Prince George’s County Family Law Attorney
Prince George’s is one of the oldest counties in the United States. Africans and Europeans settled it in the 1600s. It’s the largest and second wealthiest African-American majority county in America.
Did you know that Prince George’s County had a population of 21,344 in 1790? By 1890, it had barely grown with a population of only 26,080. Then the 20th century came. A tremendous boom began at the start of World War II when the county still only had 89,490 people. In the years since the war, the county has grown to have over 10 times as many people. In 2020, Prince George’s County had a population of 967,201.
Some of America’s most important infrastructure is in Prince George’s County, including:
- FedEx Field, where the Washington Commanders play
- NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
- Joint Base Andrews
- Headquarters for the Census Bureau
The Census Bureau probably needed to put its headquarters in Prince George’s County to have enough people on hand to keep up with the counting of the county’s growth.
When living in one of the best places in America, you have all the advantages any family could want. But if you endure family issues, you may need a Prince George’s County family law attorney to make sure you and your children get the most out of life in the county.
What Is a Family Law Attorney?
Family law attorneys are sometimes called domestic relations attorneys or divorce lawyers. Divorce represents only a small part of what we do. A good Prince George’s County family law attorney assists clients with issues that span far beyond a divorce proceeding, including:
- Child custody
- Child support
- Spousal support, also known as alimony
Now, we will briefly explore each of these areas.
Divorces in Prince George’s County, MD
In Maryland, a divorce is a limited divorce or an absolute divorce. The term “limited divorce” sounds strange. If you’re partly divorced, what does that mean? That makes as much sense as being only a little pregnant. It’s not as confusing as it sounds when you consider that In Maryland, there is no “legal separation.” Limited divorces are Maryland’s version of a legal separation.
Just as with a legal separation, during a limited divorce, the spouses live apart. In a limited divorce, the parties don’t divide marital property. A limited divorce addresses matters for the duration of the limited divorce, including:
- Child custody
- Possession of the marital home
- Possession of other property
- Child support
- Spousal support (alimony)
A limited divorce has no set time length. It can go on forever if the parties so choose. But the parties to the marriage will face significant restrictions that make limited divorce a bad choice for a long term option.
An absolute divorce is what most people think of when they hear the word “divorce.” An absolute divorce completely ends the marriage. The parties agree on how:
- To divide marital property
- Custody of the children will work
- Child support will work
- If, how much, and who will receive spousal support
If the parties can’t agree on these issues, it’s a contested divorce. Here, the judge will decide how these issues will work for the former spouses.
Learn more about our Prince George’s County divorce attorneys.
Child Custody in Prince George’s County, MD
When determining how child custody will work, Maryland family law judges must make their decisions based on the best interests of the child. When determining the best interest of the child, the judge will consider many factors, including the following issues:
- Who is the primary caregiver for the child?
- The psychological and physical fitness of the parent
- The character and reputation of each parent
- The financial resources of each parent
In cases of older children, the court may consider the preference of the child. With children younger than 12, the court may still hear the child’s testimony, but will give much less weight to their preference.
Maryland courts require spouses to submit a parenting plan. This plan is an agreement on how they will each care for the child. The judge will use this plan as part of the basis for their decisions. The judge may award sole custody to one parent, but will often award joint custody.
Learn more about our Prince George’s County child custody attorneys.
Child Support in Prince George’s County, MD
In Maryland, both parents are required to support the child until the child is 18. If the child is still in high school, the parents must support the child until they’re 19. The parent who has custody of the child has a right to monthly child support payments from the other parent. Some factors considered when determining the amount of child support include:
- Child support payment obligations for other children
- Health insurance premiums for the child
- Daycare expenses
- Spousal support (alimony) payments either parent receives.
Where the parents share physical custody, one parent will still receive child support. When the parent paying child support has the child for at least 128 nights per year, a complex formula is used to determine the child support payments.
Learn more about our Prince George’s County child support attorneys.
Spousal Support, Also Known as Alimony, in Prince George’s County, MD
While child support is mandatory, there is no right to spousal support in Maryland. Judges consider many factors when determining whether to include spousal support and how much the paying spouse must pay, including:
- How long the marriage lasted
- The age of each spouse
- The financial situation of the spouses during the marriage and after the marriage
- The physical and psychological health of each spouse
- Why did the divorce occur
Alimony is usually rehabilitative, meaning it’s temporary until the lower-income spouse gets on their feet. Sometimes, spousal support is indefinite, meaning it’s permanent unless some change in circumstances makes it no longer necessary.
Learn more about our Prince George’s County spousal support attorneys.
How a Prince George’s County Family Law Attorney From Divorce With a Plan Can Help You
At Divorce With a Plan, Josephia Rouse and her senior attorneys have over 30 years of combined experience in family law. Our success is based on the careful plans we create with our clients. There’s no one-size-fits-all family law matter. We thoroughly analyze each case and craft a clear plan for your success.
Contact Divorce With a Plan Today
Family matters move quickly. A misstep even while early in the process can harm your case. Contact us today so we can get to work helping you. Contact us here or call us at (240) 269-3592.