children
New “One Judge, One Family” Policy in Montgomery County
Following in the footsteps of some other courts around the country, Montgomery County Circuit Court will adopt a “One Judge, One Family” policy for qualifying cases commencing January 1, 2016. Prior to the adoption of the policy, different portions of the same case were not necessarily heard by the same judge or magistrate. Going forward,…
Read MoreThink Second Parent Adoptions Are A Thing Of the Past? Think Again. Conover v. Conover.
Yesterday, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals released its latest opinion on third party custody rights in Conover v. Conover. This case involved a lesbian couple. One of the couple, the biological parent, was inseminated and carried the child and the other woman, the non-biological parent, held herself out as the parent to the child,…
Read MoreWhat If My Husband’s Name Is On The Ashley Madison List?
In the wake of the Ashley Madison hack, we’ve been getting a lot of inquiries about what to do with the information that your spouse may be committing adultery. McCabe RussellAt McCabe Russell, PA, we have an established reputation as assertive and confident negotiators and litigators, offering legal guidance designed to eliminate any of our…
Read MoreMutual Consent Grounds For Divorce in Maryland
Updated July 2020 As of October 2018, mutual consent has been an option for divorcing couples in Maryland. The final version of the law is slightly different from what was originally proposed in 2015. Now, parents with minor children may also file for divorce using mutual consent grounds. You can read the text in its…
Read MoreThe Supreme Court On Same-Sex Marriage: The Practical Impact of Obergefell v. Hodges
Today, making way for same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Obergefell v. Hodges. The opinion gives same-sex couples the same rights as their different-sex counterparts. The issues as framed by Justice Kennedy (writing for the majority) were (1) whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to issue marriage licenses to two…
Read MoreWhat Do You Mean You Restructure Families? I Want A Divorce.
What does it mean to restructure your family in your Maryland divorce? There is so much negative talk around divorce and separation. We’re all guilty of it. But sometimes divorce is the only option to find your way to a better life and sometimes divorce is not your choice, but a reality you must accept.…
Read MoreBut They’re Crazy! When You’re Worried About Protecting (Yourself and) The Kids
We often deal with people who are in crisis during their Maryland divorce – sometimes because they are being left, sometimes because they are dealing with a spouse or co-parent that is “crazy.” Unpacking what “crazy” means is tricky. In the throes of divorcing or of a potential custody conflict , once mild behavior can…
Read MoreCollaborative Divorce: An Option for Parents of Special Needs Children
There is a lot to be said about a collaborative divorce for any divorcing couple. But as the parent of a special needs child, I can attest that when you are facing a long road of doctor appointments and IEP meetings, you might find that the collaborative process offers you what you need. And I…
Read MoreAre Second-Parent Adoptions Still Important for Same-Sex Couples In Maryland?
In light of the ever-changing legal landscape for same-sex couples, are second-parent adoptions still important in Maryland? As of January 1, 2013, the right to marry has been extended to same-sex couples in Maryland. Pursuant to Maryland law, a child born or conceived during a marriage is presumed to be the legitimate child of both…
Read MoreWhat is Third Party Custody in Maryland?
In Maryland what is third party custody? In the most traditionally defined family arrangement, a child has a biological mother and father. But families come in all sorts of configurations and change with circumstances. When a person not outside of the traditional, legal definition seeks custody or visitation of a child – that person is…
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