Meeting with a divorce attorney is usually the first step toward beginning divorce proceedings. This video discusses what you should bring for your initial consultation with a lawyer in Owings Mills.

The end of a marriage typically necessitates a settlement of finances. Before you meet with your lawyer, gather together all pertinent financial documents, including proof of income, debt obligations, and your prenuptial agreement if applicable. This information will be taken into consideration when deciding if current alimony laws may impact either party. If you have children, your divorce consultation is also the time when you should make your custody wishes known. Being as clear, honest, and communicative as possible with your divorce attorney can help in facilitating the speed and outcome of your divorce proceedings.

No matter how many divorce lawyers in Owings Mills you consult or how many books you read, no one can fully prepare you for the trials of divorce. This experience is as unique as each person who goes through it. Especially because you may be unfamiliar with how divorce normally works, you may inadvertently make mistakes that may complicate your proceedings:

Trying to Negotiate on Your Own
Even if your marriage didn’t work out, you and your partner might initially decide that you can negotiate terms such as alimony or child custody without the help of a divorce attorney . However, rarely do the parties involved in a divorce endure the end of a marriage without conflicting opinions about who should pay support, have custody of the children, or even retain ownership of the house or car. For this reason, it’s best to hire an attorney who can help you determine your legal rights and advocate on your behalf.

Hiring a Lawyer Without Expertise
Perhaps your brother-in-law is an attorney. Yet his expertise is in environmental law. As capable as he might be in such matters, his ability to help you through your divorce may be minimal. Instead, consult a legal expert who is versed in pertinent matters such as alimony laws and child custody issues. When you use a divorce attorney with the requisite experience, you give yourself the best opportunity for a favorable legal outcome.

Failing to Communicate with Your Attorney
Your lawyer will work diligently on your behalf, but he can only help you as much as you help him. Failing to disclose relevant information such as hidden assets or domestic violence can complicate the ability of your attorney to secure the settlement that you are owed. In addition, you must be clear and communicative with your divorce attorney about matters such as child custody and alimony so that he can in turn make those requests to the court. You must provide as much information as possible to your lawyer in order for him to successfully argue your case.

No one expects to be in a car accident. If you experience one, though, it is important to know how to respond. What you do following a vehicle collision can determine many factors, including the injury compensation you might receive. A lawyer in Owings Mills can help you reconcile the aftermath of a car accident, but it is up to you to react responsibly in the moments ensuing a collision.

Let Emotions Interfere
Many people consider car accidents upsetting events. Not only can they cause extensive damage to one of your most valuable possessions, but they can also lead to serious injuries to you and your loved ones. However, when a vehicle collision occurs, it is critical that you control your emotions. Whether your natural response is fear or anger, these feelings can interfere with your ability to record information about your accident. Confrontations with the other driver can likewise prove dangerous and disadvantageous should you and your attorney decide to pursue a personal injury claim.

Admit to Fault
In everyday situations, people often apologize for minor indiscretions such as taking the last bagel at work or forgetting to take out the trash before leaving home. This instinct to apologize can have serious ramifications if you admit to fault at the scene of a car accident. You are not obligated to discuss any aspect of the collision with the other driver. You need only collect his contact and insurance information. Once the local authorities arrive, you can then provide them a description of the events that took place.

Drive Away from the Collision
A lawyer may also caution you to stay at the scene of the accident until the authorities give you permission to leave or an emergency care crew determines that you require medical attention. Driving away from a vehicle collision can severely affect your ability to collect personal injury compensation. If you fail to stay long enough for the authorities to arrive, you may even be accused of a hit and run offense. To protect your interests, remain at the scene of the accident until you have taken down all necessary information and have given a complete statement to the authorities.

When you’re in need of a lawyer in Owings Mills , the legal team at the Law Office of Kent L. Greenberg, P.A. is here to help you. Our divorce lawyers understand that you come to our law firm at a difficult transition in your life. We are dedicated to giving you the personalized attention and legal guidance you deserve. With more than 30 years of experience in child custody laws, family law in general, and criminal law, our lawyer has the in-depth knowledge and courtroom skills it takes to obtain a favorable outcome for you. Since we’ve been serving Baltimore County and the surrounding areas since 1981, our law firm has extensive experience dealing with local judges, court personnel, and other divorce lawyers.

When you arrive for your consultation with our child custody lawyer, you’ll receive a thorough evaluation of your case. You’ll learn about your legal rights and we’ll answer any questions you may have. Then, we’ll explore all of your legal options to help you make an informed decision. We can help you resolve family law matters with mediation and settlements, or our seasoned litigators can aggressively argue your case in court.

Some divorce proceedings are simple and resolve quickly, while others are highly contentious and can take quite a while to settle. In either case, working with divorce lawyers is highly advisable. It’s rarely a good idea to try to handle your divorce yourself, rather than working with a family law attorney near Owings Mills.

Legal Guidance
One of the reasons why working with divorce lawyers is advisable is that you can take advantage of their years of experience in the courtroom and their in-depth knowledge regarding family law. If you try to interpret applicable laws yourself, it’s very likely that you’ll miss a key point and you may end up with an unfavorable outcome. For example, if you have child custody issues, your lawyer can request that the court grant you temporary custody. Your divorce lawyer serves as your ally in and out of the courtroom, and he or she can thoroughly explain all applicable laws to you and discuss all of your options.

Legal Documents
Legal paperwork can be complicated , making it easy to make mistakes. You may be even more prone to making mistakes if the stress of the divorce is making it difficult to think clearly. For example, you may forget to list a marital debt or you might underestimate the value of an asset. These mistakes can create financial problems for you and they may require additional legal proceedings later on. Even if your divorce is relatively amicable, it’s best to hire a divorce attorney to prepare the paperwork for you.

Divorce Delays
Divorce proceedings can drag on for a long time, particularly if mistakes are made with the paperwork. By working with a child custody lawyer, you can ensure that your divorce will proceed as quickly and easily as possible. This allows you to move forward with your life that much sooner.

Stress Reduction
Many individuals find that working with a divorce lawyer greatly eases the stress of the proceeding. This is especially true if the situation involved abuse or infidelity. You may find it difficult to face your spouse in the courtroom by yourself. Having a lawyer provides a much-needed buffer zone between you and your spouse.

When most individuals consult divorce lawyers, they are seeking to terminate the marriage . Less commonly, an annulment may be granted by the court. This is a legal action that means the marriage was void and never officially existed. It is much more difficult to obtain an annulment because there are strict eligibility requirements. You can consult a family attorney near Owings Mills to determine if you should seek an annulment or a divorce. Your lawyer can also advise you about child custody issues, if applicable.

Watch this video to hear an expert discuss the differences between an annulment and a divorce. He explains why some people may prefer to petition the court for an annulment. He also discusses the differences in asset division between a divorce and an annulment.

Determining child custody is often the most difficult part of a divorce proceeding or separation. Your best source of information is a child custody lawyer . A child custody lawyer serving Owings Mills can offer legal guidance regarding mediation, court proceedings, and the types of child custody arrangements available. When you go to your legal consultation, be sure to bring a list of any questions you may have about child custody laws.

What is Temporary Custody?
Divorce lawyers are often asked what will happen to the kids once a petition for divorce is filed, but before custody has been determined. Maryland law allows for temporary custody of children while litigation is pending (as well as some other temporary issues, like support, attorney’s fees, and use and possession of the marital home. When your child custody lawyer files the petition for divorce or custody, he or she will also file a request for a hearing for temporary custody. The judge will award temporary custody to one of the parents, based on the best interests of the child. Having temporary custody does not mean that you have a better or worse chance of being granted actual custody.

Do the Courts Always Favor the Mother?
It’s a common misconception that the mother is automatically given preferential treatment in family court. Maryland law does not give preference to either parent, but rather it views both parents as the natural custodians of the child. The best interests of the child are the determining factors in awarding child custody. However, one of the factors the judge may consider is which parent primarily carries out caregiving duties for the child.

Can the Child Express a Preference?
Under Maryland law, the judge can interview the child away from both parents’ presence to question him or her about preference. This depends on the age and maturity level of the child, and whether the child is capable of differentiating truth from fiction.

What Happens if the Custody Order is Violated?
It’s fairly common for one parent to fail to return the child to his or her primary residence past the scheduled time. This is one way in which the custody order may be violated. When this occurs, the lawful custodian must first demand that the other parent return the child. If the child is not returned, the lawful guardian can work with a child custody lawyer to involve the authorities and have the order enforced.

Kent L. Greenberg, family law attorney, is honored to represent clients throughout Maryland . As a family attorney near Owings Mills, Mr. Greenberg has a wealth of experience representing clients with child custody issues and visitation questions. He applies his skill in the courtroom to resolve matters pertaining to divorce, prenuptial agreements, marital property disputes, separation agreements, and similar issues. Although he is primarily a family law attorney, Mr. Greenberg also litigates cases involving domestic violence and other practice areas.

Mr. Greenberg’s distinguished career began after he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1981. He has served as Law Clerk to Judge Charles Edmondson; as Domestic Mediator for the Circuit Court of Baltimore City; and as an attorney within the Public Defender’s Office. His diverse background enables Mr. Greenberg to bring a unique perspective to his clients’ cases. When you partner with our family law firm, you will receive the benefit of a comprehensive and honest assessment of your case, backed by more than 30 years of litigation experience.

Child custody issues are rarely simple. However, when each parent lives in a different state, a child custody case in Owings Mills becomes even more complicated. If this applies to your case, you’ll need an experienced child custody lawyer on your side. Your child custody lawyer can help you understand the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, which all states have adopted.

You can hear more about this important law by watching this video. The law establishes guidelines for determining which state’s court will hear a child custody case. However, each state still has its own guidelines regarding child custody and visitation decisions. The expert in this video discusses some factors that the court may consider when deciding which state will have jurisdiction.

Even when spouses make a mutual decision to end their marriage, agreeing upon a divorce settlement is rarely easy. It’s important to get in touch with a family attorney near Owings Mills who can represent your best interests during negotiations with your soon-to-be ex-spouse’s counsel. Your family law attorney can advise you as to your state’s laws regarding property division, child custody issues, and other matters pertaining to your situation.

Asset Division
In a divorce settlement, a distinction is made between marital property, which is subject to division, and non-marital property, which isn’t. For example, Maryland law recognizes that any property obtained by an individual prior to the marriage remains the property of that individual, provided it is not gifted to the other spouse. The debts of the other spouse cannot affect non-marital property. Maryland law further establishes that all property obtained during the marriage is considered marital property, regardless of which party obtained the asset. An exception is if one spouse is gifted property, which would be considered non-marital property, and another would be if a spouse inherited property. Divorce lawyers can negotiate a fair division of marital property .

Liability Distribution
Before engaging in negotiations, your family law attorney will need to know about all of your debts and the debts of your spouse. Maryland courts may not require one spouse to resume responsibility for paying obligations that are solely the other spouse’s. However, marital debts may be divided. A marital debt is one that is traced to the acquisition of marital property, such as a home.

Child Custody and Visitation
Child custody is often a point of contention in divorce settlements. When negotiating with divorce lawyers, it’s essential for both parents to set aside their differences and work together for the best interests of the child. Under Maryland law, unless a court orders otherwise, both parents are considered to be the joint guardians of a child. If one parent is awarded sole physical custody, the other parent may be given visitation rights.