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Child custody disputes are arguably among the most emotionally charged issues a couple will face during a divorce proceeding. In many cases, both spouses approach the issue of child custody with the hope of spending as much time with their child as possible after the divorce. And while the typical scenario involves two parents who certainly want what is best for their children, they often end up in heated arguments over just what that means. Parenting arrangements can take various forms, and what works for one family may be something very different from what works for another. If you are considering divorce or separation, you are encouraged to seek the assistance of an experienced Maryland divorce attorney who will work to preserve and protect your rights in the proceedings.

Under a sole custody arrangement, the child lives primarily with one parent, whereas in a joint custody or shared parenting situation, the parents each spend 50% of the time with their child. While child custody arrangements do run the gamut in terms of sole custody versus shared or joint custody, there has been some news coverage of late that strongly suggests that joint custody should be the rule, not the exception in most cases. One article points to the results of decades of child development research as the impetus for encouraging, if not mandating, shared parenting or joint custody. In this situation, each spouse would spend 50% of the time with the child.

Additional information further supports this proposition. For example, entities such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Justice, point out alarming statistics related to children raised by single parents. According to the data, children brought up by a single parent account for 71% of high school dropouts, 85% of children who exhibit behavioral disorders, and 85% of those in prison, among other tragic statistics. Continue reading

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Divorce affects each family in a unique way. In most cases, however, the parties will have to address and resolve many emotional and financial matters. Some of the more significant financial issues concern child support, spousal support, and the division of marital property. Depending on the circumstances, one party may be entitled to spousal support (also known as “alimony”) from the other. Couples contemplating divorce are encouraged to consult with an experienced family law attorney early in the proceedings in order to ensure that their financial rights are protected. Since divorce is regulated by each state individually, it is important to contact a Maryland lawyer who is fully familiar with the local laws and procedures in this state.

Spouses have the ability to craft their own settlement agreement, which may contain provisions concerning alimony, including the amount, duration, and other limitations. In a recent Maryland case, the parties were married in 1966 and were granted an absolute divorce in 1985. In 1998, they signed an amendment to their voluntary separation and property settlement agreement that was incorporated into the divorce decree. The amendment provided, in pertinent part, that the husband would pay spousal support to the wife in the amount of $26,800 per year, in monthly installments, for as long as the parties live separate and apart, and until either the wife remarries or either party dies.

The clause further provided that it is not subject to modification by any court, with limited, identified exceptions. Finally, the provision included a waiver of the parties’ rights to have any court change or create a different provision for the wife’s support and maintenance. Despite this agreed-upon language, the husband sought to terminate alimony in order to avoid a “harsh and inequitable result,” alleging that he had become permanently disabled and cannot work and earn an income. The wife filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that he had waived his right to petition the court to modify spousal support and maintenance. Continue reading

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In any divorce matter, it is important for each spouse to consult with his or her own attorney, who will seek to protect that person’s separate rights going forward. One of the most important documents that divorcing spouses often agree to is a marital settlement agreement or “MSA.” In many cases, the MSA will purport to resolve any number of issues, such as property division, alimony, child support, custody, and other matters. That agreement can be made part of the ultimate divorce judgment, depending on the circumstances and the parties’ wishes. At each step in the proceedings, there are many decisions to be made that could affect the outcome of a case. For this reason, parties are encouraged to secure their own family law attorney, who is experienced handling such cases in the state of Maryland.

In a recent case, the husband and wife had hired an attorney to handle an immigration matter. Some time later, the couple decided to divorce. They discussed separation and agreed to a variety of terms to be incorporated in a marital settlement agreement. In 2005, the wife asked that same attorney to handle memorializing the terms related to the division of marital property. The attorney drafted the document, the husband provided some revisions, and the parties signed the agreement on October 18, 2005. The document contained a clause titled “Independent Counsel,” wherein the husband acknowledged that he signed the agreement without his own attorney, freely and voluntarily.

Despite signing the agreement, the couple did not separate at that time. In 2007, the wife discovered that the husband was having a second extramarital affair, and they decided to prepare another settlement agreement to address issues not covered by the 2005 agreement. Based on their discussions, the wife asked the same attorney to draft another document. The husband was involved in reviewing the document and making certain changes. In 2008, the parties executed the final MSA, which also included an independent counsel provision. In 2009, the husband filed for divorce and simultaneously tried to allege that the 2005 and 2008 agreements were void and unenforceable and should be set aside. He claimed that they were entered into when the parties were still in a confidential relationship with the attorney who handled the previous immigration matter. Continue reading

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As many people know, divorce can be difficult. There are serious practical, emotional and financial issues for the parties to identify, weigh, and hopefully resolve as amicably and quickly as possible. Since each family is unique, with its own set of personal facts and circumstances, there is no one simple solution for dissolution of marriage. The important thing to know, however, is that an experienced Maryland family law attorney can help to move your case along smoothly and efficiently, with the goal of protecting your interests and rights every step of the way.

When a divorcing couple has children, it can make the matter even more complicated. Issues such as child custody, visitation, and support have the potential to elicit strong disagreements between the spouses. In a recent Maryland court of special appeals case, the couple divorced in 2001, and the court granted the parties joint legal custody of their two sons but awarded the father sole physical custody. Child support was not given to either party. From 2002 until 2010, the mother lived in the state of Washington. During that time, one of their sons was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and other medical issues. The boys had limited contact with their mother while she was in Washington. In 2012, the husband filed a motion for child support. He also asked the court: 1) to find that the son with autism was a “destitute adult child,” and 2) to order the mother to pay for medical expenses and for his attorney’s fees.

The wife opposed the motion and sought custody of one of their sons. The circuit court denied the motion to change custody, determined that the child was a destitute adult child, and ordered the wife to pay $850 per month in child support for both children, as well as the husband’s attorney’s fees. The wife appealed, arguing (among other things) that there was no analysis regarding the child’s total reasonable living expenses, and therefore child support should have been denied. She did not raise a question as to whether or not the court’s determination of child support was accurate. The court of appeals affirmed the decision in its entirety. Regarding the child support award, the court pointed to Maryland law, which makes it a misdemeanor for a parent with sufficient means not to provide support to his or her destitute adult child. Once a child has been determined to be so, the state child support guidelines under Family Law Section 12-204 apply to ascertain a parent’s support obligations. Here, the court found that the child was properly adjudicated a destitute adult child. Continue reading

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By its very nature, divorce divides a couple. Throughout the proceedings, spouses are expected to address and resolve many emotionally charged issues, such as child custody, visitation, division of property, spousal support, and many other significant matters. While many divorce cases are fraught with contentious conduct on behalf of one or both spouses, there are ways to approach a case with an eye toward moving the process along efficiently and amicably, while protecting one’s interests. One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is to consult with an experienced Maryland family law attorney, whose primary purpose is to resolve your divorce case as smoothly as possible, while aggressively protecting your interests.

In a recent case, described by the court as “particularly acrimonious,” the father attempted to modify an existing child custody order and objected to the “best interest attorney” or “BIA” whom the court appointed to represent his children in the proceeding. Here, the parties first separated and then ultimately divorced in February 2012. The divorce judgment incorporated prior written agreements, including a “parenting agreement” that granted the mother sole legal and primary physical custody of the children. The father was granted visitation rights. With respect to the children and their interaction with one another, the court pointed out that before and immediately after the divorce neither party behaved “admirably.” The husband claimed that the wife obstructed his visitation rights.

In July 2012, the husband sought a modification of the custody order, requesting sole custody of the children. He also began to withhold his alimony and child support payments and instead to apply them to the mortgage payments on the family residence. The wife sought to hold him in contempt for redirecting the payments and further asked the court to appoint a BIA to represent their children. The state of Maryland provides guidelines for court-appointed lawyers who represent children in child custody matters. Ultimately, the BIA recommended that the father’s custody petition be dismissed. The father sought to disqualify the children’s BIA and then changed his custody request, asking instead for sole legal custody while his wife retains physical custody. Continue reading

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One of the most significant financial aspects of a divorce is the division of marital property. Under Maryland law, courts have the authority to identify marital property, assess its value, transfer ownership between the parties, and issue a monetary award in order to even out the rights of the parties. Depending on the case and the nature of the relationship between the spouses, the couple may be able to enter into an agreement specifying the allocation of property, instead of relying on the court to do so. In any case, because this part of the divorce proceeding can significantly affect the parties’ lifestyle going forward, it is important to consult with an experienced Maryland attorney as early in the process as possible.

One of the items subject to property division in divorce is a spouse’s interest in retirement plan benefits earned during the marriage. In a recent divorce case, the couple entered into a property settlement agreement that included a clause allocating future benefits from the retirement plan sponsored by the husband’s employer. The agreement incorrectly implied that the plan was governed by federal law (ERISA), even though it was exempt from that law, and further stated that the divorce judgment would serve as a QDRO (a Qualified Domestic Relations Order). Neither party took any steps to obtain a QDRO for submission to the pension plan.

The husband remarried and designated his new wife as the beneficiary under the retirement plan. Upon the husband’s death, a dispute arose between the former wife and the second wife as to the entitlement of the retirement benefits. In accordance with the property settlement agreement, the former wife applied to the pension plan for a portion of the benefits that accrued during the marriage. The pension plan rejected her request, arguing that it never received a QDRO indicating that the ex-wife was a beneficiary of the husband’s death benefits. Next, she filed a complaint against the current wife, alleging that she had been unjustly enriched by receiving all of the pension and death benefits. Furthermore, she requested the imposition of a constructive trust on the portion of the pension and death benefits that the second wife received. Continue reading

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Recently a potential client came to our office to discuss his options for seeking a divorce.  In Maryland, there are several grounds for an absolute divorce including a one (1) year separation, desertion (actual and construction), insanity, conviction of a crime, cruelty of treatment / excessively vicious conduct, and adultery.  During the consultation, our family law attorney obtained information about the marriage, the reason for separation, the length of separation, etc. to determine what ground(s) may be applicable in this case.

Unfortunately, the potential client was not yet eligible to file a Complaint for Absolute Divorce because the applicable grounds in his case all required that he and his wife be separated for at least twelve (12) months prior to filing the Complaint.  However, just because he couldn’t file his Complaint yet didn’t mean our family law attorneys weren’t able to start helping him with his case immediately.  Our attorneys suggested entering in to negotiations to try and reach a type of agreement called a Voluntary Separation and Property Settlement.

A Voluntary Separation and Property Settlement Agreement can be a global agreement, which means the agreement resolves all outstanding issues related to the Parties divorce.  Or, it can only resolve some issues leaving the remaining contested issues for the Court to decide – this is called a partial agreements.  Issues that are commonly covered by a Voluntary Separation and Property Settlement Agreement include the grounds for divorce, alimony / spousal support, custody, child support, and division of marital property.

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When a couple decides to divorce, there are many important issues to address and resolve before the parties can move forward with their respective lives. Many of these matters involve important financial considerations, such as the amount and duration of alimony payments. Fortunately, Maryland law provides some guidance for courts to use when determining the question of alimony. But each divorce case presents a unique set of facts that tend to influence whether and to what extent a court will order alimony to one spouse or the other. If you are considering a divorce, it is important to protect your financial interests at the earliest stage in the process, and consult with an experienced family law attorney who is familiar with the laws affecting Maryland families.

In a recent divorce case, the court of appeals addressed many issues raised separately by both spouses. One of the items on appeal concerned the amount of alimony awarded to the wife. Here, the parties graduated from Yale Law School in the early 1980s. They each had jobs at prestigious law firms and got married in 1989. The wife became pregnant in 1990 and stopped working to take care of their twin boys. When she stopped working, her annual salary was $120,000. They had a third child in 1994. The husband continued to work and was earning over $800,000 per year by 2010. The family lived an affluent lifestyle. In 2010, however, the couple separated, and both parties filed for divorce.

After a five-day trial, the court issued multiple awards, one pertaining to alimony. After reviewing the evidence, the court found that the wife’s earning capacity was based on her salary from over 20 years earlier and that the husband failed to produce evidence to support his claim that the wife could earn between $30,000 and $40,000 per year. Further, the trial court determined that the wife’s monthly, unearned income was $5,813, and her expenses totaled $15,812, leaving her with a significant deficit. The court ultimately awarded the wife $14,191 in monthly alimony payments. The husband appealed the award, arguing, among other things, that the trial court erred when it failed to impute any earned income to the wife. Continue reading

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When a married couple has a baby in Maryland, each person in the couple is automatically viewed as being the legal parents of the baby. They automatically have the rights and obligations of parenthood. However, when a couple is not married, only the mother is automatically recognized as a parent with the attendant responsibilities and rights. Further action needs to be taken to establish paternity.

Establishing paternity is an important step to claiming the rights and responsibilities of fatherhood in Maryland. The court will not order custody, visitation, or child support unless paternity is established either because the father admits paternity or someone else proves he is the father. There are four ways to establish paternity. In addition to being married before the child’s birth, a couple can establish paternity by having the father and mother marry after the baby is born with the father verbally acknowledging the baby is his, the parents signing an Affidavit of Parentage and having the father’s name added to the birth certificate, or bringing a lawsuit to establish paternity.

Going to court is the most difficult of these options. However, you should not sign an affidavit if you are an alleged father with doubts about paternity. The affidavit is legally binding. By signing the affidavit, the father gets the right to go to court and ask for custody or visitation. Continue reading

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Calculation of pension division can be challenging. Typically a formula called “the Bangs formula” is used, but application of the formula can be complicated. In a 2010 case, a husband and wife divorced and reached a settlement agreement about all child custody, child support, and property division issues. The agreement was incorporated into the judgment of absolute divorce. The wife appealed with regard to the post-judgment entry of orders related to domestic relations and the husband’s pension. She claimed that her share of the pension was miscalculated.

The couple had married in 2000 and had a child two years later. They divorced after seven years. Before they married, the husband was in the Maryland National Guard, and he was serving on reserve status when they married. During the marriage, he worked as a paramedic for a city and had to contribute 6% of his salary to the Fire & Police Employees’ Retirement System. Later he became full-time in the army and served full time from then on, although he was on a paid military leave of absence at the time of the appeal. Meanwhile, the wife was a pharmacist employed by CVS.

The husband filed for divorce, and the wife filed a counter-complaint in 2006. During a merits hearing, the parties entered into an agreement. The parties agreed that the wife had an “if-as-when interest” in half of the marital share of the fire department benefits and the military pension. The court advised that the pension rights were set based on the number of months of the marriage, so as the pension rights increased, the wife’s share would not necessarily increase. The husband expressed he understood. Divorce was granted, and qualified domestic relation orders were supposed to be submitted. However, the parties could not reach agreement about the terms of the orders for the city pension and military pension. The wife filed a motion with regard to these orders, and the husband filed oppositions. Continue reading

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