If you filed a family law case in the circuit court, it is very likely that the parties will be ordered to attend a settlement conference. What exactly takes place at a settlement conference? A settlement conference is designed to help the parties reach a settlement agreement in their case. The parties and their attorneys (if they do not have an attorney, the party attends the conference by themselves) meet with a retired judge who hears the facts of the case and tries to help the parties reach an agreement. That retired judge will not be the same judge who will hear the case should the case proceed to trial if the parties do not settle. Often times, the settlement judge will meet with the parties separately and go back and forth until the parties reach an agreement. If an agreement is reached, the agreement is then placed on the record and it becomes official. At that time, any future trial dates may be vacated or modified to reflect that the matter is now uncontested. If the parties are not able to reach an agreement, then the matter will proceed to the scheduled trial date.

It is important to be as prepared for a settlement conference as possible. It is an effective way to reach an agreement and minimize fees without having to go to a long trial. If you have any questions, please call us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your case.

Yes, you can be awarded alimony in Maryland if you meet certain factors. First, it’s important to know that that there are three forms of alimony that a judge award. The first is temporary alimony which is awarded during the divorce process which ensures that the party requesting it can financially support themselves during the divorce case. The second is rehabilitative alimony which is awarded post-divorce and usually for a short period of time. It allows the party requesting it to renter the workforce or to complete their education to get a higher paying job so that they can become self-sufficient. The third is indefinite alimony which is awarded to a party when they are unable to work due their age or disability, or due to their lifestyle when they were married to their partner.

Alimony must be requested before the final trial and, if waived, the parties cannot come back to court and ask for it later. It also can be modifiable depending on the parties’ financial situation or income. The amount of alimony to be paid will be decided by the judge hearing the case after consider a variety of factors. If you have questions about alimony, please call us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to answer all of your questions.

Not every case needs to be litigated in court. Litigation is not only a stressful and long process, but it is also financially draining to many people. When contemplating a divorce or custody action, you should consider whether your situation would be better handled by way of entering into a settlement agreement. What does a settlement agreement really capture? It covers how you handle dividing your marital property, personal property, alimony (if applicable), retirement accounts, child custody schedule, and child support payments. The following items are included in a settlement agreement:

1. The basic background information about the parties which often includes, the date of marriage, location, date of separation, number of children, and your current living arrangement.

2. Division of your marital assets which includes addressing your home, retirement accounts, joint accounts, and vehicles.

3. Addressing debt which often includes credit card debt, student loans, and vehicle loans.

4. Creating a child custody and visitation schedule which will address both joint and physical custody and outline a holiday visitation schedule.

5. An agreement on child support and spousal support (if applicable).

Once you have a signed settlement agreement, the next step will be obtaining a final court order and make sure that agreement is incorporated in it. Although divorce is not the easiest process to go through, there are ways that you can make it financially and emotionally manageable. Call us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss the most efficient way to handle your matter.