The Hague Convention is a set of treaties or agreements that a number of countries, including the United States, signed and use to deal with legal issues across international borders. One aspect of the Hague Convention is about child abduction. When parents from different countries get a divorce, it can happen that one of the parents takes a child to another country without the other parent’s consent. The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction helps solve these problems. How it works The process of recovering physical custody of a child via the Hague Convention ..read more

If you run a family business, you may be concerned about its future in the event of a divorce. Will you have to close shop or let go of something you hold dear? Well, not quite. While it depends on your situation, the end of your marriage does not necessarily mean the end of your business. A family business can endure and even thrive despite the challenges of divorce, but only with careful planning and strategic action. The first thing you need to do is understand whether the family business is subject to division. Your spouse may have a stake in the family business if: They contributed direct ..read more

Court-issued custody orders are legally binding to both parents, but it does not necessarily mean your co-parent will comply with the terms. It can be rather frustrating when this happens, not to mention the disruption and emotional stress it can cause you and your child. If you find yourself in such a situation, here is what you can do to protect your parental rights and your child’s wellbeing. Document the violations Start by documenting each instance your co-parent violates the custody order. Record the dates, times and descriptions of their conduct. It also helps to preserve any related co ..read more

Unfortunately, the majority of individuals come across an aggressive driver at some point. Not only are these types of drivers a nuisance, but they are dangerous. Every year, hundreds of people are injured, and some are even killed in road rage incidents.  The trouble with road rage incidents is that they can also spill out of the vehicles, with aggressive drivers carrying out physical assaults. If you encounter an aggressive driver, how should you handle it?  No response is the best response  It can be tempting to respond to the aggressive driver, even just to suggest that they ..read more

Servicemembers and their families often move from one jurisdiction to another because of the demands of their duty. They travel to whatever base the military chooses to station someone at and often live on base. They have to work long hours when working on base and may need to keep certain matters secret from their spouses. The stress of military service can damage a marriage. A servicemember and their spouse may have to cope with lengthy separations because the servicemember leaves for long periods of time during deployment. Deployment can put a lot of strain on a marital relationship. In som ..read more

When most people divorce and are likely to pay alimony (known as spousal maintenance in Maryland) and/or child support, they recognize their responsibilities and are prepared to live up to them.  Unfortunately, some people try to hide money and even convince the court that they aren’t capable of earning the income they’re able to earn. Sometimes they intentionally minimize their income to pay less in support (or receive more). What is “imputed income?” Because some people have been known to try these tactics, when considering both kinds of payments, courts look at not just the income of b ..read more

Summer months bring a shift in routine for many families, particularly those navigating a co-parenting arrangement. This season often includes extended holidays, summer camps and family vacations, potentially making it important for co-parents to reevaluate and adjust the virtual visitation arrangements that work for them during the school year. Children’s schedules often change significantly during the summer. They may have different bedtimes, attend day or overnight camps or participate in special activities that don’t occur during the school year. Such changes can make adhering to a school ..read more

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