While not overtly a domestic violence bill, HB294 revises Public Safety Article §5-101(b-1)(2)(i) so a person, who receives a probation before judgment for second degree assault that is a “domestically related crime” (as defined in Criminal Proc… Read More

When the going gets tough for couples, there are many counseling options to explore before choosing to divorce. I discuss individual counseling in a previous post. Individual counseling often compliments couples-based counseling. Discernment counseli… Read More

The 2017 legislative session saw only one bill concerning the Mutual Consent ground for divorce. To eliminate the requirement that both parties attend the uncontested divorce hearing. The bill failed. In the 2016 session, there was a failed attempt t… Read More

A recent Washington Post piece sheds light on an overshadowed aspect of divorce – the passing of a spouse during divorce. Divorce is difficult enough; a spouse’s passing during divorce exponentially more so. Because… the surviving s… Read More

Short Answer: Apparently not. This post follows up on my previous post about Maryland’s Failure to Increase the Minimum Age to Marry. I first wondered about this when referred a case for settlement involving a married minor. Could the minor par… Read More

If the parties have co-guardianship of a minor child, do they have a “child in common” that would exclude them from being eligible for a divorce based on the ground of mutual consent? Short answer: No. Spouses, who have a signed settlemen… Read More

This Session saw an unusual blending of family/domestic violence law and estates and trust law in SB562/HB498. Specifically, this bill revises Health General Article §§5-602 and 5-605, expanding the categories of persons disqualified from serving a… Read More

The question asked in every initial consultation. And, a question clients should ask throughout the attorney-client relationship. The truthful, but dissatisfying, answer: It depends. It depends upon you, the other person, the other attorney, and the… Read More