Frederick Legal Blog

If you're preparing for divorce, you are among hundreds, if not thousands, of other Maryland spouses who are currently doing the same. No two divorces pan out the same way, however. Some couples never step foot inside a courtroom, opting instead for mediation or collaborative sessions to settle their issues. Others wind up battling over child custody or property division matters in long, drawn-out litigation.  

Any number of problems may arise that impede your ability to achieve a swift and amicable divorce settlement. An issue that plagues many divorces is hidden assets. If your spouse's behavior has been suspicious since you filed divorce papers in court and the two of you are frequently fighting over money, you may want to closely observe the situation with objective eyes in case you have a hidden asset problem on your hands.  

As a member of the U.S. military in Maryland who also happens to be a parent, you likely already have a military family care plan in place. If not, you'll no doubt want to research the topic and execute a plan for instructions regarding financial care, medical care and other important aspects relating to your children for times that you must leave them while serving on active duty.

Life is generally somewhat more different for military families than it is for those in strictly civilian households. If you are contemplating filing or have recently filed for divorce (or received papers after your spouse has filed) you may want to think about how divorce may impact your existing family care plan. If you don't have a care plan in place, now's a good time to create one and incorporate various divorce-related matters into your plan.

When you and your spouse were first dating, you may have spent hours in deep conversation. You likely shared your favorite movies, books and music, and you probably revealed your tastes in food and clothing. Maybe your talks went deeper, touching on religion, career and your preferences for children.

Where did all that go? Now that you and your spouse are considering divorce, you may be spending time wondering what went wrong. While many people say that they simply drifted apart, psychologists say it is often more than that. Most couples go through tough times, but the way they handle those challenges may decide if they divorce or stay together.

Child custody is one of the most commonly contested issues in a divorce. Parents do not ever want to feel like they are giving up their relationship with their kids, and this desire can lead to lengthy court battles and costly litigation. However, for some Maryland families, there may be a better way to approach child custody.

With a joint custody agreement, parents can share both parenting time and legal responsibility of their children. This type of arrangement can allow children to have a strong relationship with both of their parents, even after a divorce is final, which is certainly in the best interests of the youngest members of your family.