Posted on November 30, 2017 in Child Custody

If you are embroiled in a custody dispute with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, or the other parent of your child, the prospect of dealing with a custody evaluator probably is not welcoming. Custody evaluators are essentially investigators appointed by court or mutually agreed upon by the parties to review a number of aspects of the child’s life and issue a recommendation to the court regarding legal custody, physical custody and parenting time.

For any parent, the notion of being judged can be a very emotional experience. This is especially true if a parent has shortcomings they may not want a custody evaluator to discover (i.e. alcohol use, drug abuse). However, a custody evaluation is about what is best for the child, not about who presumably has the better parenting skills.

With that, we offer some helpful tips to so that you can be prepared for a custody evaluation.

Refrain from parent bashing – Your meeting with the custody evaluator is not the time to voice your frustrations about the other parent. After all, he or she already knows that you two don’t get along, as well as the nature of your conflict. The questions to be answered are about how you will resolve future conflict.

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 Posted on November 29, 2017 in Divorce

If you are planning to file for divorce as soon as 2018 hits, you are not alone. According to Time Magazine, January is one of the most common months for people to split up. If you are dead-set on making 2018 the year you become single again, you should do some preparing before you officially announce your divorce.

Divorce can be expensive, and the costs can blindside you if you jump into it without preparation. Here are some things you should accomplish before you tell your spouse you want out.

1. Organize important documents

Start gathering your financial information as soon as possible. Gather bank statements, tax returns, real estate deeds and retirement account statements – anything that verifies your assets, debts, income and expenses. This is crucial to determine how the courts will split your property and whether there will be spousal or child support. Getting these documents ready now will mean you do not have to try and get any of this information from your spouse later. This will save you time, stress and money.

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 Posted on November 27, 2017 in Divorce

Since 2013, Maryland has proudly held the title of the first state to legalize same-sex marriage. With it has come the less illustrious—but nonetheless important—legalization of same-sex divorce, which allows for divorce between same-sex couples on the same grounds as it does for heterosexual couples.

However, the laws surrounding divorce in Maryland have not been amended to encompass circumstances unique to same-sex marriage. Consequently, same-sex couples seeking to dissolve their marriage will encounter a few roadblocks:

• Adultery: Adultery is grounds for divorce under Maryland law. However, the law set forth limits on what is considered adultery, defining it as cheating through the act of sexual intercourse between a married person and another person to whom the offending person is not married. Therefore, when a spouse in a same-sex marriage cheats—by engaging in sexual acts other than intercourse—this does not constitute adultery in the eyes of the law.

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 Posted on November 17, 2017 in Personal Injury

In a recently published report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a two-year study (from 2013 to 2014) on the drinking water in 19 U.S. states—including Maryland. The results of the study identified 42 outbreaks of waterborne diseases in drinking water, from which at least 1,006 people became ill, 124 were hospitalized and 13 died.

The most severe disease identified in the study was Legionnaires’ Disease, which accounted for over half of the outbreaks, 88 percent of the hospitalizations and all of the deaths. In Maryland, the CDC found five outbreaks of waterborne disease during this period—four of Legionnaires’ Disease and one of Nitrite.

Legionnaires’ Disease is a serious, potentially fatal form of pneumonia. While mainly an infection of the lungs, infection can also spread in wounds and other organs on the body, including the heart. The disease can also cause life-threatening complications, including:

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 Posted on November 09, 2017 in Car & Truck Accidents

As the weather begins to cool down, it’s a good time to prepare your vehicle for the eventual winter wonderland. The approaching holiday season comes with family vacations, parties and visits with relatives, meaning more time driving with your loved ones.

Unfortunately, winter’s slippery conditions put traveling families at a higher risk for traffic accidents. You can follow car seat laws and guidelines to help keep your children safe.

Maryland law states that you must secure children who are under 8-years-old or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches in a safety seat. Following the manufacturer instructions will ensure the seat is installed correctly.

As children grow each year, parents should adjust restraints to fit snugly. You may even need to switch the safety seat with a new one if your child has outgrown the height and weight limit of the current seat.

Bulky winter coats keep children warm in snowy weather, but they can also pose a car safety risk. Consumer Reports recommends buckling your child into the seat before wrapping the coat backwards like a blanket to avoid loose restraints. To check for proper tension, try the "pinch test": if the restraint has enough slack that you can hold the excess between your thumb and forefinger, then you should tighten it.

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 Posted on November 01, 2017 in Car & Truck Accidents

With October drawing to a close, you probably have noticed a change in our region. Indeed, leaves are changing, and the air seems cooler, especially in the morning. Also, the days are shorter and this means that we will all have to adjust, since daylight savings time expires this weekend.  

With the change in conditions, drivers will have to change their habits as fall driving hazards are markedly different from those in the summer.  

This post will highlight a few of them, and what drivers can do to avoid being in a car accident.

Sun glare – For those who have an eastbound morning commute, the low angle of the sun could be a hazard that causes temporary blind spots. Yes, sun shades and sunglasses can provide some relief, but keeping windows free of dust and debris can is essential in avoiding hazards created by morning sun.

Watch for migrating animals – A number of animals migrate during the fall, especially deer who seek a new feeding ground before the winter comes. Migration patterns are known to cross two-lane highways and other major thoroughfares. As such, drivers must be keenly aware of crossing animals in the early morning hours.

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 Posted on October 27, 2017 in Personal Injury

When you ride your bike, you feel alive, accomplished and healthy. Your bicycle is an effective method of transportation and exercise that promotes your health and benefits the environment. Unfortunately, you are probably going to crash in one way or another–or even worse, get hit by a vehicle.

If you get hit by a passenger car or a larger vehicle like a commercial truck or bus, you will suffer more injuries than any driver. Your bike and helmet only offer you so much protection. But how do you react when you get into a biking accident? It is crucial for you to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Here are the steps you should take after you get hit on your bike.

1. Collect contact information

According to a Consumer Reports guide on handling the aftermath of a bike crash, you should gather the following information from any drivers involved:

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 Posted on October 25, 2017 in Child Custody

Halloween will be here sooner than you think. If you have become numb from seeing Halloween decorations and costumes since Labor Day, chances are that your children have not. Nevertheless annual night of haunts and delights should be a night to remember for your kids, but it may not be remembered for the right reasons if you and your ex cannot decide on who will take them trick-or-treating.

There are a number of situations where parents may try to stick to their guns and keep a child from spending time with the other parent because of a quirk in their schedule or because Halloween falls on their day for parenting time. While this may be so, holidays are about allowing children to spend time with both parents. With the holiday season upcoming, parents should get used to this theme.

In the meantime, this post provides three ways parents can resolve Halloween parenting time disputes.

Mediation – For the uninitiated, this where a third party neutral listens to both parties and negotiates a compromise that will benefit both parties. There is also a special emphasis on tailoring a solution that works in the child’s best interests; so there is no exact "winner" or "loser" in mediation.

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 Posted on October 18, 2017 in Car & Truck Accidents

For parents, the first time a child borrows his or her car is arguably one of the most stressful day of their lives. Not only do they have difficulty understanding how time has gone by so quickly since their kids were just in kindergarten, but they are also nervous about how their kids will handle their new world behind the wheel.

Having a new driver can be especially worrisome given that teenage drivers represent the highest risk group of people to be involved in fatal accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As such, Teen Driver Safety Week is a national safety initiative where parents and teens have pointed conversations about safety behind the wheel.

Communication between teens and parents is important because parents are the primary influence on children’s behavior (regardless of how they appear not to listen to you at times).  By having conversations about safe driving habits early and often, this can establish the proper foundation for driving safely when they are on their own.

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 Posted on October 12, 2017 in Divorce

It may go without saying, but a divorce can be an emotionally traumatic experience for women and men alike. More than just the common blues that come with the end of a relationship, there may be a need take time off from work to deal with psychological issues that may arise

In these situations, it is important to know that you may be allowed to use Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) time to deal with personal issues. This is especially important if you are leaving an abusive relationship and you need time to heal from emotional injuries as well as physical ones.

Since FMLA time is unpaid (as it is designed to hold a job open), you may also be able to use disability insurance to cover your time away from work. Before allowing time off, your employer may require you to bring a recommendation from your physician explaining that you need time off, and how long you will be away.

There may be some trepidation about letting people at work know why you are away. After all, having emotional issues is not exactly a popular topic in the office, and you may be afraid of what your superiors (and colleagues) may think of you. However, if emotional issues prevent you from being productive, pride and fear should be set aside.

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