Columbia Family Lawyer
Choosing a family law attorney can be challenging, but it is one of the most important decisions you will make in the entire process. Some attorneys may be more aggressive, while others prefer a more collaborative approach. However, the right attorney will be able to blend those styles and to adapt to your unique circumstances. In many cases, a collaborative approach may be the best solution for you and your family. Even if a collaborative approach includes elements of fierce negotiation, controlling the outcome of a case offers a sense of predictability and certainty that going to trial does not. However, if you are in a situation involving abuse or a narcissistic partner, a more aggressive strategy may be necessary to protect yourself or your children.
Whether you need guidance on divorce, child custody, asset division, alimony, or child support, your advice should be tailored to your situation. You and your attorney will work as partners to ensure that the strategy created is reasonably calculated to achieve a positive outcome. A Columbia family lawyer from Price Benowitz can review your case during a consultation and offer practical solutions.
Understanding State Family Laws
While every family faces unique challenges, Maryland state law defines the rights and responsibilities of each individual involved. Understanding how those laws apply to a person’s situation can provide crucial information for making informed decisions. One of the primary roles of a Columbia family law attorney is educating people. Instead of making decisions for them, a lawyer should provide the necessary information to help them make their own choices and take back autonomy in a process that can feel overwhelming.
Dissolving Marriages
Many people in Columbia seek the assistance of a family attorney when they decide to end a marriage. There are two legal options: annulment and divorce. An annulment invalidates a marriage, making it as though it never legally happened. On the other hand, divorce terminates a valid marriage.
Annulments require extremely particular circumstances. As annulments are generally disfavored in the state of Maryland, you must speak to an attorney to determine if your case meets the narrow requirements to obtain such an outcome.
More often, people choose to end a marriage through divorce. A divorce not only declares that a marriage is no longer valid, but it also handles the division of assets, assigns both individuals’ rights and responsibilities, and determines child custody and support.
The state requires one of the following three grounds to file for divorce:
- Mutual consent
- A six-month separation
- Irreconcilable differences
To file for a divorce in the state, at least one party must be a resident. The residency requirement is six months unless the grounds for the divorce occur in the state. It is important to understand that while Maryland no longer has fault-based grounds for divorce, the actions of each party will still be relevant to the outcome of the case.
Child Custody and Child Support Decisions
Family lawyers also handle cases involving child custody and child support. While people might resolve these issues during a divorce where that is appropriate, they can also arise outside marriage. For example, parents may never have been married or face ongoing matters related to custody or support.
A family lawyer in Columbia can assist you in obtaining an initial order to establish custody and child support rights. This process may require establishing paternity and addressing other concerns, depending on the circumstances. Child support determinations will consider both parents’ income, child support guidelines, and the custody agreement. The number of overnights each parent spends with a child directly corresponds to the child support established. Custody decisions will be based on the Court’s evaluation of several factors enumerated in case law. An attorney will assist you in understanding those factors and creating a strategy tailored to highlight the factors weighing in your favor.
Work With a Columbia Family Attorney
Family lawyers can also offer support for additional legal matters, such as adoption, grandparent rights, prenuptial agreements, guardianship, domestic violence, and more. If you are dealing with a family legal disagreement, a Columbia family lawyer can help.
Securing legal representation is essential, especially in cases involving abuse or power imbalances in a relationship. A lawyer’s role is to protect your interests and offer an objective perspective during emotional family disputes. Your attorney may help you understand the short- and long-term implications of your decisions. Contact Price Benowitz today to schedule a consultation and explore your options.
