Having a prenuptial agreement is not unheard of. While this contract is typically present in high asset marriages, it is something that anybody can opt to have. As the name implies, it is a contract that both parties sign prior to getting married. Did you know that you can also have a similar agreement after marriage? A postnuptial agreement may be one of the most beneficial contracts you and your spouse can obtain. It may aid in securing your finances, clarify your responsibilities as part of a married couple or give you peace of mind should anything go awry. What is a postnuptial agreement ..read more

If you are a parent who has had addiction problems, it can raise serious concerns about your ability to provide a safe and stable environment for your children. Maryland courts prioritize the well-being of children in custody decisions, and evidence of substance abuse can weigh heavily in their deliberations. Courts consider substance abuse a critical factor because it can impair your judgment, reliability and ability to care for your children. If the other parent or a concerned party brings evidence of your substance abuse to the court, expect the court to investigate these claims thoroughly ..read more

Parental alienation is common in child custody cases, but only in recent years has it become something that courts see and acknowledge a lot more. What is it? Parental alienation is a form of child abuse where one parent tries to alienate their child from the other parent, often successfully, using strategies like speaking poorly of the other parent. Sometimes, the alienating parent will say that the other parent does not care about the child and make other statements that are both negative about the alienated parent and harmful to the child. Many times, a parent will do this to seek revenge a ..read more

Child custody frequently involves heated discussions in the divorce process. During their battle for custody, one parent might use the mental health status of their spouse to gain favor. If you are a parent struggling with mental illness, this situation could put you at a disadvantage. Even so, it is essential to note that mental health is not the only consideration for child custody. Winning custody might be challenging, but it is possible. How the court considers a parent’s mental illness The court puts a premium on the child’s well-being, health and safety. The judge would evaluate your men ..read more

Sadly broken marriages are all too common in Maryland. While these situations can be stressful enough for the adults involved, they can be even worse for the children. Children are sensitive to conflicts between parents. If not addressed correctly, they can have a large negative impact on their development and mental health. How parental conflict affects kids Things like separations, divorce and even simply an acrimonious relationship can have severe impacts on children. This can lead to issues like: failure in school withdrawing from friends and social activity negative changes in personality ..read more

Many Maryland residents with children are no longer with their spouses or partners and need custody to be determined. Although joint custody is often thought of as the best thing for everyone, that’s not always the case. Below are some examples of situations where you might want to rethink that option. Bouncing around is too stressful Family law judges prefer children to have time with both parents, but joint custody may not work if it creates mental health issues for the child. Bouncing around can be too stressful for some kids; this is especially true for younger children who need more stabi ..read more

A parent’s mental health is one of the factors Maryland judges will consider when deciding custody conflicts. Since custody decisions are made focusing on the child’s best interests, a parent’s mental stability can play an important role when it comes to a child’s safety. Mental illness and a parent’s ability to take care of their child When a parent struggles with a mental illness, it might make the parent incapable of properly caring for their child and can even lead to neglect or abuse. This might be exacerbated if the child’s primary caretaker is the parent with the mental illness. Because ..read more

A parent in Maryland might face parental alienation during a separation or after a divorce. Parental alienation occurs when one parent purposely tries to ruin the bond between their child and the other parent. In this situation, the alienated parent isn’t a threat to the child and hasn’t done anything to harm the child. For parental alienation to work, one parent must manipulate their child’s perception of the other parent. This is often done by constantly making negative comments to the child about the other parent. Other examples include lying about the parent to the child or limiting the pa ..read more

Divorce is a complicated process that brings out all types of emotions. Parents in Maryland who must navigate a divorce with a special needs child go through even more stress. If you are a divorced parent of a special needs child, keep these tips in mind. Additional planning According to a study, 20% of homes in the United States include a child who has special needs or chronic illness. While parenting plans are a vital component of any divorce agreement, those plans are even more important when dealing with a special needs child. Creating smooth transitions and providing exceptional care for ..read more

In Maryland, you can get divorced for almost any reason that you can imagine. However, while you can end the romantic relationship that you have with your spouse, you generally cannot terminate the relationship that you have with your child. Therefore, it’s important that you take the minor’s needs into account while going through the divorce process. Be reasonably transparent Your child will likely have questions about what is happening. Ideally, you’ll simply state that the relationship between you and the other parent isn’t working out and that it won’t have any impact on how you feel about ..read more