offenses, driving under the influence, and matters involving juveniles. 

Drug Crimes

We represent people charged with all manner of drug offenses, including possession, distribution, manufacturing, paraphernalia, and conspiracy.  In addition to common street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and PCP, we represent people charged with trafficking in prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, and Percocet. 

We fight for an acquittal wherever possible or negotiate the most favorable plea available.  When a conviction cannot be avoided, we look for ways to minimize the consequences, in some cases obtaining probation instead of jail time, with the possibility of having the record expunged.  We seek drug court and diversion programs for juveniles charged with drug offenses whenever possible. 

DUI/DWI

A conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or Driving While Impaired (DWI) can lead to serious consequences, including incarceration.  Aside from the criminal process, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will use its own procedures to suspend your license or require an ignition interlock device in order to drive.  You only have a very limited time to request a hearing before the MVA.  In either proceeding, we conduct a thorough investigation and will argue to have the case dismissed if improper procedures or testing methods were used.

We also help in any serious traffic violation that could lead to a suspension of your driver's license or the imposition of hefty fines.

Family Law

Firm attorney Bill Fanning has focused almost exclusively on family law matters since 1993 and has gained a wealth of experience helping individuals and families through difficult issues associated with their divorce or other family law matter.  We help people obtain limited divorces and absolute divorces, utilizing fault-based grounds such as adultery, abandonment and cruelty, as well as no-fault divorces. 

Custody and Support

Deciding child custody involves making determinations to both legal custody (who will make decisions regarding the child's medical care, education, and religious upbringing) and physical custody (who lives with the child).  In either case, custody may be awarded solely to one parent or shared by both parents in a manner determined by the court to be in the child's best interests. 

Regardless of the custody arrangement, both parents have an obligation to support their children financially, and some award of child support is usually ordered to be paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent with primary custody.  Deviation from Maryland's strict child support guidelines is sometimes possible if it can be shown the amount is unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.

Obtaining a divorce involves deciding other important issues such as the division of marital property and whether spousal support (alimony) will be paid, how much and for how long.  Since all marital property will be divided in a manner the court deems equitable, making sure the court properly classifies and values each asset and debt is essential.  The property division can impact the decision of spousal support, too.  Whether negotiating a settlement informally or through mediation, or litigating contested issues in court, we can help you protect your rights and promote your interests so that you can move on with your life in the best interests of you and your family.

Other Matters

Our firm is also experienced and adept in all the following areas:

Personal Injury - We represent people injured in automobile accidents, as a result of medical malpractice, or any other instance of negligence or wrongful conduct.

Business Law - We assist new businesses in forming their corporation, partnership, or limited liability companies, and help established companies negotiate land deals and other transactions, including contract drafting and review.  We also represent business clients in breach of contract disputes or other litigation such as fraud or unfair business practices.

Employment Law - We can help employers and employees in cases involving wrongful termination, unlawful discrimination, or sexual harassment.  We can also prepare or litigate employment contracts, confidentiality agreements, and covenants not to compete.

Estate Planning - We draft wills and trusts tailored to your individual needs, with an eye toward maximizing the accumulation and transfer of wealth while minimizing the impact of estate and gift taxation and the time and expense of probate.

General Civil Litigation - Whether you are a plaintiff or defendant, we can ably represent your interests in any matter brought before a Maryland civil court.

Seek Experienced Legal Representation

From Upper Marlboro to La Plata, Leonardtown, and Prince Frederick, individuals and families throughout Southern Maryland trust the experience and qualifications behind the lawyers at Devine & Fanning, P.A. with their legal needs.  Contact Devine & Fanning for immediate advice and counsel or to schedule a consultation.