A new Maryland parenting plan seeks to prompt parents involved in custody matters to discuss their children’s needs early in the legal process and to reach as much consensus as possible. Courts began requiring a parenting plan in any case ...
Read More »Kpetigo decision extends definition of de facto parents to stepparents
Maryland law has been increasingly willing in recent years to recognize that families are formed in multiple ways, allowing courts to maintain what is in a child’s best interest when a relationship breaks up. De facto parenthood was recognized in 2016 to ...
Read More »Md. bill would exempt marriages after the fact from spousal privilege
Proposed legislation would prohibit a potential witness who marries a defendant after the date of an alleged crime from claiming the spousal privilege to refrain from testifying. House Bill 64 proposes an exception to the general rule that one spouse ...
Read More »Family lawyers face threats, violence at a higher rate than peers
Family law attorneys receive threats of violence and experience violence more often than their peers elsewhere in the legal profession. But it is a part of their practice that is not frequently discussed. Attorneys who attended the annual symposium of ...
Read More »Is no-fault divorce in Maryland’s future?
Following a national trend, Maryland has been taking steps to remove barriers to divorce. The next steps will likely involve discussions about whether the state should move to a no-fault system. The General Assembly created a new no-fault ground, mutual ...
Read More »Md. marriage-age debate may be addressed by emancipation bill
Maryland lawmakers are considering the creation of an emancipation process for 16 and 17 year olds that also aims to curb marriage by minors, the subject of debate in recent legislative sessions. House Bill 1147 creates a process for minors to ...
Read More »Bill to repeal adultery returns to Md. General Assembly
A bill to decriminalize adultery has returned to the General Assembly after failing in 2018 due to concerns about its impact on parties’ ability to “plead the Fifth” in divorce cases. Del. Kathleen M. Dumais, D-Montgomery, is again sponsoring the ...
Read More »Family law section discusses trauma, tools at education event
Family law practitioners are working with clients going through some of the most stressful life events, and an upcoming event will highlight the trauma that both attorneys and clients can experience. Family Law University, a continuing legal education event by ...
Read More »Differing marriage-age bills appear bound for conference
Both chambers of the Maryland General Assembly have passed legislation eliminating exceptions to state law allowing 15-year-olds to marry, but differences over whether the new minimum age should be 16 or 17 mean the cross-filed bills are likely headed for a conference committee.
Read More »Advocates ask for more input, deliberation on emancipation legislation
Advocacy groups expressed support last week for the concept of a bill providing a path to emancipation for 16- and 17-year-olds but called for a more in-depth discussion before moving forward.
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