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Maryland Divorce Lawyers

An often-quoted statistic is that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. The process that couples must go through to obtain a divorce will vary depending on whether or not the divorce is "contested" or "uncontested". You and your spouse may have rights to each other's income, pensions, home, and other property, and decisions must be made on how to divide the property between the two of you. In an uncontested divorce, the parties have agreed on the terms of the divorce, including issues of child custody and support, division of assets, debt allocation and alimony. This is often accomplished through a 'separation agreement". An uncontested divorce can be fairly simple to obtain, and is often much less expensive than a contested divorce.

In a contested divorce, you and your spouse are unable to mutually agree on the separation of your assets, or to agree on which of you will have custody of your children. This can lead to protracted litigation in which a judge will ultimately decide which party receives certain property, and which party is awarded custody of the children. Litigating a contested divorce is time consuming, emotionally draining, and can be expensive.

Child Custody and Child Support

In Maryland, if the parties cannot agree on child custody (that is, with whom a child should reside) a judge will determine which parent will have custody of the child, based on what is in the best interests of the child. This standard gives a tremendous amount of power to the judge and he/she considers many factors when deciding which parent should have custody. There is no accurate way to predict how a court will decide this issue.

The parent who is deemed to be the "non-custodial parent" (the parent who does not have primary physical custody) will be responsible for paying child support on a regular basis to the custodial parent. The amount that the non-custodial parent pays is determined by a set formula which takes into account the earnings of the parties, other child support obligations, medical and daycare expenses, and other extraordinary child rearing expenses.

It is a good idea to obtain legal advice and representation when you are involved in a contested divorce or contested child custody case. There is much at stake in these types of cases and an experienced lawyer can advise you of your rights and assist you in obtaining the best possible outcome.

If you or your loved one is considering a divorce, contact us immediately. We will meet with you at your convenience for a free consultation to discuss your options.