AA v. Ab D:  Excluding Be…

AA v. Ab D: Excluding Best Interests Evidence – Are there Limits?

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… Read More
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Demise of Contempt for Ch…

Demise of Contempt for Child Custody Orders?

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… Read More
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Maryland Third Party Cust…

Maryland Third Party Custody – What is third party custody?

Third party custody is one of the fastest developing areas of Maryland law, seeing many major changes since 2016. This series of articles explores these developments and raises questions about where this area of the law is heading. This series discus… Read More
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COVID's Impact on Familie…

COVID's Impact on Families

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… Read More
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Maryland Child Support Gu…

Maryland Child Support Guidelines Updates – Shared Physical Custody 2020

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… Read More
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Maryland Child Support Gu…

Maryland Child Support Guidelines Updates - 2020 & 2022

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… Read More
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When Parents' Constitutio…

When Parents' Constitutional Rights & Children's Best Interests Collide

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… Read More
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With a New Year Comes New…

With a New Year Comes New Parenting Court Rules - Vol. 5

Rule 9-205 Introduction The new year brings with it new and updated Rules of Civil Procedure in Maryland’s child custody cases. Starting January 1, 2020, for cases filed on or after that date and “insofar as practicable” to all cases pending th… Read More
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With a New Year Comes New…

With a New Year Comes New Parenting Court Rules - Vol. 4

Rule 9-204.2 Introduction The new year brings with it new and updated Rules of Civil Procedure in Maryland’s child custody cases. Starting January 1, 2020, for cases filed on or after that date and “insofar as practicable” to all cases pending… Read More
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With a New Year Comes New Parenting Court Rules - Vol. 3

Rule 9-204.1 Introduction The new year brings with it new and updated Rules of Civil Procedure in Maryland’s child custody cases. Starting January 1, 2020, for cases filed on or after that date and “insofar as practicable” to all cases pending… Read More
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