Millersville, Maryland Family Law Attorneys
Take Control and Protect Your Family
Law offices in Millersville. Serving clients’ family law needs across the state of Maryland.
The stakes are too high to settle for an inexperienced family law firm
Whether you’re going through a divorce or separation, negotiating child support, or determining child custody, having the right family lawyer by your side from the very beginning can make a critical difference in the outcome of your case. Family law matters are often emotionally charged and legally complex, and without experienced guidance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of your rights and options. When you move forward without proper legal representation, you risk being taken advantage of during negotiations, agreeing to unfavorable terms, losing valuable assets, or sacrificing important parental rights. Even more importantly, mistakes made early in the process can result in less time with your children and long-term consequences that are difficult to undo. Having a knowledgeable family law attorney advocating for you from the start helps protect your interests, your financial future, and your relationship with your children.
Our family law team helps you take control of your future
We know how scary this time can be for you and your family. This is why we take the time to truly listen and answer all of your questions so you can…
Be Informed
Take Control
Secure Your Future
Start with the right family law attorney in Maryland
Hiring a family law lawyer in Maryland means something in your life has not gone as planned. Whether you’re getting divorced, becoming separated, negotiating child support, or determining child custody, your life probably feels chaotic and uncertain. You want to take control and secure the future for you and your family. You don’t know where to start, which can leave you feeling scared.
At Jimeno & Gray, your future matters. We know how scary this can be, which is why we focus on you, take the time to listen to you, answer all of your questions, and educate you along the way. This puts control back in your hands and ensures we help you achieve the best possible outcome for your family law matter.
Here is how to get started.
- First, schedule a call with a member of our team. We’ll take the time to listen and understand your situation.
- Second, we’ll develop a customized legal strategy that meets your specific needs.
- Finally, get results. We help you achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.
You need a Maryland family lawyer that puts you first. Hiring a lawyer that tells you what you want to hear can do more harm than good. The same is true for an overly aggressive lawyer. We will always tell you the truth, give you the legal advice you need, and act in your best interest. That is how you get the results you deserve.
So, schedule a call now with our team and put all of this stress behind you. Find relief in knowing you have a law firm that puts your future back in your hands while giving you the tool of knowledge.
Common questions for family law attorneys in Maryland
Here are answers to a few commonly asked questions as you seek a law firm to represent you.
Child Support Guidelines. The child support guidelines are established by the state legislatures and the amount is determined by the parents’ incomes, certain deductions, and the custody arrangement.
Child Support begins when one parent files a pleading with the Court requesting child support. The Court can only “backdate” child support to the date that a parent filed their request. If you are seeking child support, the earlier you file the better.
For more information see our video “Maryland Child Support Calculator in 2021: How Much Will You Owe?”
In order to get a divorce, you must file a Complaint for Absolute Divorce with the Circuit Court in the appropriate county. To qualify for a divorce you must meet certain requirements. To make sure you appropriately file you should seek the advice of an experienced family law team.
For more information see our video “Causes of Action for Getting a Divorce in Maryland.”
In Maryland, there is a “Limited Divorce”, which is best described as a legal separation. If you are only granted a Limited Divorce you cannot re-marry and the Court cannot determine a final division of marital property. The Court can order child support, child custody, alimony, and use and possession of certain property. In an Absolute Divorce, the Court can divide marital property and once granted a person can re-marry.
In order to file for an Absolute Divorce in Maryland, you must have certain “grounds” or “causes of action.” The most common grounds for divorce is a one-year separation, in which you and your spouse have not resided under the same roof for at least one year and have not had any sexual contact in that year.
For more information watch our video on causes of action in a divorce.
An annulment in Maryland is a court decree that your marriage is either void or was never valid. There are very strict rules for seeking an annulment in Maryland and many couples fail to qualify.
If you’re looking to get an annulment, we’re ready to talk. We can help during this difficult time in your life.
The legal grounds for an annulment in Maryland include:
- Consanguinity – your spouse is a blood relative.
- Bigamy – your spouse is married to someone else.
- Impotency – you must prove your spouse can’t meet your sexual and physical needs.
- Mental disability – your spouse could be temporarily or permanently mentally disabled.
- Duress – you were forced to marry your spouse.
For more information watch our video “Who is Eligible for an Annulment of Marriage in Maryland?”
In Maryland, marital property is all property that a spouse obtained during the marriage. It does not matter how the property is titled or who paid for it. This can include adding value to property that was acquired before the marriage like retirement accounts, vehicles, real estate, and bank accounts.
Any property that was gifted to a spouse, by a third party, an inheritance, or excluded by a valid agreement between the spouses is considered non-marital property.
Some property may be mixed marital property, both marital and non-marital.
Spouses may agree on how their marital property is to be divided and this can be done with a valid separation agreement. Otherwise, the court will decide and determine who is entitled to what portion, or share, of the marital property. The Court will take into account several factors and determine the value of the property.
It is important that you have an experienced family law team by your side to help you determine that property is marital, non-marital, or mixed marital to best protect your rights and assets during this trying time.
There are two types of custody in Maryland: legal custody and physical custody. This can get complicated, and this is why having the help of an experienced family law team by your side is helpful.
Legal custody of your children decides who will be responsible for making major decisions in your child’s life such as:
- What school he or she will attend;
- What doctor he or she will see;
- What medical treatment he or she will receive; and
- What religion the child will practice;
Physical custody of your children relates to who will be granted the primary caretaker of the child/children.
These 2 types of custody may sound easy to negotiate but the trouble exists when deciding who, and how much, legal and physical custody should be granted to each parent.
In Maryland, legal and physical custody can each be placed solely on one parent or divided between the parents. Decisions regarding how much time each parent can partake in the upbringing of the child/children should also be made.
For more information watch our video “Physical vs. Legal Custody: How Child Custody Works in Maryland.”