Blog

Stepparent adoptions in Maryland occur frequently in “blended families.”  The term “blended family” means a marriage after a divorce or other relationship that produces a child.   The non-biological parent, or stepparent, adopts a spouse’s child from the previous relationship.  In a stepparent adoption, the stepparent assumes both legal and financial responsibility for a spouse’s children. […]

When people go through a divorce, often the last thing they want to think about is remarriage.  Bringing up the topic with a recently divorced friend may result in a laugh or the use of some strong language.It is understandable some are reluctant to consider remarriage.  However, a first divorce does not predict a divorce […]

When considering division of property, courts in Maryland apply a “fair and equitable” standard.  In general, this excludes consideration of which party caused the divorce.  Rather, courts consider the economic circumstances of each party at the time of the divorce. How does a court determine what is “fair and equitable”? A divorcing spouse who has […]

A majority of married adults believe sharing responsibility for household chores is important.  However, according to a report published by the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape, couples with children perceive who actually does more of the chores differently. The Importance of Sharing Chores That report found that 56% of married adults describe sharing household chores as “very […]

Child custody, child support and establishing parenting time are frequently complicated and contentious when married parents go through a divorce.  When parents are not married, those issues surrounding parental rights often become even more problematic.  If the parents are not married, custody of the child is awarded to the mother immediately.  However, a father has […]

Divorce is rarely easy, but preparing for divorce can make the process easier.  Steps can be taken prior to your divorce proceedings to help make the process as smooth as possible.  You will not be able to predict every possible twist in your divorce, but there are some things that can be done in every […]

Divorced or separated parents may live far away from each other.  One parent may also relocate a long distance away after a divorce.  An appropriate long-distance parenting plan allows children and the distant parent to maintain regular contact.  Creating a long-distance parenting plan requires careful planning and it must account for the unique situation of […]

Even if a marriage ultimately ends in divorce, there may be advantages to long term separation.  Long term separation also comes with disadvantages.  Parties must understand both when considering long term separation and other options. Insurance and Health Care Coverage Usually, if the parties remain married, both parties will keep insurance and health care coverage […]

General Authority As a starting point, the state of Maryland coordinates a statewide program for enforcing child support orders.  Maryland law calls for a central registry of records, which documents absent parents.  Additionally, Maryland law calls for the location of absent parents.  Once located, Maryland determines the ability of the parent to pay child support as ordered. […]

In divorce proceedings, parties frequently agree to parenting time. Sometimes, however, a judge makes the decision about the division of parenting responsibilities.  These decisions, whether made by the parties or the court, are made with the best interests of the children in mind.  Of course, the circumstances of each parent are also taken into consideration.  […]