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Annapolis Family Law Blog

Georgetown study: Younger children need help through divorce

In Maryland and across the country, children can be deeply affected by their parents' divorce. A recent Georgetown University study shows not only the high impact divorce has on children, but also suggests that younger children may be more deeply affected.

A change as big as divorce is rarely easy; routines are changed and experts note that young children simply do not have the capacity to fully understand what is going on around them.

Researchers are now finding that kids under the age of five are affected by these changes more than those who are older, as the younger ages are when children learn attachment. Therefore, disrupting the family dynamics in the homes of these young children may completely destroy their perceived safety net.

High hopes for Maryland company's new paternity test

New babies are born every day in Maryland. Most men want to be present for the birth of their child, but what happens when the identity of the child's father is questionable? Many fathers would strive to find out in order to provide appropriate child support.

In the past, a paternity test performed before the birth of a child brought some risk. The test also had to be administered later in the pregnancy. Now, thanks to a private biotech company in Columbia, Maryland, the procedure has improved immensely.

Mother forced to give up child custody after 10 years

No matter the situation, divorce, child custody, and other family law matters are difficult areas to navigate in Maryland and beyond. In determining how the issues will be resolved, everyone hopes the right choices will be made. However, that may not always be the case.

For 10 years, one mother had full custody of her daughter. Last month, however, a judge on her case adhered to a case manager's recommendation that child custody be awarded to the girl's father based on confidential information that was presented to the judge by the case manager. Going from primary caregiver for 10 years to seeing her daughter only one hour a week was a devastating blow.

"Fast forward" couples on the fast track to divorce

Couples get divorced for a number of reasons, but are there trends likely to increase the divorce rate? This is a question family law attorneys ponder in every state, including Maryland. A recent survey provides one rationale.

In today's world it is not uncommon for women and men alike to pursue a career, which can in turn create busy lives and schedules. In some cases, these individuals do not take time to settle down and marry until later in their life, at which time their career paths have been paved.

Moving on after divorce

Wedding expos are popular across the country. Preparing for a wedding day is a happy and joyful time, and these expos guide individuals to the wedding day of their dreams. While a much less blissful experience, divorce expos can help show people there is life after divorce.

Recently, residents on the East Coast had the opportunity to attend such a divorce expo, which included over 100 vendors offering tips and advice as to what an individual can expect while going through a divorce. Offering guidance on how to brave their new single life, family law practitioners, hairstylists, life coaches and financial planners alike participated in the expo.

Bill passes in Maryland allowing prisoners to suspend child support payments

Child support is an important part of any divorce in Maryland. Without child support, a custodial parent may not be able to provide their children with basic necessities. Non-custodial parents who do not make the required child support payments could find themselves in trouble with the law. However, a new law in Maryland would allow certain people to forego child support payments without any penalty.

Recently, the state Senate passed a bill that would allow prison inmates to stop making child support payments while they are incarcerated. The House passed the bill last month. It will now head to the governor's desk to be signed.

Is the economy to blame for the increase in divorce in one Maryland county?

Even after years of marriage, couples may find that divorce is their only option. The list of reasons for divorce is lengthy and varied. However, economic troubles and money tends to be high on any list. The tough economic times seem to be affecting couples in one Maryland county.

According to the executive director of the Marriage Resource Center of Frederick County, the number of people choosing to divorce is on the rise. Since 1999, he has been tracking marriages and divorces in Frederick County. His research has shown that in 2011, the divorce rate rose drastically. Over 12 years, an average of 843 couples divorced per year. In 2011, however, that average rose to 1,130.

Same-sex couple in Maryland awaits divorce conclusion

Same-sex marriage has been a hotly contested debate, especially in recent years. One rather sticky issue surfaces when same-sex married couples move from one state to another, as only certain states recognize same-sex marriage. One same-sex couple in Maryland has found this particularly problematic as they seek to end their marriage.

The couple was originally married in 2008 in California. Since exchanging vows, the couple moved to Maryland. Still residing in Maryland, the couple has mutually filed for divorce. The divorce is uncontested, and they were told they did not need attorneys to proceed. However, to their surprise, a judge denied their request for divorce.

Alimony laws: changing with the times

Like many things in life, laws adapt and evolve as society does. Alimony reform is taking place across the country. States across the eastern border are even taking steps to permanently change laws.

Although Maryland has yet to join the movement, West Virginia's legislature is contemplating the passage of a bill that would allow an individual to forego alimony payments if they discover that their spouse had a child as the result of an affair.

Divorce rate among baby boomers at an all-time high

Coming to the decision to get a divorce is never easy, but for some, it is the only option they have. Couples in Annapolis and beyond may have found that they have grown apart or want different things. Divorce rates have declined since peaking in the 1980's. However, the divorce rate among couples age 50 and over has reached an all-time high.

One woman found that she had ignored the problems in her marriage for years, but when the last of her three daughters graduated from high school, she realized she could not ignore the problems any longer. The 51-year-old woman and her husband had been married for twenty years, but she filed for divorce after discovering their values were no longer aligned.