The state of Maryland’s Human Services department is clear about child support in a divorce. “Every child has a right to receive support from both parents even if the parents are separated, divorced, or never married.” Of course divorcing parents want to have...
Part 2: Understanding the language of law in child custody matters
Regular readers of our Bethesda Family Law Blog will undoubtedly recall a recent post that shared the Maryland Judiciary’s explanation of legal terms frequently used in child custody proceedings. You’ll recall that in cases of joint legal custody, the court will...
Understanding the language of law in child custody matters
Divorce is rarely easy, whether you’ve been married a few years or a few decades. Rarer still is an easy divorce involving children. Deciding how to divide both responsibility and time spent with the children often escalates tension in an already stressful situation....
Dating during divorce is a good idea . . . right?
Marriages often end with a lengthy period in which communication is difficult or strained or even nonexistent. Intimacy is gone and those pure feelings of joy and excitement that were so alive in courtship are so distant and faint that they feel like memories from a...
Telling your child that divorce is coming
Just a few miles south of Bethesda sits the nation’s capital and the highly regarded newspaper that has covered it for more than 140 years. While the Washington Post is known for its political coverage, it also features advice columnist Carolyn Hax. The headline above...
Maryland law now requires parenting plans
A parenting plan is different from a child custody agreement between unmarried or divorcing parents. It is not merely an agreement, but also a guide. It allows parents who share custody to establish rules and strategies for how they will work together to raise their...
How to work through child custody conflicts
If you and your spouse are parents, creating a custody agreement could be the most challenging part of your divorce. You two likely have differing ideas about what is best for your children. And neither of you will want to back down from your beliefs. Emotions can run...
How co-parenting apps can make your life easier
Even if your divorce was otherwise amicable, navigating the unfamiliar terrain of co-parenting post-divorce can be challenging. Successful co-parenting relies heavily on communication to keep everyone in the loop about drop-offs, pick-ups, appointments, school...
Can my ex-spouse move away with our child?
For many parents, the single most concerning aspect of divorce is what will happen to the children. Fortunately, the law aims to ensure that both parents have custody rights. In some child custody cases, both parents must live within a court-ordered distance. One...
Can online activity hurt your chances at custody?
Social media has become a regular part of life. Many people turn to social media to talk about their lives and share information with others. It is a great way to stay in contact with friends and family. It also can become a liability in a legal sense. Law enforcement...
