Maryland Family Law | Maryland Child Custody Attorneys | Rockville, Maryland Divorce Lawyers

Posted by dawn on Jan 25, 2012

The Four Cornerstones of a Child’s Best Interests

Posted by dawn on Jan 18, 2012

Maryland Family Law Firm, L.L.C. has moved . . . down the hall, that is. We are in the same building, even the same floor, but you can now find us in Suite 5 on the ground floor of 17 West Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland. Here’s what you’ll find when you walk in our door:

Posted by dawn on Jan 11, 2012

Service of Process

When someone files a lawsuit for divorce or custody in Maryland, they have to serve the papers they file with the court on the person being sued. Here are some do’s and don’ts for personal service of process: DO: ✓ Have someone over 18 years of age, of sound mind, and not part of the lawsuit, hand the papers to the person being sued; This can be done by a disinterested third person (don’t...

Posted by dawn on Jan 11, 2012

Document EVERYTHING . . . Carefully.

When a divorce may be looming in your future, the most important thing you can do is document everything. Here are a few tips to help you get . . . and keep . . . what could be important if the bottom falls out of your marriage: (1) At a minimum, collect copies of the following papers. Documents connected with the sale, refinance or lease of your home. Bills . . . utility bills, phone bills, credit card...

Posted by dawn on Jan 4, 2012

Maintaining Natural Family Relations

It always comes as a surprise to divorcing couples when the in-laws — the folks who were so close, the ones they confided in when the marriage was starting to unravel, the ones who babysat when they were trying to work things out with the spouse — support their child. You’d think folks would understand that circling the wagons is normal for any family going through a crisis, but most...

Posted by dawn on Dec 30, 2011

Grounds are Not Coffee Residue

If you want to get divorced anywhere in the United States, you have to have a legal reason to get divorced. Not only can you not get divorced without a legal reason, you can’t even file for divorce. A “ground” for divorce is the legal reason the state law gives to allow divorce. In Maryland, we have two basic kinds of “ground” for divorce, those based on time and those...

Posted by dawn on Oct 8, 2011

What We Do Best.

Did you know that many of the most common internet searches for divorce lawyers include the word, “aggressive?” Which turned out to be a good thing, because it helped us focus on our strongest strength — protecting clients in divorce and custody litigation when the other side has hired one of those “aggressive” divorce lawyers. Over time, we’ve learned that it is both...

What We Do Best.

Posted by dawn on Oct 8, 2011 in Detail, Maryland Divorce, Posts | 0 comments

Over time, we’ve learned that it is both possible and necessary to respond to aggressive divorce lawyers using the tools of integrity, diligence, experience, and dedication. It’s a lesson we learn a little better with each case. These are the best tools we have to get the outcome our clients need — even when the other side has an aggressive divorce or custody lawyer.

The Four Cornerstones of a Child’s Best Interests

Posted by dawn on Jan 25, 2012 in Maryland Child Custody, Maryland Divorce | 0 comments

We’ve all heard that a custody or visitation case is decided on the basis of the “best interests of the child.” In Maryland, what those “best interests” are is based on a list of several factors and the opinion of the judge. Recently, though, the Maryland Bar Journal (January/February 2012) featured a sensational article by the Hon. Diane Leasure, Alisa Gross Cummins, Esq., and Keith Schiszik, Esq. that made applying those factors sensible for lawyers and judges alike (Custody and Visitation Cases: How to Serve the Child’s Best Interests). The authors suggested applying four simple decision-making tools to decisions about children. Their suggestions make sense for parents going through a divorce or custody case as well as to Maryland divorce and custody lawyers and judges. If you are making a decision about your child during a divorce or custody case, or you’re about to accuse the other parent of doing something wrong, whatever it is, apply these tests to the issue to see the situation from your child’s eyes:

Does the issue promote, “a sense of personal safety and security,” for your child;
Does it develop or enhance his or her interpersonal skills?
Does it support his or her intellectual abilities (or help the child move through disabilities more successfully)?
Does it enhance your child’s (nor your) sense of self-worth.

Whether you are bargaining for more time with your child, less time for the other parent, arguing about a choice of school or daycare, applying these child-centered principles to your decision-making can make you a better parent and give you persuasive clout in your custody and visitation case.

Only The Best?

Posted by dawn on Jan 18, 2012 in Full-Service, Maryland Child Custody, Maryland Divorce | 0 comments

Most parents who are going through divorce feel bad about the kids. One way or the other, whether the marriage is ending because of fault or because it just fizzled out, kids don’t want to see their parents split up. All too often, parents who still have the resources to do so (and many who don’t!) promise to pay for college tuition. Think carefully before you do this! Sure, kids should go to good schools, but once you’ve signed an agreement to pay for tuition — at any level, even college — you are bound by it, no matter what happens to the economy or your prospects in the future. No matter how bad you feel about the difficulty separation and divorce causes your child, making an advance promise you may not be able to keep doesn’t help anyone. It can breed animosity and distrust between you and the other parent of your child in the future, and that isn’t good for anyone.