What 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…
Read MoreTake the Quiz: Is Your Husband Cheating?
Are you worried that your spouse is cheating? Have you ever thought considered the idea and then dismissed it? Take our quiz to see what we think based on some of the most common indicators of infidelity. And whatever our quiz says, if you’re worried, consider talking to a lawyer. Take online here :Is Your…
Read MoreMinimizing Your Attorneys’ Fees In Your Divorce
The cost of your attorneys’ fees in a divorce or family law matter can be both emotionally painful and painfully expensive. In order to maximize your money with your lawyer, here are our best tips: Be clear on your goals. At McCabe Russell, PA, our divorce intake form asks clients to identify their top…
Read MoreDivorce Without Waiting: Maryland’s Mutual Consent Grounds.
Update: July 2018 Mutual Consent Grounds For Divorce in Maryland 2018 As we were talking about all Summer, the new mutual consent grounds for divorce became effective October 1, 2015. It does NOT apply to everyone, but if you and your spouse do NOT have minor children in common (so emancipated children and step-children do…
Read MoreNew “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 More5 Ways Maryland’s Long Form Financial Statement Can Help You
Most people would rather go to the dentist than sit and go over their finances and then also must disclose those numbers to their attorneys and the opposing party. Not fun. But most of our family law clients (both in divorce and custody cases) are going to have to fill out Maryland’s Long Form Financial…
Read MoreOctober is Nearly Here: Summing Up The Upcoming New Divorce Laws
Maryland divorce laws are changing! While we’ve all busy watching the spectacle of Kim Davis in the Kentucky clerk’s office, let’s not forget what’s coming down the pike here in Maryland. As we’ve blogged elsewhere (here and here and here), there are some much anticipated changes coming for divorcees effective October 1, 2015.
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.
Read MoreCan I Get Divorced On Adultery Grounds? What If I’m In A Same-Sex Marriage?
First a primer: in Maryland, you have to have grounds in order to be divorced. Most frequently, the grounds for divorce are a 12-month separation (a no-fault ground). There are grounds which are known as “fault” grounds, too: desertion, excessively vicious conduct, etc. Included in the fault grounds is the ground of adultery. One advantage…
Read MoreLimited Divorce On Separation Grounds Will No Longer Require A Voluntariness Component
Maryland’s law on limited divorce is changing. Not so long ago, the most common grounds for absolute divorce in Maryland (one-year separation) was changed so that the separation no longer had to be “voluntary.” Unfortunately, the corresponding limited divorce ground continued to have the “voluntary” requirement, making the two statutes incongruent and maddening prospective divorcees.…
Read MoreCongratulations to Emily Russell On Her Acceptance To Leadership Howard County’s Premier Program!
Howard County Divorce Lawyer Emily Russell Has Been Accepted into Leadership Howard County’s Premier Program! Although divorce and family law are our business, it’s not all we do! Every day, we are proud to be a part of the vibrant communities we serve, including Howard County. So we are especially thrilled to announce that Emily Russell…
Read MoreBlake Shelton and Miranda Lambert Are Divorcing. Not to Fear, They Have a Prenuptial Agreement. Should You Consider One?
After four years of marriage, country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert have announced they are divorcing. But from the outside at least, the separation seems to be moving along pretty quickly. From our perspective, this must be at least thanks in part to the couple’s prenuptial agreement. So, yes, if you are contemplating…
Read MoreSometimes Your Life and Your Desk Can Be Messy: Finding Joy In the Organizing
There’s no time like a divorce to begin organizing! Ever felt like your life was out of control? Or just too messy to get what you want? Heather McCabe, one of the attorneys at McCabe Russell, is inspired both in her life and in the family law work she does every day by the “tidying…
Read More5 Steps To Take Before You Divorce
View our video on 5 steps to take before you divorce. You may also want to review our frequently asked questions about divorce, domestic violence, prenuptial agreements, child custody, and related topics about family law in Maryland.
Read MoreNew to Maryland? Residency Requirement For Divorce in Maryland Will Be Cut In Half
For as long as we can remember, Maryland divorce law has required a one year residence period by a party prior to divorce. This requirement could wreak havoc. For instance, couples who moved frequently or who moved long distances as a result of job requirements or who moved as a result of domestic abuse found…
Read MoreAfter The Supreme Court Opinion, Do My Spouse And I Still Have To Do A Second-Parent Adoption?
Are you wondering whether a second parent adoption is still necessary after the Supreme Court’s recent opinion on same-sex marriage? In short, yes it is. While Obergefell was a giant stride for same-sex folks, it is important not to conflate marriage rights with parentage rights. The same parentage issues that used to be present for…
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…
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