As lively as the 2022 Maryland General Assembly was with so many bills, few family law bills passed. Below is an update about those bills which may be relevant to your practice or impact your family. Bills in italics passed. The rest did not. May 31,…
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What is AA v. Ab D? AA v. Ab D is a 2020 Court of Special Appeals opinion involving these important concepts in child custody cases: The court’s obligation to children when deciding child custody. Children’s rights to have their best interests fu…
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November 17, 2021, and its Breona C. v. Rodney D. decision from the Court of Special Appeals, may mark the end of contempt as a meaningful tool for seeking compliance with child custody orders. The case involved a constructive civil contempt action f…
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Since writing my series on Maryland Third Party Custody, and in particular in Consent, De Facto Parents & Multi-Parent Families, a major development occurred in July 2021. The Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest Court, issued EN v. TR, reviewi…
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If you’re wondering why there’s no discussion of COVID on my site, that’s because what I’ve written on this topic appears on my firm’s – Joseph, Greenwald & Laake’s – website. Well, look no further… Here’s a quick index so…
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UPDATE: During the 2021 Session, the Maryland General Assembly changed the effective date of this law change from October 1, 2021 (as originally passed in the 2020 Session) to July 1, 2022. 2022 will see 5 major changes to the child support guideline…
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UPDATE: During the 2021 Session, the Maryland General Assembly changed the effective date of this law change from October 1, 2021 (as originally passed in the 2020 Session) to July 1, 2022. 2022 will see 5 major changes to the child support guideline…
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For child support purposes, “shared physical custody” is the minimum number of overnights a parent must have in order for the number of overnights to be included in the child support guidelines calculation. Shared physical custody child support i…
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UPDATE: During the 2021 Session, the Maryland General Assembly changed the effective date of this law change from October 1, 2021 (as originally passed in the 2020 Session) to July 1, 2022. The 2020 Session of the Maryland General Assembly saw severa…
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How are parents’ constitutionally protected beliefs and behaviors weighed against children’s best interests in child custody decisions? The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States’ Constitution protects against the state’s t…
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For even the most amicable of ex-spouses-to-be, undoing “I do” is undoubtedly an emotionally complex process. But when a spouse cheats, walks out, or is cruel, you’re left holding a bag of feelings that are even more complex. People in situatio… Read More
If you’re facing an alimony issue or child support matter, you may be wondering what your options are if your spouse or the other parent is alleging income that doesn’t seem to add up to what they used to earn or could be earning. Importantly, co… Read More
In a Maryland divorce, assets are classified as either marital property, non-marital property, or partly both, if each part can be identified. Only marital property is subject to division in divorce. Read More
How to Make Confident Legal Decisions When Emotions Run High in Divorce Divorce often comes with a flood of emotions, and those feelings can easily cloud judgment when you have to make legal decisions. When the path ahead feels uncertain, knowing how… Read More