01 October

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LEGAL SEPARATION, LIMITED DIVORCE & ABSOLUTE DIVORCE

DIVORCE LAWYER IN MARYLAND In the State of Maryland family law proceeding such as "legal separation" does not exist. Instead citizens of Maryland are offered two options: (1) limited divorce or (2) absolute divorce. Limited divorce is NOT permanent, absolute divorce IS permanent. When a couple wishes to separate but are not ready to go through a full blown divorce proceeding, limited divorce is the remedy. This proceeding is very similar to a proceeding described as "legal separation" in other states. The court will recognize the decision of the parties to maintain separate housing or residences, bank accounts, but will stop short of...

15 September

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ADULTERY & DIVORCE IN MARYLAND

Posted by Burton Firm

in Divorce

DIVORCE ATTORNEY IN MARYLAND In Maryland, adultery is considered a crime against marriage and although prosecutions are rare, it is considered a criminal offense. Adultery is defined as voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a person other than that person’s husband or wife. Due to this definition, adultery can only be committed with a member of the opposite sex. Meaning, that a married person who engages in sexual relations with a same sex partner may not be guilty of adultery and although no Maryland court has had to address this issue, if this instance occurs, he or she may be...

15 July

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MARYLAND MASTERS SYSTEM

Posted by Burton Firm

in Masters System

If you have a family law case in the state of Maryland that involves child custody, visitation, support or alimony, you will likely have to appear before a master. Masters originate from an old tradition when they were originally appointed to act as assistants to the English kings. Today, a master is a hearing officer who takes testimony and makes preliminary rulings and determination. Their recommendations are then submitted to a Judge to be approved or rejected. If neither party takes exceptions to the ruling of the master then a judge will pass an order ratifying the recommendations. Masters also hear...

01 July

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DIVORCE & THE MILITARY

Posted by Burton Firm

in Military

MARYLAND MILITARY DIVORCE ATTORNEY Divorce is always a very complicated and emotional situation for anyone who has to deal with it. When a couple decides to end their marriage and one spouse is serving in the military, divorce tends to get even more complicated. Make sure to contact an experienced attorney to help you calculate child support, determine child custody, divide retirement benefits and figure out the other complications. In regards to child support, the military has regulations establishing interim child support guidelines and each branch of the service has different child support guidelines. Courts will look at BAH, separate ration, hazard pay,...

15 June

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MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

Posted by Burton Firm

in Child Support

MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT LAWYER ABOVE GUIDELINES CASE 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. The guideline defines “actual income” to include: salaries; wages; commissions; bonuses; dividend income; pension income; interest income; trust income; annuity income; ...

01 June

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MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT FAQ’S

Posted by Burton Firm

in Child Support

MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY 1) Where should I file my complaint for 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...

15 May

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GUARDIANSHIP & CUSTODY IN MARYLAND

Posted by Burton Firm

in Guardianship

FAMILY LAW LAWYER IN MARYLAND GUARDIANSHIP A legal guardian is someone that takes over day-to-day decision making and control of the child that the natural guardian cannot. The legal guardian will make all parenting decisions including requesting and accepting medical treatment on a child’s behalf, enroll the child in public school in the guardian’s community and provide for the child’s general welfare. Keep in mind this does not include financial responsibility as this still remains with the parents but depending on the parent’s situation, guardians often provide financial support. It’s always best to consult with an experienced attorney who can help you with...

01 May

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WILLS & POWER OF ATTORNEY

Posted by Burton Firm

in Estate Planning

MARYLAND FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY Wills & Power of Attorney in Maryland Although Maryland law regards wills and powers of attorney as separate documents, both create rights and responsibilities for different parties. Both create a mechanism for one person to legally act on behalf of another and both have specific provisions under Maryland law that they must meet to be valid. A will is a legal document that describes how the person drafting the document wants to have their assets and property disposed of when he/she dies. The will appoints an executor who distributes the assets on behalf of the decedent. If someone dies...

15 April

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GRANDPARENT & 3RD PARTY CUSTODY

Posted by Burton Firm

in Child Custody

MARYLAND FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY Grandparents Visitation Rights in Maryland When courts need to make a decisions about child custody or visitation, the court balances what is best for the child with what a parent’s constitutional right is in regards to how the child should be raised. There are a variety of factors the court will look at including the role of any other party such as grandparents. Maryland law allows grandparents to ask the court for visitation rights and even custody rights. If you are trying to get visitation rights for your grandchild, make sure to contact an experienced Maryland family law...

01 April

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CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATIONS

Posted by Burton Firm

in Child Support

CHILD SUPPORT ATTORNEY IN MARYLAND Obtaining and ensuring child support payments can be tough Since 1990, Maryland has used a very particular child support calculator to determine the amount to be paid. The guideline is designed to estimate the percentage of income that parents would spend on children if the parents were living in the same household. The formula begins with each parent’s actual monthly income. If a parent is not working and has no other form of income, the court can still assign income if it finds that the parent has the ability to work. Additionally, each parent’s actual or assigned income can...

LEGAL SEPARATION, LIMITED DIVORCE & ABSOLUTE DIVORCE

ADULTERY & DIVORCE IN MARYLAND

MARYLAND MASTERS SYSTEM

DIVORCE & THE MILITARY

MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES

MARYLAND CHILD SUPPORT FAQ’S

GUARDIANSHIP & CUSTODY IN MARYLAND

WILLS & POWER OF ATTORNEY

GRANDPARENT & 3RD PARTY CUSTODY

CHILD SUPPORT CALCULATIONS

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