Blogs

Divorce and Family Law

Maryland’s New Assumable Mortgage Law in Divorce Cases: What You Need to Know About House Bill 1018

When going through a divorce, dividing property can often be one of the most challenging parts of the process—especially when it comes to the marital home. A new Maryland law, House Bill 1018, aims to make that process easier by requiring lenders to allow one party to assume the mortgage on a jointly owned home, rather than requiring a refinance. The law goes into effect on October 1, 2025, and includes retroactive provisions that may apply to existing divorce judgments. If you own property in…

July 9, 2025

Divorce and Family Law

Updated Virginia Law Will Guarantee Parents Online Access to Children’s Academic and Health Records

The Virginia General Assembly has amended Section 20-124.6 of the Code of Virginia, governing access to minors’ records, to ensure that no parent, regardless of custodial status, can be denied access to academic or health records, including those stored or accessible from a secure website. What Has Changed? It has been the case that parents, regardless of custody status (including legal custody) cannot be denied access to academic or health records for a minor child, absent good cause (such as…

May 20, 2025

Divorce and Family Law

Why Choose Divorce Mediation? Key Benefits and Differences in VA, MD & D.C.

The end of a marriage doesn’t have to lead to a courtroom battle. Divorce mediation is a popular option for couples who want to resolve issues respectfully and efficiently. It offers a cost-effective, private, and often quicker alternative to litigation. Most importantly, it provides the opportunity to maintain control over the outcome, rather than letting a judge decide your family’s fate – which can vary wildly from Virginia to Maryland to Washington, D.C., and even among different judges in…

April 21, 2025

Divorce and Family Law

Bridging the Gap: Mediation vs. Parenting Coordination in Custody Disputes

Navigating divorce and custody disputes is rarely easy, especially when children are involved. If you’re facing separation or already managing a contentious parenting arrangement, you’ve likely heard of divorce mediation and parenting coordination . These two processes can both help reduce conflict, but the processes themselves are quite different. In this article, we’ll break down the key differences between custody mediation and parenting coordination, along with their advantages and…

April 9, 2025

Divorce and Family Law

Post-Divorce Conflict Resolution: How Mediation Can Help Modify Custody or Child Support Agreements

Divorce marks the beginning of a new chapter for many families, but it doesn’t always mean the end of the legal process. As circumstances change, modifications to child custody and child support agreements often become necessary. Whether a party relocates, experiences a financial shift, or a child’s needs evolve, post-divorce conflict can resurface. Mediation offers a practical, cost-effective, and less stressful approach to resolve these disputes, providing a collaborative platform to amend…

September 9, 2024

Divorce and Family Law

Advanced Mediation and Collaborative Divorce: Tailoring Solutions for Complex Situations

Navigating divorce can be challenging enough without adding to the additional stresses and expenses of the judicial system and litigation. What you may not know is, there are other options! When considering options, consider advanced mediation or collaborative divorce. Both options offer a more nuanced and cooperative framework than traditional litigation or simple mediation, making them ideal for couples facing intricate financial, custody, or personal issues. This blog article delves into…

April 15, 2024

Divorce and Family Law

Getting to Yes: Traditional Negotiation vs. Mediation in Virginia Divorces

As you navigate the complexities of divorce in Virginia, understanding the best path to reach an agreement on issues such as property division, child custody, and support is crucial. Two primary approaches to resolving these disputes are the traditional negotiation process and mediation. This blog will explore both methods, highlighting their benefits and considerations, to help you choose the path that best suits your needs. Traditional Negotiation: The Lawyer-Led Approach The traditional…

April 3, 2024

Divorce and Family Law

Essential Steps for Modifying Child Support and Custody in Virginia

Navigating the complexities of child support and custody orders can be challenging. Every family, and every child, has different needs that should be addressed while also working within the framework of Virginia laws and statutes. Custody orders are entered after consideration of a number of statutorily defined factors all focusing on the best interests of the child, while child support orders are typically entered using a guidelines formula taking into account each parent’s earnings and other…

January 31, 2024

Divorce and Family Law

Is Collaborative Divorce Right for Me?

So, you’ve made the decision to get a divorce, but you don’t know which process is right for you. You’ve likely heard about litigation, mediation…but what about collaborative? What is collaborative divorce? The collaborative process is a team-based approach to divorce focused on a voluntary and open exchange of information, with the goal of coming to a fair and reasonable resolution that is best for your family. While each party will have their own lawyer, there will also be a team, which may…

October 28, 2022

Divorce and Family Law

I Want to Get Divorced, but I Can’t Get a Court Date…Now What?

Currently, the courts in Virginia, Maryland, DC, and all around the country have been essentially closed for all but emergencies and are not hearing civil cases on a regular basis (which includes family law cases). Even when the courts open again, there will be a major backlog of cases – everything that was supposed to be heard from mid-March through the end of the shutdown, the full schedule of cases set to be heard before the pandemic, plus a glut of newly filed cases on top of that. The…

April 24, 2020