divorce
Tools for Documenting Text Messages for Divorce Matters
Updated 2020 We all use text messaging as an easy, instant way to communicate with each other without the hassle of dialing a phone and speaking. In 2017, for the first time, the use of mobile messaging apps hit a growth milestone of more than 76.3% of the world’s smart phone users in 2017 and…
Read MoreThe Six Most Common Reasons Couples Split Up
Nobody goes into a marriage intending to get divorced one day. We hope not, anyway. They enter into their marriage with high hopes of a “happily ever after,” or at least a nice, long life together. Most people understand that marriage takes work. If you feel like you’ve given your marriage everything you have but…
Read MoreSo You Think You’re Married? Not So Fast…
You may have heard of the Universal Life Church (ULC), the self-described online “multi-denominational religious organization” that allows members to become ordained and perform functions that ministers can, like weddings. There are other sites that offer online ordination, but ULC is the biggest and the most well-known. Many celebrities have famously used it to perform…
Read MoreMaryland is Fighting for 50/50 Parenting Rights – But Should We?
The traditional family unit – Mom, Dad, Children – has evolved over the last few decades. The laws, however, have only started to catch up. One of the changes that has developed over time is the move from the “tender years doctrine” – the idea that mothers are more natural caregivers, and therefore should be…
Read More5 Divorce Expenses You Might Not Think About
After a divorce, it can be difficult to adjust to any financial changes, especially if one income has to support two households. That’s an expected expense, but there are other costs that crop up after divorce that you may not have expected. And these may take you by surprise and add a lot of unwanted…
Read MoreHow to Deal with Divorce Stalling Tactics
How long is this divorce going to take? How much is this divorce going to cost me? These are questions that we hear from many of our new clients during the initial consultation. Even though delaying the divorce means higher fees for both parties, some spouses will do whatever is in their power to stall…
Read MoreCould Parallel Parenting Be a Solution in High-Conflict Custody Situations?
Most people are aware of how fraught with conflict custody battles can become. But over time, many of those parents can learn how to work together, and how to co-parent effectively. For other parents who are ending high-conflict relationships, there is a need for them to keep their distance from each other, but to stay…
Read More5 Tips for Adult Children Dealing with Their Parents’ Divorce
Its seems that divorce is difficult on the children regardless of their age. In the past, parents might wait to get divorced until the youngest child had graduated high school or college, or had moved out of the family home. But when it comes to the breakup of your parents’ marriage, it seems like there…
Read MoreWe’re Getting Divorced. Who Keeps the Family Business?
When going through a divorce, other than matters involving children, division of marital property can get quite contentious. The more assets a couple has, the more contentious a divorce can become. Maryland is an equitable property state, meaning that all property acquired during the marriage should be divided equally, unless a judge decides that division…
Read MoreAlimony, Child Care and Selling Your Home: How the New Tax Plan Affects Divorcing Couples
The President recently signed the new tax plan into law. Most of the news coverage has focused on state and local tax, or SALT, deductions, the new corporate tax rate, and the increase in the deficit. However, there are some specific parts of the new law that will affect couples seeking a divorce, as well…
Read MoreYes, January Really Is “Divorce Month” – and With Good Reason
There is an old joke about January being the month for couples to get divorced, but that joke has its roots in the truth. For a number of reasons, January sees an increased number of couples seeking a divorce, researching family law attorneys, and attempting trial separations, than in almost every other month. While Maryland…
Read MoreWhat Can You Do if Your Ex-Spouse Does Not Pay Child Support?
In Maryland, both parents are legally obligated to provide for their children financially. The courts are not concerned with the marital status of the parents; if you have a child, then the responsibility falls on your shoulders. There are serious consequences for parents who fail to pay court-ordered child support, and we will look at…
Read MoreThe Challenges of the High-Asset Divorce
Divorce is almost always complicated, regardless of the level of income of the parties. However, when you are dealing with significant marital assets – whether they are businesses, professional practices, domestic and international real estate investments, or other valuables – additional challenges may arise during the divorce process. Dividing retirement assets Each party’s retirement account,…
Read MoreWhat Documents Should I Bring To My First Meeting With My Divorce Lawyer? A Checklist.
You should not put a lot of pressure on yourself when you visit with your lawyer for the first time, but some documents can be helpful to your new attorney in assessing the issues in your case. Remember the military adage, “Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.” While the documents can seem personal,…
Read MoreWhat is a Scheduling Conference In A Family Law Matter? Pro Tips to Be Prepared
Every piece of paper you receive in the mail regarding your divorce can cause anxiety, but when you receive the notice of your scheduling conference, don’t fret. A scheduling conference is what it sounds like: it’s an opportunity for the court to hear what the issues are, decide how complex your case is, and schedule…
Read MoreSelling a Home During Divorce
When a divorcing couple is litigating, one of the hardest assets to deal with can be the marital home. Often the topic of what to do with the house can be both an emotional and a financial strain. Can I sell the house? Usually, both spouses are on the title to the marital home. When…
Read MoreWhen Your Children Have Fur: Who Gets The Pet in the Divorce?
More often than you think, we have clients come to us who are primarily concerned not about money or retirement or the marital home, but about what will happen to their pets (especially dogs, cats, and horses) upon their separation or divorce. The answer to this question is not usually very satisfying to our clients: …
Read MoreDoes marriage make happiness? Not necessarily.
What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he…
Read MoreWhat Should You Do If You Are Unexpectedly Served with Divorce Papers?
Getting served divorce papers can be traumatic and emotional, but it’s even worse when you weren’t expecting it. If this has happened to you, do the best you can to contain your feelings and take control of the situation with the necessary actions as soon as you are able to think clearly. Even though you…
Read MoreThere’s an App for That: Divorce and Custody Apps That Really Work
Updated 2020 Apps can be life-saving in divorce and custody cases. When you are in the throes of a divorce or a custody case, documentation can make or break your case (remember what we’ve said before about discovery). Even when you’re done with litigation, many custody situations demand sharing calendars and reconciling child-related bills. There are…
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