Maryland Family Law Maryland family law opinions and commentary

Two significant rules went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, that affect custody cases in family court in Maryland.  The overarching purpose of these rules is to facilitate agreement among parties regarding legal and physical custody. Maryland Rules of Procedure ...

Parents joke about their kids finally turning 18, flying the coop and becoming self-supporting, but does child support end at the age of majority? Not necessarily. Court-ordered child support typically terminates when the child turns 18, but may be extended ...

It’s been more than a decade since my husband became my “wasband.” No regrets there. But as a mother of two, it took me years to recover financially from our divorce. Experts are predicting a surge in divorces brought on ...

ST. LOUIS — The 2020 coronavirus pandemic has resulted in the postponement of an untold number of weddings. Even those couples opting for the simplicity of a courthouse marriage have been frustrated, as many courthouses have been inaccessible for all ...

There are few things in litigation more frustrating, costly and time-consuming than a party withholding relevant information and failing to fully participate in the discovery process. Maryland discovery rules and procedures are designed to provide for the broad exchange of ...

On Aug. 14, 2020, the Maryland Court of Appeals clarified the standard of evidence required to shelter a child to the Department of Social Services in Child In Need of Assistance (“CINA”) proceedings.  In re O.P, No. 26 September Term, ...

The abrupt transition to remote working caused by COVID-19 uncovered gaps in many law firms’ back office services SOPs. How will mail be processed? How can I get things printed? Who can facilitate deliveries? And these are just a handful ...

One of the more hotly contested issues in family law cases is the amount and duration of spousal and child support. In simple terms, the court determines an award of spousal support based on an examination of the income of ...

Recently released national data indicates that in fiscal year 2018, 678,000 children were found to be victims of maltreatment, up from 674,000 victims in 2017. The number of child fatalities due to child abuse and neglect increased in fiscal year ...

The stress and isolation caused by job losses, school closings and limited social interactions, along with the sharp economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, have made life harder for everyone – especially people who already faced economic hardship. ...