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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While not obviously a domestic violence law, Amber’s Law (HB1163) implements procedures enabling a victim to request reasonable safety protections for herself and her family upon finding of probable cause and before the arrest warrant issues. T…
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The 2017 Maryland legislative session saw an attempt to add Best Interest (“BIA”) and Child Advocate Attorneys (“CAA”) to the categories of domestic violence petitioners. Specifically, the proposed bill would have allowed BIAs…
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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…
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In two prior posts, I discussed court and private custody evaluations. But a few of the other types of evaluations in contested custody cases are: Psychological Evaluations: A psychological evaluation provides a psychological profile of a parent, bas…
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The 2017 legislative session saw the introduction of relatively few family law bills, but with a surprising number passing (especially as compared with 2016). Subject to veto by the Governor until May 30 (which is not anticipated), the following bill…
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Adult guardianship is a legal arrangement that is intended to protect individuals who cannot care for themselves or their property. It grants legal decision-making authority to another individual (the “guardian”) who is authorized to make decisio… Read More
Watching the physical or mental health of a parent or other loved one deteriorate can be heart-wrenching. Beyond the emotional toll, it can be difficult to know whether your loved one needs help managing finances, healthcare, or other daily responsib… Read More
Child support payments ensure that children receive the financial resources they deserve to have a healthy, stable, and supported childhood, regardless of whether their parents live together. Child support covers the cost of essential items like food… Read More
Maryland courts have always made custody determinations under a “best interests of the child” standard. House Bill 1191 became effective on October 1, 2025 and provides a 16-point checklist for judges to use in making and explaining custody order… Read More
