"Cost-Effective Child Custody Litigation is an invaluable guide for family law attorneys looking for cost saving tips to help advocate for clients.” At least that’s what our publisher says. In March of 2020, my co-author, Samuel Thomas, emailed me asking if I would be interested in authoring this book with him. We were the co-chairs of the Modest Means Committee of the American Bar Association Family Law Section then. Sam is a family law attorney in Athens, GA and at that time, a brand-new dad, with a lot on his plate. I, on the other hand, just came into loads of free time thanks to COVID and ..read more

Congratulations, Counselor. You got your client divorced. The Judgment of Absolute Divorce is signed and the Marital Settlement Agreement is incorporated and approved. However, the Appellate Court of Maryland reported decision issued on February 28, 2024, In the Matter of Brenda Batchelor, serves as a reminder that your advice does not stop there. It is important to remind clients that they should ensure that their financial self-protection is in good order. Reminding clients that, once their divorce is final, they should follow the settlement agreement as it pertains to their retirement asse ..read more

When you are faced with the decision to end your marriage (or if you feel as though the decision is being made for you) these three terms are often thrown around and are sometimes used interchangeably. What is the difference between divorce, legal separation, and annulment, and what options are available to you in Maryland? Divorce The only process to undo a legal marriage in Maryland is divorce. Generally speaking, when a married couple is looking to end their marriage, they will have to divide the marital property that was acquired during the marriage. A married couple will also need “ground ..read more

Beginning in July 2023, recreational marijuana became legal in Maryland, and one question attorneys and parents have had has been what effect, if any, does legalization of marijuana have on custody determinations?  In November 2023, law clerk Bryanne Flannery attended the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Hot Tips in Family Law Seminar, wherein she learned about the new legal recreational cannabis laws and what they mean for child custody cases.  In the seminar, “What Legalized Cannabis Could Mean for Your Maryland Child Custody Case,” attendees heard from Dr. Alexander Dix, Pha ..read more

[Towson, MD - January 2, 2024] - Wasserman Family Law LLC, a leading family law firm headquartered in Towson, Maryland, is pleased to announce the addition of attorneys Susan Carol Elgin and Thomas C. Ries. As of January 1, 2024, Susan and Tom are Of Counsel for Wasserman Family Law. As Of Counsel, they will continue to practice family law. Susan Carol Elgin and Tom Ries joined Wasserman Family Law from their family law firm, Kaufman, Ries & Elgin, P.A. Founded in 1996, their firm has been widely recognized as one of the top Family Law firms in the state of Maryland. Susan and Tom have jo ..read more

While there is arguably no perfect time for a divorce, going through a divorce, separation, or being in the middle of a custody case during the holidays can make an already stressful season feel even more intolerable. Divorce is never easy. Even the most amicable separation often comes with emotional and legal baggage. If you are in the middle of a family law dispute during the holiday season, here are some practical tips to help make the holiday season a little easier. 1. Plan Ahead Chances are, if you are in the middle of a divorce or separation, the way you celebrate holidays will feel a li ..read more

As a family law attorney, I have an interesting perspective on gifts for people in your life who are going through a divorce, separation, or involved in a custody dispute. For Children Here are five gift ideas for children whose parents are going through a separation. 1. Friendship Lamp Purchase on FriendshipLamps.com The Friendship Lamp is a set of two lamps, one at each person’s house, and when one person taps their lamp, the other person’s lamp lights up. This is a great way to let your child know you are thinking about them, and also a great way for your child to let you know they are thi ..read more

Effective October 1, 2023, Maryland has new laws related to child abduction prevention. The law is called the Maryland Child Abduction Prevention Act, and the purpose of the Maryland Child Abduction Prevention Act is to prevent child abduction. What is “abduction”? While although many people assume “abduction” means crossing state lines, or taking a child to a different country, “abduction” under the new laws is broadly defined as “the wrongful removal or retention of a child.” Thus, there is no geographical requirement for the removal to be considered “abduction.” The purpose of the Maryland ..read more

In August 2023, divorce rumors started swirling around the Jonas Brothers singer, Joe Jonas, 34, and Game of Thrones actress, Sophie Turner, 27. The parties were married in a surprise ceremony in Las Vegas in 2019, then welcomed their first daughter into the world in July 2020. Two years later, the couple announced the birth of their second daughter in July 2022. After four years of marriage, the boy band singer filed for divorce. According to the petition for dissolution of marriage that Jonas filed on September 5, 2023, in Miami Dade County, Florida, the couple’s marriage was “irretrievably ..read more

With the announcement of the new Maryland divorce laws set to take effect on October 1, 2023, many attorneys around the state are wondering how the new laws are going to play out in practice. As attorneys, we will be the ones advising clients on the new laws, however, because they have not gone into effect yet, there are many questions that cannot be answered until the new cases start working their way through the courts. Here are some of the top questions the attorneys here at Wasserman Family Law are looking forward to answering in the next few months: What exactly is “Irreconcilable Diffe ..read more