This past June, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision of Obergefell v. Hodges, which made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, celebrated its ninth anniversary. As same-sex marriage has been legal for anywhere from roughly two decades (Massachusetts) to just shy of one decade (nationwide,) research has begun showing…
When you bring in someone as a co-owner of your business, you want someone you can trust implicitly. For many people, the most trusted people in their lives are their spouses. However, when the personal relationship goes awry, so may the business relationship. When both break down, legal action is…
Sometimes, people assume that all of the potential complications and challenges faced by long-term committed same-sex couples ended when the U.S. Supreme Court made its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in June 2015 that established marriage equality in all 50 states. That, of course, is far from always being true.…
The breakdown of a relationship between two parents is often very difficult on everyone. That’s true whether you’re a famous celebrity or an “ordinary” person. It’s also true whether or not you are biologically related to your child. However, if you are in a situation (like many LGBT+ couples) where…
Going through a custody dispute can be a scary thing. You may recognize that you need capable legal representation, but you may fear that you lack the financial resources to hire a skilled Maryland child custody attorney. Never let that fear stop you. Always talk to counsel first. There may…
Each state has the authority to enact laws regulating marriage and divorce. For this reason, there can be significant differences among the states with respect to myriad related issues. For instance, as recently as last year, the highest court in the country struck down certain state bans on same-sex marriage.…
Any divorce case involving children, and the attendant questions of custody and visitation, typically includes many emotional and practical challenges. The parties separating must address issues such as physical and legal custody and the visitation rights of the non-custodial parent. It is extremely important to understand your rights under the…
As the nation awaits the United States Supreme Court’s imminent and historic decision on same sex marriage, other courts in the country are addressing issues of particular importance to same sex couples: can they get divorced? Since states draft and enact their own laws governing marriage and divorce, the landscape throughout…
Many family law cases, such as a divorce or separation proceeding, involve child custody and visitation issues. When the divorcing spouses are the biological or adoptive parents of the children involved, Maryland law provides ample protections with respect to their parental rights and responsibilities going forward. Significantly, courts have the…
State laws govern various aspects of marriage and divorce. Since each state has the authority to enact such laws, there are many differences, both procedural and substantive, throughout the country. Here in Maryland, in 2012, Governor Martin O’Malley signed Senate Bill 116, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, thereby legalizing same-sex civil marriage…