Author Archives: Amos Whitney
How long does it take for a QDRO to be completed?
Divorcing couples are often faced with having a QDRO drafted. One of the first questions they ask is “How long will this take?” For many, it seems that a QDRO should be similar to a transaction at a bank, like moving money from one account to another account. It would seem that it would… Read More »
Parent Coordination: Helping You Co-Parent for the Benefit of Your Children
While some families are able to transition from an “intact” family to a family with two homes (either post-divorce or separation) seamlessly, the reality is most families cannot. No co-parenting relationship is exactly 50/50 even when parents are together. Sometimes, one parent stays home and takes a larger role in the day-to-day management of… Read More »
Top 5 Methods (with Agreement Language) to Divide Your Furniture and Furnishings When Separating/Divorcing
It is always the best practice to be more specific as opposed to less specific when drafting the terms and provisions of a Separation Agreement or Marital Settlement Agreement. While it may seem like “overkill” at the time, it is always advisable to have clear and carefully drafted language to fall back on in… Read More »
QDROs: Shared vs. Separate?
One question you may hear when preparing to divide a retirement plan is “shared or separate interest?” What does that mean? It’s an important decision and one worth understanding. To begin with, here’s an example: Suppose Ms. Smith is a long-time employee of the Jones Company and is a fully vested participant in the… Read More »
Tips for the Holidays!
Children of divorced parents can start to become stressed as the Christmas holiday and breaks from school approach. Parents getting along and exchanges going smoothly are on the top of their wish list. Here are a few ways parents can ease their child(ren)’s mind during the holiday season: Don’t put emphasis on your “lack”… Read More »
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 »
