Laws related to divorce change more often than many people realize. Sometimes, it’s to keep up with changing attitudes, such as recognizing that women shouldn’t be presumed to have a greater parenting role after divorce or that permanent alimony shouldn’t be ordered except in specific circumstances.  Sometimes, lawmakers update these laws to simplify things for those going through divorce. That’s basically what the changes enacted to Maryland’s law last fall did. Let’s take a brief look at the changes. No more limited divorce Maryland used to have two types of divorce: limited and absolut ..read more

When you have decided to part ways with your spouse, you must work out an agreement regarding numerous settlement issues. For example, if you have children, you must craft an agreement regarding child custody issues. In a high-asset divorce, challenges may arise regarding property division proceedings. This is especially true if one of you wants to sell the marital home but the other doesn’t. You might have a legitimate reason for not wanting to sell your house when you divorce. Perhaps your children have never lived anywhere else, and you all have strong emotional ties to your home. Maybe you ..read more

Divorce is a complicated endeavor, especially when a significant amount of assets are involved. Maryland courts want to ensure a fair and equitable division of assets; however, this becomes complicated when one party isn’t forthcoming regarding their financial status. This is where a forensic accountant becomes invaluable in tilting the scales towards fairness. What is a forensic accountant? A forensic accountant is a professional who combines accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to examine the financial statements of companies or individuals. They play a crucial role in analyzing fi ..read more

In the past few decades, as courts and society as a whole have moved away from a “sole custody” default model, parallel parenting and co-parenting have emerged as two primary approaches for managing the upbringing of children.  Understanding the differences between these two approaches is important for parents whose romantic relationships are at an end. Although co-parenting is the more common approach, it isn’t right for every family. By carefully evaluating both options, parents can get a better sense of which approach may best serve their children and their families more broadly. Co-pa ..read more

The road is beckoning to you and the sun is blazing. After putting on your helmet, you ride off on your motorcycle, being careful to obey traffic laws. Maintaining safety when riding a motorcycle requires focus and awareness of other vehicles that are sharing the road with you. Despite wearing helmets and following traffic rules, a motorcycle is no match for a four-wheeled vehicle. Automobile drivers are not always mindful of motorcyclists as they share the road together. Unfortunately, the statistics show that the likelihood of dying in a motorcycle accident is 29 times higher than in a car a ..read more

The divorce process is often strenuous and complex, sometimes especially when high assets are involved. A financial advisor can play a crucial role in navigating the intricacies of a high-asset divorce, providing valuable assistance to both parties. For example, sorting through statements and other financial paperwork is a time-consuming and often overwhelming task during a divorce. A financial advisor can assist by organizing and analyzing financial documentation related to assets, income, debts and expenses. This meticulous organization can help both parties and their respective legal teams ..read more

Military families encounter many challenges as they strive to balance everyday family life with the duties of the military service member in the household. It’s a way of life that can undoubtedly cause stress and can also place a strain on the marital relationship. Many spouses decide that the strain is too great, and it would be better to file for a divorce when their marriage is beyond repair.   Couples who have at least one spouse in the military must be thorough when crafting a child custody agreement in divorce. If you’re preparing to navigate this process, you’ll want to make g ..read more

Snow, sleet and ice are a big problem for drivers – and Maryland definitely gets its fair share of all three. Every new snowstorm tends to produce a lot of car accidents. Is “bad weather” and lousy road conditions a viable defense to a car accident claim? Not at all. Here are the basics you need to know: No matter what the weather, drivers are responsible for controlling their vehicle Maryland’s laws “require that motorists drive at a reasonable and prudent speed with a regard for existing and potential hazards.” In other words, it’s every driver’s responsibility to decide when and if it is sa ..read more

Those who have higher household incomes and more assets have more to negotiate and divide when they divorce. Retirement accounts are often a point of contention in high-asset Maryland divorces.  Spouses worry about diminishing their retirement savings by splitting them. They may also worry about penalties and taxes. While people often do need to include at least some of their retirement savings in the marital estate during a divorce, they can at least eliminate taxes and penalties with special paperwork.  A QDRO helps divide retirement savings Making a withdrawal from a retirement sa ..read more

A majority of divorced parents in Maryland share custody of their children. Each parent typically has a certain percentage of parenting time, and the children move back and forth between their homes. Traditional shared custody arrangements can cause a lot of disruption and anxiety for children. Shuttling back and forth between households can create stress as they try to keep track the location of their property, like their favorite clothes. They also have to deal with tension between their parents and hours spent in transit each year. Sometimes, parents try different custody arrangements to re ..read more