*The Maryland Family Law referenced on this web site is for general information only, could change without notice at any time, and is not to be used to replace legal advice.   Reading the information on this site and/or sending us an e-mail or fax does not create an Attorney-Client relationship.   Family Law varies greatly from state to state and the information on this web site is in regard to Maryland Family Law only.

Today's Maryland Family Law Law (i.e., Child Support, Custody, Visitation, and Divorce Law) is very different than it used to be and is different than many people think.



Maryland Law no longer allows Family Law judges to favor the mother over the father, as favoring either parent based solely on sex has been held to be sexual discrimination in Maryland.



Maryland Child Support Law is based on a formula which is based on the factors of how many overnights the child spends with each parent, the average monthly income of each parent (or possibly how much either of them could make if either one is "voluntarily under-employing" "or voluntarily impoverishing" himself or herself), daycare expenses, medical expenses, and some other factors.



Maryland Divorce Law, Child Support Law, and Custody Law applies to Wives and Mothers as well as to Husbands and Fathers.



Maryland Abuse laws and protections apply equally to both sexes.



Individual Maryland laws regarding Custody, Visitation, Child Support, Alimony, and Divorce cannot be fully comprehended without understanding how they interact with each other and within the elaborate Maryland Family Law Court system, and trying to interpret individual laws without understanding this could decrease the chance of achieving an outcome favorable to you in your case.



While there are specific factors the Maryland Courts must consider when deciding Custody cases, these various factors are not assigned any particular weight or priority, and there are no specific formulas for determining the schedule the child will have with the parents.   The status of custody and the particular visitation schedule of the child is decided based on what is "in the best interest of the child," which is up for argument based on the individual circumstances involved in each case.



There are no specific formulas in Maryland for determining Alimony or Monetary Award in Maryland Divorce Law.   While there are certain factors the Courts must consider when deciding Alimony and Monetary Award cases, like the factors listed for determining Custody, they are not assigned any particular weight or priority.   The matters of Alimony and Monetary Award in Maryland Divorce are determined based on what the Maryland Courts find to be "equitable," considering the circumstances of the parties and the unique factors involved in each case.



Another issue to be considered in Maryland Divorce cases is "use and possession."   In Maryland Limited Divorce or an Absolute Divorce cases, Maryland Courts may award immediate exclusive "use and possession" of the "family home" and "family use personal property," such as automobiles, furniture, family leisure equipment, etc., to either spouse, and this can be ordered to last for up to three years."   See our page on "Use and Possession" for details.



Maryland Family Law Court procedure is continually evolving to manage the increasing volume of Family Law cases.   The procedures involved in the Maryland Family Law Court system are very different from Maryland general Civil Courts, Maryland Criminal Courts, and the Federal Courts.



It is in your best interest to consult an Attorney with recent and frequent experience in the Maryland Family Law Courts to get specific legal advice regarding your individual case or situation before making any agreements or filing anything regarding a Maryland Divorce, Custody, or Domestic Violence/Abuse case.



The actions you take and/or the Agreements you make, if any, during the initial stages of your Maryland Custody case and in the Maryland Family Court early procedures before Trial, could have a significant impact on your ability to acheive a favorable outcome in your Maryland Family Law case.

Maryland Child Support Law Overview


Fathers' Rights in Today's Maryland Family Law


Maryland Custody Law Overview


Factors used in determining Custody in Maryland


Changing a Current Custody Order in Maryland


Grounds for Divorce in Maryland


Marital Property in Maryland


Use and Possession of Marital Property in Maryland


Alimony in Maryland Divorce Law


Legal Assistance with Abuse Claims in Maryland











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Maryland Divorce Lawyer and MD Custody Attorney accepting cases in the following areas in Maryland:
Montgomery County, Frederick County, Washington County, Allegany County, Garrett County, Anne Arundel County, Queen Anne's County, Prince George's County, Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary's County, Worcester County, Carroll County, Howard County, Baltimore City, and Baltimore County


Maryland Divorce Attorney and MD Custody Lawyer Attorney serving
Rockville,   Bethesda,   Chevy Chase,   Gaithersburg,   Germantown,   Silver Spring,   Burtonsville,   Laurel,   Urbana,   Frederick,   Hagerstown,   Cumberland,   Oakland,   McHenry,   Silver Spring,   College Park,   Olney,   Baltimore,   Mt. Washington,   Owings Mills,   Towson,   Westminster,   Annapolis,   Centreville,   Upper Marlboro,   Prince Frederick,   Waldorf,   La Plata,   Lexington Park,   Ocean City,   Snow Hill,   Columbia,   Clarksville,   Ellicott City   Mt. Airy,   and the greater Montgomery County, Frederick County, Washington County, Allegany County, Garrett County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Carroll County, Baltimore County, and surrounding areas and counties in Maryland.   We accept cases from counties in Maryland surrounding the District Of Columbia, but we do not accept cases that are in the District Of Columbia.




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