How Mental Health Issues Can Affect Child Custody
It can be difficult to talk about, but needs to be acknowledged – mental illness affects every aspect of a person’s life, as well as the lives around them. Sometimes mental illness can have serious or devastating effects on a marriage or relationship. Often this can lead to issues with divorce or child custody. When…
Read MoreRuling: Michigan Will No Longer Fund Adoption Agencies That Refuse Gay Parents
Recent legal news out of Michigan shows a win for prospective adoptive parents – adoption agencies that receive state and taxpayer funding are no longer legally allowed to turn away same-sex couples or LGBTQ parents based on religious objections. Although this type of discrimination is illegal here in Maryland, it continues to be an issue…
Read MoreAvoiding the Debt and Divorce Trap
We all know that debt can be a big stressor in our lives – whether we’re married or single. But financial issues can play a huge part in why couples divorce. We even wrote about it in a recent blog. However, this doesn’t mean that if you or your spouse brought debt into the relationship…
Read MoreHow Can I Make Sure the Divorce Decree is Enforced?
After having spent a considerable amount of time, money and emotional energy to come up with a Marital Settlement Agreement, or a divorce decree issued by a judge outlining the terms of the divorce, it can be frustrating when the other party is not abiding by the agreement. Whether the behavior in question occurs right…
Read MoreMy Business Partner Is Getting Divorced – Is My Business Safe?
There are many legalities surrounding owning your own business, especially when you have a business partner. Your business agreement likely covers many things, including all sorts of contingencies. However, for many businesspeople, unless their business partner is their actual spouse, when putting together a partnership contract, divorce may be the last thing on their minds.…
Read MoreHow to Divorce an Absent Spouse in Maryland
If you wish to get divorced, but are unable to find your spouse, can you still move forward? In Maryland, you absolutely can. The law allows you to request an Order of Default for a divorce, if you have made a good faith effort to locate and serve your spouse with the complaint. You must…
Read MoreA Parenting Plan Checklist
When and your spouse are going through a divorce, taking care of every detail is important. Even if your divorce from your spouse is amicable – and congratulations on that – it’s still prudent to ensure you get everything done legally and formally for the safety of your children. Matters of child custody can get…
Read MoreMy Divorce Has Been Contentious. What Will Court Be Like?
Some divorces are difficult, and no matter how hard you and your soon-to-be ex try to work together, it’s just not going to happen. You’re unable to agree on important issues like child custody, alimony, child support, and property division. Facing a contentious divorce can be overwhelming and even intimidating – especially if you don’t…
Read MoreKeeping Domestic Violence Victims Safe: Are the Courts Doing Enough?
The Maryland nonprofit group Court Watch Montgomery works to ensure victims of domestic violence are provided with proper access to justice, programs, and resources. Volunteers from the organization gather data from thousands of protective order hearings each year, and release a report with their findings. Court Watch’s latest report found that District Court judges in…
Read MoreQuestion of the Day: Can My Ex and I Use the Same Divorce Lawyer?
Let’s face it – getting divorced can be expensive. It might be tempting, and practical, to think about using the same attorney for your Maryland divorce. However, although this might seem good in theory, it is not a good idea in practice – nor is it technically allowed. In short, no – you and your…
Read MoreWhen Would A Child Need A Best Interest Attorney?
Family law issues, especially divorce, can be emotionally and psychologically difficult, especially with children involved. When spouses are going through a split that may be particularly contentious and can’t come to agreement over decisions regarding their child, sometimes a best interest attorney is a fair alternative. If, during a divorce, there are issues around child…
Read MoreMaryland’s New “Red Flag” Gun Safety Law
On October 1, 2018, a new law regarding gun safety went into effect here in Maryland. Building on existing domestic violence laws but called extreme risk protective orders (ERPOs), it aims to temporarily prohibit people’s access to firearms when it’s determined they’re a danger to others or themselves. Many other states have enacted similar laws,…
Read MoreWelcome, Tracey L. Perrick, to McCabe Russell, PA
McCabe Russell, PA is excited to welcome Tracey L. Perrick to our team! After working for some of the most prestigious family law firms in Maryland, she joins us in the role of Senior Counsel. Here, Tracey will put her years of experience in litigation, mediation, and negotiation to work on behalf of our clients.…
Read MoreCongratulations to the Attorneys of McCabe Russell on Their 2019 Super Lawyers Selections!
McCabe Russell, PA is proud to announce that four attorneys from our firm have been selected for the 2019 Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for their work in Family Law! Emily Russell. Partner and firm co-founder Emily Russell has been selected for Rising Stars for the third consecutive year. She is also a Super…
Read MoreLying Spouses in Divorce: What to Do When a Spouse Commits Perjury
Lies are often an unfortunate reality of divorce. While divorce is the breaking of a contract that was intended to be lifelong, it often turns into an emotional battle because of the critical issues at stake such as spousal and child support, child custody and the division of assets. What was shared as a couple…
Read MoreHow Does Divorce Affect Kids?
As traumatic as divorce is for the couple experiencing it, their children will also experience varying degrees of upset and trauma which depends on the structure of the family before the divorce, and the age of the child. Younger children will react in different ways than their older siblings who have a greater understanding of…
Read MoreDivorce When “Denial” Isn’t Just a River in Egypt
Divorce denial is a real phenomenon that can occur in divorces, where one partner springs the desire to get a divorce on the other. Divorce can be an emotionally devastating experience for those who are not initiating it, or who still wish to hold on to the relationship and try to make it work. Depending…
Read MoreWhat is Second Parent Adoption?
Second parent adoption is when one partner legally adopts the other partner’s child, giving them both equal and legal parental rights. People typically choose second parent adoption when they are unmarried or if they’re a same-sex couple who wants to ensure their parental rights stay protected. Families may benefit from having an attorney complete a…
Read MoreSupervised Visitation in Maryland
During a divorce or child custody dispute, the court typically makes the ruling regarding parents’ access to the child or children. The judge may grant the non-custodial parent unsupervised quality time or overnight visitation with the children. However, there are instances where the court may decide that this unsupervised access with minor children is not…
Read MoreShould I Change My Last Name After My Divorce?
During or after a divorce, one of the many decisions you’ll have to make is whether or not to keep your married name. This decision can carry both practical and emotional consequences, and there are no right or wrong answers. The decision is personal and specific to every person. However, if you are considering whether…
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