As just about any Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer knows, it can be quite difficult to appeal or set aside a marital settlement agreement in the state of Maryland. That's because under the law, such agreements are presumed valid based on the fact that adults generally have the capacity to enter into valid contracts, and a marital settlement agreement is considered to be a "contract."
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The divorce process can be a stressful time for both parties. Any number of disputes and/or issues may arise prior to the divorce being finalized, and if a couple shares children, that can bring about a whole different set of problems for the parties to deal with. That is why it is important for individuals who are seeking a divorce to work with a skilled Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer who can help to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
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Going through a divorce can be mentally, physically and financially draining on the parties involved. Quite often, the parties have gone through considerable expense and heartache in an effort to reach the best outcome possible based on their situation. But as your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you, there are occasions when one party is unhappy with the judge's decisions that have been issued in the final divorce decree.
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In order to modify an order for spousal support/alimony, just about any Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you that some sort of substantial change will need to have taken place, such as a change in the former spouse's needs or a change in the paying spouse's ability to pay. Typically in the state of Maryland, changes in alimony will fall under one of four categories: requests to modify the amount of alimony, requests to extend alimony, extensions and/or modifications due to substantial changes in one's circumstances, and requests to terminate alimony.
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Prior to filing for divorce in Maryland, parting spouses will first need to have a justifiable reason (or "ground") for ending the union. If a spouse is seeking an absolute divorce, he or she will have to demonstrate that at least one valid reason or ground exists. That said, any spouse who is contemplating divorce should consult a Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer in order to determine which grounds might apply.
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Qualified domestic relations orders or QDROs are orders that are typically included in divorce agreements when the parties are dealing with retirement and/or pension funds. More specifically, the order establishes a party's (commonly referred to as an "alternate payee") legal rights with respect to receiving all or a certain percentage of the other party's qualified plan account balance or benefit payments.
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When Maryland couples voluntarily make the decision to divorce and go their separate ways, they typically begin the divorce process by separating themselves for at least a year prior to actually filing for the divorce. Some couples' separations are more "formal" than others in that some may simply choose to enter into oral agreements to live separately, while others prefer to document their decisions in writing via written separation agreements. As your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you, however, whenever there's a voluntary separation involved, separation agreements can be helpful in that they can be used as evidence when attempting to finalize the divorce.
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Some people are under the mistaken belief that if they are married for less than six months and they decide that things are not working out between them, they can simply get their marriages annulled really quickly. However, in the state of Maryland, that is not the case. Annulments will only be granted in Maryland when marriages are deemed to be invalid due to the fact that they are void or voidable.
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Individuals in the state of Maryland and elsewhere throughout the United States often have questions about marriage. Maryland has a number of laws pertaining to marriage, and as your Baltimore and Towson family law attorney will tell you, it is important for those who are considering "jumping the broom" to know as much as possible about their legal rights and options. Before individuals decide to get marry, it is crucial for them to know whether or not they are legally allowed to be married in the first place.
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For many couples, ending a marriage can be an emotional and stressful time for all. But beyond trying to determine who will get to keep the dishes and the car, divorcing couples will need to keep certain financial aspects of the relationship in mind as they attempt to make adjustments from joint and combined living to single living. As your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer will tell you, anyone who is at the initial stages of divorce should make sure to properly prepare to protect his or her future interests, especially from a financial standpoint.
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