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Final Divorce Without the 12-Month Separation? It’s Possible Now

Final Divorce Without the 12-Month Separation? It’s Possible NowBig changes have come to the mutual consent divorce laws in Maryland. A new law, which takes effect October 1, 2018, will allow parents of minor children to file for a mutual consent divorce without the previously mandated one-year separation. Mutual consent divorce is not a brand-new concept in Maryland. In 2015, it became possible for couples without children to obtain an absolute (final) divorce without being separated for a year, as long as they had a written final separation agreement. The new rule makes it possible for couples with minor children to do the same. The new rules will make it much simpler for couples to obtain a “no-fault” divorce, removing the lengthy and costly year-long separation process that previously forced both parties to maintain completely separate residences and finances, while remaining in the State of Maryland. Couples now have much more flexibility to come to a mutual agreement…

Maryland business owners should protect assets during divorce

The end of a marriage is a challenging time for most Maryland couples. A lot of issues typically need to be addressed, from child support to property division. If one spouse owns a business and fails to plan ahead, those assets may also end up being split, jeopardizing the future of the company and the spouse's income. Taking preventive measures to protect the business may go a long way to minimize the potential impact of divorce. Before the wedding, a business owner can take steps to divorce-proof his or her company. This can be done through a prenuptial agreement that lists the business as individual property, exempt from the division of marital assets upon divorce. If it is too late for a prenup, a postnuptial agreement can accomplish the same goal. If there is no pre- or postnuptial agreement, there are still steps that a business owner can take after…

Will improved Maryland economy affect the divorce rate?

As the economy improves, marriage declines, according to a recent study done by a sociologist at the University of Maryland. The study looked at what, if any, effect the economic climate has on marriage in America. It found that a rosier economic future may lead to a higher rate of divorce. About seven years ago, divorce rates dropped as the economy did the same. In the years between 2008 and 2011 alone, the divorce rate dropped by 4 percent. Some people took this to mean that married couples had pulled together and become closer when met with economic difficulty. They called it the silver lining in an otherwise negative situation. Researchers now think that assumption may have been a false view of what was happening. They say, in reality, many people just could not afford the cost of ending their marriages. The numbers represented economics more than it did renewed…

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