family law – Page 10 – Law Offices of Thomas Stahl

Respect for Marriage Act : What Maryland and DC Gay and Lesbian Married Couples Need To Know

On December 13, 2022, the Respect For Marriage Act was signed at a White House ceremony attended by thousands of jubilant supporters. See CNN news media report here and CNBC report here. Legislative efforts to pass the Respect For Marriage Act (“RFMA”) have been ongoing since at least 2011. After more than a decade of… Continue reading Respect for Marriage Act : What Maryland and DC Gay and Lesbian Married Couples Need To Know

Maryland and DC Divorce Laws: Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First?

From a legal perspective, typically, it does not matter too much which spouse files first for a divorce in either Maryland or the District of Columbia. Generally speaking, there are three circumstances where filing first might make a major difference: choosing the State in which to file if the spouses live in different States and… Continue reading Maryland and DC Divorce Laws: Does It Matter Who Files For Divorce First?

Polyamorous Marriages and Divorces in Maryland/DC: Some Thoughts

There has been quite a lot of legal news lately about marriages and relationships between three or more people. For example, a couple of cities in Massachusetts recently passed laws giving polyamorous marriages/relationships the same legal protections as two-person marriages. Even more recently, as reported here, a New York civil court judge held that a… Continue reading Polyamorous Marriages and Divorces in Maryland/DC: Some Thoughts

Columbia, MD Divorce Law Firm: No-Fault Divorce Options in Maryland

In practice, there are three methods of obtaining a “no-fault” divorce in Maryland even though only one is truly considered to be “no-fault.” First, in 2018, Maryland changed its divorce laws to permit actual “no-fault” divorces. This is called a Maryland “divorce by mutual consent.” A Maryland divorce by mutual consent allows for a divorce… Continue reading Columbia, MD Divorce Law Firm: No-Fault Divorce Options in Maryland

Maryland and DC Divorce Attorneys: What Is an Annulment?

Under Maryland divorce law and the divorce law of the District of Columbia, there is a procedure for ending a marriage called an “annulment.” Annulment has some similarities to obtaining a Maryland or DC divorce, but they are legally distinct and have different legal requirements. Further, annulment has the legal significance that the marriage is… Continue reading Maryland and DC Divorce Attorneys: What Is an Annulment?

Maryland and DC LBGT Divorce: Third Party Visitation Rights

One complicating factor for same-sex parents with children seeking a divorce in Maryland or in the District of Columbia is the fact that only one parent is considered a biological parent. For this article, we will discuss visitation rights, assume that the children were not adopted and also assume that the Maryland divorce court or… Continue reading Maryland and DC LBGT Divorce: Third Party Visitation Rights

Maryland and DC Divorce: Kidnapping Your Own Children Is A Crime

If children are involved when a couple obtains a divorce, it is well-known that child custody and visitation issues become heated and emotionally charged. But no matter how angry you get as a parent with the divorce court’s decision, you CANNOT break the law and kidnap your own children. That is a crime and you… Continue reading Maryland and DC Divorce: Kidnapping Your Own Children Is A Crime

Maryland and DC Divorce: What About Student Loans?

Under Maryland divorce laws and DC divorce laws, when a couple divorces, the divorce courts are required to “equitably” divide both marital assets and marital debts. Marital assets are generally considered any asset bought or acquired by the couple during the marriage. The same rule generally applies to marital debts. But, there are many complicating… Continue reading Maryland and DC Divorce: What About Student Loans?

Reasons to Hire Maryland/DC Lawyer For Your Divorce

We, here at the Law Office of Thomas Stahl, have said this many times before and it must be repeated: obtaining a divorce is not a “do-it-yourself” process. Even for a “simple” divorce by mutual consent, the spouses need the protection of legal counsel. You could be “leaving” assets and support payments “on the table”… Continue reading Reasons to Hire Maryland/DC Lawyer For Your Divorce

What Does “Imputing Income” Mean for Child Support And Alimony?

If you are seeking a divorce in Howard County, Maryland or in the District of Columbia, know that the Maryland divorce court and the DC divorce court will make awards of alimony and child support (if there are children of the marriage). Both will be based on the income of the spouses/parents. Alimony is generally… Continue reading What Does “Imputing Income” Mean for Child Support And Alimony?

Maryland Office

6990 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 360
Columbia, MD 21046

(410) 696-4326

Washington, DC Office

2001 L Street N.W., Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036

(202) 964-7280

Category: family law