Posted on September 01, 2017 in Spousal Maintenance

A life change as big as a divorce can feel overwhelming upon first glance. While it’s definitely not a decision to take lightly, it is also a decision that can be taken in steps. Addressing each issue that comes up with the process of divorce can make everything feel more manageable. One aspect that impacts some Bowie residents in a divorce is the issue of alimony.

Alimony, also known as spousal support, is a term given to the financial support one ex-spouse gives the other, as outlined in the divorce decree. Not all divorces will have a clause for alimony, as it is only assigned in certain situations. That situation would dictate that after a marriage has ended, it left an imbalance in financial capabilities and opportunities per the arrangement of the dissolved marriage. If one spouse forwent their career and financial opportunities while the other spouse was able to achieve in this area of their life, this is often a situation in which one person pays the other ex-spouse alimony.

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 Posted on August 24, 2017 in Car & Truck Accidents

Sometimes navigating Bowie roads and other Maryland highways and county roads can feel like a big puzzle. Trying to navigate around the unsafe drivers, road construction and whatever else may complicate the daily commute that morning or evening. Since you are a safe driver, you know to be aware and attentive when behind the wheel. Sadly, not all drivers are so dedicated to driving safely behind the wheel and it could cause a collision resulting in driver and passenger car accident injury.

Certain injuries are frequently seen as a result of car collisions. Head, neck and back injuries are common as the sudden jarring of an impact can cause a person’s spine, neck or head to snap in a direction suddenly, causing mild, moderate or even severe injury. Since cars abruptly change speed or direction upon impact, these injuries are often very common for those involved in Bowie car accidents. Chest injuries are fairly common as well, when impact with the seat belt or airbag is so great that it causes broken ribs or even collapsed lungs.

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 Posted on August 18, 2017 in Child Custody

It is entirely possible for two parents to love their child but not necessarily be in love with each other. Families have a lot of different dynamics these days, and in order for child-rearing to go smoothly, a child custody arrangement need be in place to ensure everyone knows what to expect. What about when a parent with physical custody thinking about relocation? Relocating a child in a child custody arrangement may be in their best interest.

Child custody arrangements often have limitations about where the primary physical custody parent can reside in relation to a child and their other parent. This is to ensure that parents with joint custody can realistically meet the obligations of their child custody agreement and do so in a way that doesn’t put too much stress on the child. However, an opportunity or a family circumstance may have the physical custody parent thinking about moving or relocating. How would one go about putting this change into motion?

The first thing to know is that custodial parents aren’t often allowed to move outside of a certain range of an area without consulting the child custody agreement. Therefore, people should have a general understanding of whether their relocation is within the constraints of the original agreement. If it isn’t, then one should have a very good reason for relocation, which many do. It may even be in the best interests of the child for reasons of health and wellness, a school or activity opportunity or something else that nurtures a child’s ability to learn and grow.

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 Posted on August 10, 2017 in Personal Injury

We have all been there. One minute, your car is driving just fine and the next, you are pulled over on the side of the road while your car comes to a sputtering stop. When you step out of your vehicle, you assess the issue and hopefully get the situation handled or call someone for help. But, what if this story didn’t have a satisfactory ending? What if you were hit by a vehicle on the side of the road and never made it back to your vehicle or home to your family?

That was the case for one Maryland man when he pulled over to the side of Route 5. He was having car trouble and apparently working on his Lexus that afternoon when a woman’s vehicle left the roadway. Her Acura drove off into the right shoulder, struck the man’s vehicle, which then threw him into a nearby grassy area. Authorities found him unresponsive upon arrival and he was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital due to the injuries he sustained in the crash.

It is unclear at this time why the Acura left the roadway. The driver of that vehicle did survive the crash and is expected to make a full recovery. The family of the man killed is certainly seeking answers as to what caused his untimely death. Personal injury suits can help families recover damages from parties believed to have been negligent in a car accident.

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 Posted on August 04, 2017 in Child Support

When parents in Maryland decide to live separate lives from each other, it can be difficult discerning who pays for what in their child’s upbringing. With more and more families in separate living situations, how do parents work out the financial details of their child’s upbringing? They both want the best for them, so how is it determined to be a fair and equitable solution? The answer is unique to each family, there are several factors that will determine how child support numbers are decided.

Child support is often part of the general child custody arrangement. Determining who has primary physical custody can really impact how child support numbers are calculated. Generally, the parent who has primary physical custody will be the recipient of the child support payments and the other parent, the payee. This is to off-set the everyday and housing costs associated with child-rearing that the other parent may not have on a daily basis.

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 Posted on July 31, 2017 in Personal Injury

You likely see distracted drivers on many types of roadways: interstates, bustling city streets and lonely country lanes. The most obvious symptom that someone is driving distracted tends to be the fact that he or she is on a cell phone, which Maryland law forbids. However, many types of distraction exist. Even daydreaming during a boring stretch of road is a distraction, as it makes the driver less aware of the surroundings and less capable of reacting quickly and appropriately should something occur.

In one way, the dangers such drivers pose are obvious. For example, if you have been injured by such a driver, you may have dealt with (or be dealing with) immense physical and emotional pain, lost wages, disability, massive medical bills and much more. However, there are hidden dangers as well.

Leading by Example

Children often learn by watching their parents, and it is common for parents to be chagrined when they realize their children have picked up a bad habit from them. The same concept applies to distracted driving. Parent A may think nothing of checking his or her email while driving but does not understand the children in the back seat see this behavior and think it is okay. Thus, new drivers have come of age watching their parents engage in blatant distracted driving for years and might feel like it is no big deal.

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 Posted on July 27, 2017 in Child Custody

Often a person may associate child custody issues with those who are going through a divorce, but that is not always the case. Around 40 percent of babies born today are born to unwed mothers. It’s not surprising that there are many custody issues for these families in the Bowie area.

Custody disputes among unwed mothers and fathers, grandparents or other relatives are common. When parents are not married, both parents have the right to pursue custody. Custody is awarded in both physical and legal custody. Legal custody involves decision making regarding the child and physical custody is where the child will live. The court will decide what is in the child’s best interest and who has been the child’s main caregiver. They can award sole custody to one parent, or joint custody, or award visitation rights to a parent.

Child custody can be a complicated issue for some families. A legal professional who is skilled in family law can help a person work through their child custody issues. An attorney understands what custody issues a single parent is facing and knows how to help. Emotions can be complicated, and a parent may just want to have a relationship with their child. Having an attorney to protect a person during these challenging times is important. They can work hard to protect both the parent’s rights and the child’s rights.

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 Posted on July 21, 2017 in Child Support

If you are thinking of seeking a child support modification, then you have been through the process of determining child support before. It isn’t exactly a quick process. There are a lot of factors to consider when determining how child support should be handled for parents of a child living in separate households. However, child support agreements cannot always account for changes in income or changes in a child’s situation. Should a parent in Maryland seek to modify their child support agreement if it is no longer functioning?

There are a few reasons why a person might want to seek a modification of their child support agreement. One reason is a drastic change in income. If a parent is no longer making what they once did, or if they are making a lot more than they once were, it may be time to update the child support agreement. Also, if the needs of the child have changed drastically, child support should be modified to reflect that change as well. Whether you are the paying parent or receiving parent, or you wish to increase or decrease the child support amount, parents have the right to seek modification to the child support agreement.

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 Posted on July 13, 2017 in Car & Truck Accidents

Did you know that Maryland state law can have a huge impact on the result of a personal injury case after a car accident? Maryland is one of only a handful of states to recognize contributory negligence laws in cases of personal injury. For car accidents, the law applies to situations in which a person is even the tiniest bit responsible for causing the accident.

In most states, the law revolves around a 50/50 or similar split of responsibility of both parties when determining fault. However, under contributory negligence law, a person can be affected if they are found to be even the smallest percent responsible for causing the car accident. This means, for example, that if a person is even as much as 1 percent responsible for causing the car accident (and its resulting injuries) that person could be totally barred from recovering damages or the damages may be reduced to reflect her role in the resulting injury.

Contributory negligence is most often brought up as a counter-claim against a personal injury suit. That is, a person will cite contributory negligence on behalf of the plaintiff since Maryland is what’s known as a contributory negligence state. For those who have been injured in a car accident, contributory negligence law can have a huge impact on the outcome. If the injured is even the smallest amount responsible for causing the accident, it’s possible their damages could reflect that.

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 Posted on July 07, 2017 in Child Custody

As you go through divorce, one of the most pressing issues on your mind is child custody. How much will you get to see your child? Will you get sole, joint or no custody? Regardless of your marital problems, you still love your child and want to be an involved parent. While it is impossible to predict how a judge will rule in your custody case, you can get an idea by knowing the judge has the best interests of your child in mind.

Aiming for the best interests of your child sounds good, but what exactly does it mean? This is confusing legal jargon for many parents. Continue reading below for some factors considered in Maryland custody decisions.

1. Your Relationship with Your Child Before Divorce

Who has been providing the most care for your child up to this point in time? Consistency is one factor in determining the best interests of your child. If one parent has been disproportionately providing care for your child while the other one travels a lot, the judge will certainly consider this.

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