Individuals who decide to take their personal relationships to the next level and get married might also consider having prenuptial or premarital agreements in place prior to saying, "I do." Some people are not keen on the idea of starting out a marriage with what is, in essence, a contract that sets forth what the couple would like to happen in case of a divorce or separation. Still, prenuptial agreements can be very helpful and anyone considering marriage might be well advised to consider having one in place.
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Divorcing is not always an easy decision for couples to make. While it is true that some couples mutually come to the realization that they need to part ways, some may not want to let go of the relationship just yet. There are a variety of reasons why couples choose to divorce, and it is important for them to realize that divorces can be based on fault (or no-fault), as well as contested or uncontested. There are significant differences between contested and uncontested divorces, and your divorce attorney in Baltimore and Towson will tell you that it is crucial for couples to fully appreciate those differences prior to proceeding through the divorce process.
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Dealing with a divorce can be emotionally and mentally draining for all involved. There is so much to consider when going through a divorce, to include the division of marital assets and/or property. However, when thinking about marital property, your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you that many individuals often forget about their spouses' pensions and other retirement accounts of which they may be entitled to receive a portion. In order to determine whether or not you are entitled to certain benefits under your soon-to-be ex-spouse's pension and/or retirement plan, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.
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Although divorce rates have generally dropped or at least stabilized in recent years, baby boomers are divorcing at record rates, according to recent data from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). The study reveals that among AAML’s 1,600 members, 61 percent of the respondents indicated that they have seen recent increases in divorce rates among couples over the age of 50.
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There are a number of factors that will determine whether a person is responsible for his or her ex-spouse’s credit card debt that was incurred during the marriage. Not only will the parties’ divorce decree spell out which party is responsible for which debt, but whose name is on the contract with the credit card company will also impact this determination. Clearly, the facts in each situation also can make a difference in this determination of liability.
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According to a recent article in U.S. News and World Report, dealing with your children’s current or future college expenses is an essential part of your divorce, even well after your divorce is final. While some divorcing parents are able to work out the funding of their children’s college educations on their own, it is often helpful for the parties to work out a mutually acceptable agreement, particularly if a child’s college education will soon become a reality.
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Divorce is typically a stressful, difficult, and emotional ordeal for parents to go through, even under the most amicable of circumstances. No matter how much both parents may realize the need for or desire for a divorce, it is still hard to endure and accept the massive life changes necessary to make a divorce happen.
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Custody issues can be emotional, complex, and downright messy for all parties involved. However, when a child’s parents were never married to begin with, custody disputes can become even more complicated. With marriage rates in the United States at record lows, these types of custody cases are becoming more and more commonplace.
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For those of you who are ordered to receive Child Support, your Baltimore Family Lawyer notes that Maryland's Department of Human Resources has now corrected seven out of 11 issues that were raised in an audit of the Child Support Enforcement Administration (CSEA) by the Office of Legislative Audits. The department has plans to remedy the remaining four issues by the end of April. A 2011 audit revealed that CSEA was not effectively using all of the available enforcement tools to get parents throughout the state of Maryland to pay Child Support as ordered. However, despite the positive strides that the state has made, the issues raised by the audit are not considered to be fully corrected until certified by the auditors. As a result, the department will lose out on $100,000 of its 2013 appropriation.
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CNN Money recently featured an article about the effects on Social Security benefits when older citizens decide to divorce after a long marriage. Your Baltimore divorce attorney has seen a trend in couples turning to divorce in later life in order to seek the true happiness that they deserve. The impact of divorce on Social Security benefits becomes a significant issue as each spouse sorts out his or her new financial situation as a single person.
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