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Maryland Divorce Lawyer

 Here you will find useful divorce information, articles, Maryland divorce lawyers, Maryland divorce mediation, divorce financial analysts, accountants, therapists and other divorce professionals, websites, products and services that will help you with your separation and divorce in Maryland. You will also find information on Maryland family law, how to choose a Maryland divorce lawyer, grounds for divorce, divorce statistics, custody, financial advice, legal advice, single parenting, dating and more.
 

Rockville, Maryland Divorce Law 
The Maryland family-law firm of Shah & Kishore provides the highest quality of legal services for divorcing people.

Firm: Law firm of Shah & Kishore
Rockville, MD Divorce Attorneys 
Phone: (301) 315-0001
Website: www.maryland-lawoffice.com

 

Ellicott City, Maryland Family Law
Maryland divorce attorney Jac E. Knust is devoted to your family-law needs. He is committed to using divorce mediation and collaborative law as alternative methods of dispute resolution.

Firm: Law Offices of Jac E. Knust
Ellicott City, MD Divorce Lawyer and Mediator
Phone: (410) 465-8900
Website: www.jknust.com

Consult with top divorce lawyers in Maryland. Our Experienced Maryland divorce lawyers understand complexities of the Maryland divorce laws on the issues of custody, child support, domestic violence, alimony, property distribution and pension rights. Our Maryland divorce lawyers are here to answer your questions when you need the advice.

They have been named in "Who's Who" and as Maryland's "Super Lawyers" representing the top 5% percent of lawyers in Maryland. Stuart Grozbean and Henry Weil have been interviewed and quoted in newspaper articles and on TV.  A Maryland law firm who understands Maryland divorce law

A Maryland based law firm providing legal services and litigation support for family law, divorce and separation, prenuptial agreements, mediation, child support, child custody, domestic violence
and criminal law in the state of Maryland.

Domestic relations and divorce laws are very technical areas that require special training and expertise in understanding the law. No one looks forward to separation and divorce. It is especially difficult when there are children involved. Our staff understands these emotional times and works closely with you to see that you get the best settlement or trial representation. Our lawyers care about you and your problems and work to be responsive to your legal needs. Experience counts when you need a divorce lawyer in Maryland (MD).

 

When is separation the appropriate course?

Before you think about separation, ask yourself if you've taken all reasonable steps to make the marriage or home situation better by working together. Did you try sitting down calmly with your spouse to discuss the situation? Did you try counseling, either individually or as a couple? Talking to a psychologist, social worker, pastor, or trusted family friend may provide the necessary medium for working out differences.

If you have children, consider the impact of staying (or leaving) on them. And never bring them into the fight. Always remember: Children may be resilient, but their armor is only so thick. Children know more, see more and hear more than you think. If staying together is creating an emotionally troubling situation for them, perhaps separation is the best option.

If I decide to go ahead with it, how should I go about separating from my spouse?
Make a plan, if possible. You can't just kick your spouse out of the house (unless perhaps the home is titled in your name only), and leaving the house may impact your chances for obtaining custody or protecting property interests. Consider where you're going, what possessions and vehicles you can take with you, who the children will stay with, how the children will be cared for, and how bills will be paid. If you can, discuss a separation with your spouse and agree on temporary arrangements. If possible, put any agreement in writing. A handwritten agreement signed by both parties is enforceable in court and will provide extra protection for you. If your spouse is not in agreement about a separation, consult an attorney before leaving the marital home. An attorney can assist you in planning for a separation that doesn't jeopardize your rights.

How do I provide for myself and the children during the separation?

Once separated, you can apply to the court for several types of relief. First, you may request child support if you have custody of the minor children. The question is always "how much?" Both of you are going to have to contribute. One of you probably will think they are getting too little and the other probably will think they are paying too much. Fortunately, most states have implemented child support guidelines. This mandated method of calculation takes some of the guess work out of who pays how much.

But there's more to support than a monthly check. What about education or braces or money for sports competitions? What about medical expenses or counseling?

The court can grant both temporary and permanent support. Be knowledgeable about how support is calculated; changing the amount of support is neither automatic nor easy. A modification of support in the future will require a significant change in financial circumstances. A second type of support is spousal support or family maintenance. You can request that your spouse contribute to the mortgage and household expenses. If the court has determined that you and the minor children should remain in the marital home, the court may also grant an award of support. The court will generally assess the needs of the party requesting relief and the ability of the other party to contribute.

How does a judge decide who will be awarded custody of the children?

The courts use the "best interests of the children" standard in assessing a custody situation. If the two of you can work together, then a joint or shared custody arrangement may be right for you and your children. If effective communication between yourself and your spouse is not a reality, sole custody may be the only option. Having the court decide who should have custody is the very last option. The courts also look to whether an individual's bad acts are acts that have harmed the children.

What does "custody" mean, exactly?

Custody comes in two forms: legal and physical. Legal custody is the authority to make decisions concerning the minor child(ren)'s health, education and welfare. Physical custody pertains to where the child(ren) sleeps for the majority of the time. Generally, the courts will grant legal custody to the parent having physical custody. This makes sense since the parent taking care of the child(ren) may have to make emergency decisions. Two parents may share custody or one parent may have sole custody. There are several possible combinations of custody: shared (joint) legal with sole physical; shared legal with shared physical; or sole legal with sole physical. While many parents convey their desire for shared or joint custody, the Maryland courts are not inclined to grant shared custody unless that is the established arrangement.