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CHILD CUSTODY & VISITATION

Under Maryland law, both the father and mother are equally presumed to be the natural parent of their children, unlike some states that may give favor to the mother from the get-go. Custody and visitation rights are strictly granted specifically considering the best interest of the child or children. Other family members may seek custody of the children, but the favoritism is given to the natural mother and father. If you need assistance with determining visitation, make sure you speak to a Maryland child custody attorney. Custody and visitation arrangements are never permanent; either parent may request a reassessment of the...

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MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

When dealing with child support, the state of Maryland adopted a guideline measured by the income of the parties involved. The new Maryland law tops off at a combined adjusted annual income of $180,000 per annum or $15,000 per month. Keep in mind, child support will increase depending on the number of children involved. However, just with the old guidelines, the court will have discretion in setting the support level for the parties and individuals....

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FAMILY LAW MEDIATION

Mediation is a process in which the parties appear before an impartial third party who does not have authority to adjudicate (make a formal decision) the dispute; however, by applying mediation techniques generally accepted within the professional mediation community, assists the parties by identifying the issues and interests of both parties, exploring settlement alternatives, and fashioning the basis of an agreement....

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HOW & WHY TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY

Paternity is defined by Webster’s dictionary as “the state of being someone’s father”. This seems simple enough, but what does father really mean? Does father represent the individual who’s genetic material was used during conception? Does it represent the man that was married to the mother of the child at the time – what if they aren’t one in the same? What happens if the couple wasn’t married and they weren’t sexually exclusive? As the questions above cause confusion with many individuals, you may now understand why the concept of paternity can be so difficult to understand. Fortunately, the reasons to...

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QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATION ORDERS (QDROs)

During divorce, assets, properties and debts are divided between the two parties. It can be quite complicated to separate two lives that have been entangled for multiple years, even more so for relationships that lasted decades. Besides physical property and basic finances, many assets may be on the table for sharing or forfeiting when spouses divorce. Additional assets that may be involved in a divorce is a pension or retirement plan. The state of Maryland permits retirement assets to be transferred from one spouse to another during divorce which a Maryland family law attorney can explain more depending on your...

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HEALTH CARE COSTS IN DIVORCE

Settling a divorce can not only be complicated, but extremely stressful as well. On top of all the emotions you could be experiencing, there are many legal decisions in the mix of things you have to worry about that can affect your life forever. One of these complications is health insurance. In fact, many couples stay married just because of health insurance benefits. It could be a very stressful time if you’re on your spouse’s insurance plan and slowly start losing coverage because of a divorce, especially if you are battling an illness or chronic condition. Having a Maryland divorce...

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GRANDPARENT & 3RD PARTY CUSTODY & ACCESS

Maryland laws do not give preference to grandparents over other third parties such as aunts, uncles, or close family friends. There is no legal authority that entitles grandparents custody or visitation rights in the state of Maryland. The law imposes a high burden to meet in order for grandparents to obtain custody or visitation. However, grandparents do have the right to petition for reasonable access and an attorney is the best person to help....

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GETTING DIVORCED IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND

Divorce is the legal end to a marriage as ordered by a court. If you are considering getting divorced, contact a Maryland divorce attorney at our office for consultation about your specific legal issues. In the state of Maryland, a petitioner may ask for two types of divorce: absolute and limited. The most common type of divorce completed in the state is absolute....

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MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT

In the State of Maryland, you should file your complaint for child support in the county that is the domicile of the child. A child’s domicile is the place where the child has his or her true, fixed and permanent home. In Maryland, the equity court has continuing jurisdiction over the support of the child. It is not required for the parties to be married for the court to grant child support payments. Furthermore, support can be sought not only by the birth parent, if he or she has legal custody, but also by the guardian of the child....

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