Author Archives: Amos Whitney
Do’s and Don’ts When Appearing in Court
Fortunately, most family law matters are resolved prior to having a judge decide the issues at a merits hearing. However, many times a resolution occurs after there have been motions hearing, temporary hearings, or other court appearances, and, of course, some matters proceed all the way to trial. If you find yourself in a… Read More »
Financial Statements in Divorce/Custody Cases: The Long Form vs. The Short Form and How to Complete the Forms Correctly
In divorce and custody cases, there are two types of financial statements. The first is the Short Form Financial Statement (Short Form Available Here) and the second is the Long Form Financial Statement (Long Form Available Here). If you are filing for custody or divorce, it is likely you will need one form or… Read More »
Ways to Give Thanks
Thanksgiving is a time for everyone to reflect on all of the positive things we fortunate to have in our lives, and to express thanks for every thing that we have. Our office believes it is of the upmost importance to not only express our thanks and gratitude, but also to let our actions… Read More »
Human Lawyer vs. Chat GPT: is it advisable to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to draft a Marital Settlement Agreement?
As an experiment, the following was typed into Chat GPT: Maryland Contract Alimony $5,000 per month for 5 years. Chat GPT provided the following language: ALIMONY PROVISION Husband, agrees to pay Wife, the sum of $5,000 per month as spousal support (alimony) for a period of 5 years, commencing on [Start Date]. The payments… Read More »
What do you mean they’re not in contempt?
The best kind of custodial order is the kind people abide by and the Court takes non-compliance with a court order very seriously. However, in 2021, Breona C. v. Rodney D. put parameters in place that tend to limit the Court’s ability to address contempt. What is contempt? According to Maryland Rule 15-202, constructive… Read More »
What does “half” mean when it comes to QDROs?
There’s a famous intelligence test that is sometimes used in job interviews. You hand the candidate a piece of paper and ask them to divide it in half. Some candidates will grab the paper and rip into two parts. Other candidates will fold the paper carefully and attempt to get close to a clean… Read More »
How Much Money Does it Take to Care for Kevin Costner’s Children?
As many people who already read celebrity news may already know, Kevin Costner and his wife, Christine Baumgartner, are going through a nasty and very public divorce. At the heart of their dispute is the custody of their three minor children, who are 12, 14, and 15 years old. Ms. Baumgartner accused her husband… Read More »
Summer Fun
SUMMER FUN School is out and it is time for summer fun and family memories! Ideas for local trips in the DC/Maryland area: McHenry is just a quick carried into the Baltimore area for a fun day reliving history. The fort was used to protect the United States during the Battle of Baltimore on… Read More »
When should I get my QDRO prepared?
When should I get my QDRO prepared? “Do I need to get my QDRO done immediately after my divorce?” This is a question we hear all the time. Sometimes we hear “Can I wait?” After a divorce, you’re probably not excited about putting in the time, money, and effort it takes to prepare a… Read More »
Third-Party Custody: Who Qualifies as a De Facto Parent?
Parents have a constitutional right to parent their children under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Under very limited circumstances, the court can award custody to a third party (a non-biological or non-adoptive parent), even over the objection the parents. Maryland Courts have developed three “avenues” that a third-party can take to… Read More »
