Category Archives: Family Law
Does The State Of Maryland Recognize Divorces Granted In Foreign Countries?
The short answer to this question is “yes”. The State of Maryland will recognize divorces that were granted in foreign countries. However, there are caveats. The divorce must be obtained by a court that had the authority to grant a divorce and the divorce was granted legally. Maryland case law provides an example. In… Read More »
Understanding Child Custody Laws In Maryland
Custody is often one of the most contentious issues during a divorce. If you are a parent who is concerned about who will gain custody of your children, then this article will touch on some of the main points concerning child custody in the State of Maryland. In this article, the Maryland divorce lawyers… Read More »
Do I Qualify For An Annulment In The State Of Maryland?
A common myth is the notion that a spouse may obtain a quick annulment of a marriage instead of a divorce if they were married for less than six months. Some other states allow such annulments but Maryland is not one of them. In Maryland, an annulment can only be granted when a marriage… Read More »
Maryland’s Child Support Laws
Maryland’s Child Support Administration is required by law to review the Child Support Guidelines every 4 years to ensure that parents receive appropriate child support awards. The Child Support Administration must report its findings to the General Assembly. The most recent changes to the law occurred in 2020 and are set to be reviewed… Read More »
Fault-Based And No-Fault Divorce In Maryland
On October 1, 2023, new rules went into effect impacting Maryland’s divorce laws. The legislature did away with outdated laws that unfairly restricted divorce from Maryland residents. Divorcing spouses are no longer required to prove which party is at fault for the breakdown of the marriage. Instead, Maryland residents can only get divorced based… Read More »
The “Source Of Funds Theory” And Asset Distribution During A Maryland Divorce
In Maryland, one of the foremost components of a divorce settlement is the equitable distribution of the marital estate. Under Maryland law, all property that belongs to the marital estate must be distributed equitably to both parties pursuant to a divorce. However, determining whether or not an asset belongs to the marital estate can… Read More »
Husband Appeals Decision To Grant Wife Indefinite Alimony
There are two types of alimony that the Maryland courts provide upon the granting of a Judgment of Absolute Divorce. That is rehabilitative alimony and indefinite alimony. The Maryland courts shy away from awarding a spouse indefinite alimony unless the difference between their two incomes is so pronounced that it would be unfair not… Read More »
Husband Seeks To Vacate Divorce Judgment Based On Fraud
In the case of Hounlekpo v. Hounlekpo, the husband sought to vacate the Judgment of Absolute Divorce based on extrinsic fraud. Initially, both parties had petitioned the court for a limited divorce, but at some point, the husband went on a trip to Africa. While in Africa, the husband gave the wife a credit… Read More »
Husband Contends Trial Court Improperly Granted His Wife A Divorce
In the case of Besche v. Besche, the husband appealed the trial court’s decision to grant the couple an absolute divorce. The husband filed a pro se appeal in which he asked the appeals court “to reverse the judgment of divorce”. He argued that the trial court “improperly awarded a judgment of absolute divorce… Read More »
Former Husband Appeals Judgment Of Indefinite Alimony And Attorney’s Fees
In the case of Koti v. Koti, the husband filed an appeal after the trial court ordered him to pay indefinite alimony and his wife’s attorney’s fees. The husband presented four issues for the appeals court’s consideration. Those include: The trial court erred and abused its discretion as a matter of law when it… Read More »
