PRACTICE AREAS
Learn more about some of our practice areas…
Meditation
Choosing to mediate your dispute is a crucial step in minimizing conflict and retaining control over the outcome of your case. Rather than leaving the decision in the hands of the court, you can opt to mediate your custody, divorce, or family matter with a certified mediator. At Rea Ripley Law, our mediators are not only certified mediators but also seasoned family law practitioners, experienced in navigating the complexities of marital, family and financial dynamics. They bring a deep understanding of both the legal and emotional aspects of family law, ensuring a more informed and civil resolution.
Family Law Agreements (Pre, Post, and Separation)
A prenuptial agreement (also called an antenuptial agreement or prenup), is a legal document that can protect the assets and finances of both parties in a marriage, especially in the event of divorce. It can help ensure that assets remain secure by defining marital and separate property, protecting retirement savings and businesses, and preserving inheritances for children.
A note on prenuptial agreements: When you enter into a marriage, you are creating a legally binding agreement between yourself and your future spouse. Most people enter into this legal agreement without knowing the terms. Not only do you not know the terms, but the terms change from state to state. Without a prenuptial agreement, you are defaulting to terms that are not specific to you or your marriage. A prenuptial agreement gives you and your spouse the freedom to determine your own terms. Even if you are not sure if a prenuptial agreement is right for you, understanding how the law will impact you moving forward is critical.
A postnuptial agreement can provide spouses with more certainty and control in the event of a divorce. It spells out how a married couple will divide their assets in the event of divorce. It can also help couples plan for other situations, such as if one spouse dies or becomes disabled.
Divorce
Divorce, also called absolute divorce, is a legal process that formally ends a marriage or marital union between two individuals. It typically involves resolving issues such as division of assets and debts, child custody and support, spousal support (alimony), and any other related matters. Divorce can be initiated by one or both spouses and is governed by family law statutes and regulations that vary by jurisdiction.
Legally, the process involves filing a petition or complaint for divorce with the appropriate court, followed by negotiations or court proceedings to reach agreements on the division of property, child custody arrangements, and financial support. In cases where agreements cannot be reached, the court may intervene to make decisions based on applicable laws and the best interests of the parties involved, especially children.
Military Divorce
Military divorce refers to the dissolution of a marriage involving one or both spouses who are currently serving or have served in the military. This type of divorce has unique aspects compared to civilian divorces due to the involvement of military laws, regulations, and benefits.
Military divorces often involve jurisdictional issues, division of military benefits, unique child custody issues, deployment issues and nuanced support and alimony issues.
Our attorneys are experienced with military divorces and can help you navigate this process.
Custody
Child Custody refers to both physical and legal custody of a minor child (a child under the age of 18). Physical custody mainly concerns where a child will reside and visitation. Legal custody refers to the ability to make major decisions for a minor child. Both types of custody are governed by the best interest of the child standard.
Navigating custody disputes in Maryland can be complex, requiring an understanding of state laws and a focus on the best interest of the child. An experienced family law attorney can guide you through these challenges and ensure that your child's well-being is prioritized throughout the process.
Child Support
Child support in Maryland is determined based on state guidelines, which consider factors such as each parent's income, the number of children involved, and certain expenses like health insurance and childcare costs. Often child support modification will be appropriate based on changes in the parties' incomes, financial circumstances or expenses of the children. An attorney can run child support guidelines for you to aid you in determining your support obligation or how much support you may be entitled to.
Property Division
Maryland is an equitable (not equal) distribution state. This means that marital property and debts are divided fairly, though not necessarily equally, between spouses. Marital property typically includes assets acquired during the marriage, such as real estate, income, retirement benefits, and other tangible and intangible assets. The disposition of property is based on several factors including financial circumstances of the parties, contributions, agreements between the parties, and may take into consideration non-marital contributions to the acquisition of marital property.
Alimony
Alimony is financial support that one spouse may be required to pay to the other after a divorce or separation. An award of alimony is nuanced and depends on many factors including but not limited to length of the marriage, age, income, each spouse's financial needs and resources, other assets the parties will receive in the divorce and contributions to the marriage (such as childcare or career sacrifices).
Appeals
An appeal refers to a legal process through which a party who is dissatisfied with a decision made by a lower court or administrative agency can “appeal” the decision to one of Maryland’s appeal courts to review the decision. The purpose of an appeal is to determine whether the lower court or made errors in interpreting the law or applying it to the facts of the case.
If you have received a final decision from the trial court and are considering an appeal, please contact us to discuss your matter. Our attorneys have extensive appellate experience and are prepared to review your order and discuss your appeal options with you.