Category Archives: Family Law
Maryland Residence Requirements For Filing A Divorce
If you’re considering divorcing your spouse, you may wonder what the State of Maryland requires from those filing divorce petitions. Although Maryland is a no-fault divorce state, which means that you do not need to prove anyone was at fault for the breakdown of the marriage, there are still a number of legal criteria… Read More »
Is The Appreciation Of Separate Property Considered A Marital Asset?
This is one of the more complicated concepts in family law. When a married couple gets divorced in Maryland, all of their property is classified as either separate property (it belongs to one of the spouses) or marital property (it will be divided between the spouses). However, the value that certain property accrues during… Read More »
Several Compelling Reasons To Consider A Postnuptial Agreement
A postnuptial agreement is very similar to a prenuptial agreement. The only major difference is when the agreement is signed. A prenuptial agreement is signed before your marriage whereas a postnuptial agreement is signed after you are married. While preparing for divorce doesn’t necessarily seem romantic on its surface, there are several good reasons… Read More »
What Is An Order Of Default In A Maryland Divorce?
You’re trying to file for divorce, but your spouse refuses to cooperate with the process. Now what? The Maryland courts have a solution to this problem. Under Maryland law, an order of default can be issued if a spouse is properly served with a summons and complaint yet fails to respond. In such a… Read More »
What Is The “The Best Interests Of The Child” Standard In Maryland Family Law?
Courts need to use some standard for determining how child custody decisions will be made. In Maryland, as in every state across the United States, the courts use “the best interests of the child standard” to determine matters related to child custody. Such a determination is not laid out in stone and depends much… Read More »
Who Pays The Legal Fees In A Maryland Divorce?
Generally speaking, each party is responsible for paying their own legal fees in a Maryland divorce. In some cases, however, one spouse may be ordered to pay the other spouse’s legal fees by the judge. In this article, the Bel Air MD family law attorneys will unpack this question and discuss when a spouse… Read More »
What Is A Prenuptial Agreement In Maryland?
A prenuptial agreement, known colloquially as a prenup, is a legally binding contract established between two people before their marriage. In the State of Maryland, a prenuptial agreement provides both parties with protection and safeguards their rights should they decide to end their marriage. A prenuptial agreement will spell out how assets, debts, and… Read More »
Will A Foreign Divorce Be Recognized By The State Of Maryland?
Did you obtain a divorce in a foreign country and now, you’re wondering if it will be recognized in the State of Maryland? The answer is generally yes, the divorce will be recognized in the United States, so long as the divorce was obtained in a court that had the authority to grant a… Read More »
How Can I Get An Annulment In The State Of Maryland?
Divorce is when you say your marriage is over. Annulment is when you say your divorce never existed at all. The rules for granting an annulment are considerably different from the rules for getting a divorce. It’s commonly believed that a spouse may obtain an annulment if the marriage lasted for less than six… Read More »
Can I Modify A Child Custody Agreement In Maryland?
Your child custody arrangement may have made perfect sense when you originally drafted it. But circumstances changed and now you need to discuss changing the custody agreement to meet your current needs. You may have gotten a new job, been forced to move, or otherwise, the agreement no longer makes sense for your situation…. Read More »
