Family Law
Firm attorney Bill Fanning has focused almost exclusively on family law matters since 1993 and has gained a wealth of experience helping individuals and families through difficult issues associated with their divorce or other family law matter. We help people obtain limited divorces and absolute divorces, utilizing fault-based grounds such as adultery, abandonment and cruelty, as well as no-fault divorces.
Custody and Support
Deciding child custody involves making determinations to both legal custody (who will make decisions regarding the child’s medical care, education, and religious upbringing) and physical custody (who lives with the child). In either case, custody may be awarded solely to one parent or shared by both parents in a manner determined by the court to be in the child’s best interests.
Regardless of the custody arrangement, both parents have an obligation to support their children financially, and some award of child support is usually ordered to be paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent with primary custody. Deviation from Maryland’s strict child support guidelines is sometimes possible if it can be shown the amount is unjust or inappropriate in a particular case.
Obtaining a divorce involves deciding other important issues such as the division of marital property and whether spousal support (alimony) will be paid, how much and for how long. Since all marital property will be divided in a manner the court deems equitable, making sure the court properly classifies and values each asset and debt is essential. The property division can impact the decision of spousal support, too. Whether negotiating a settlement informally or through mediation, or litigating contested issues in court, we can help you protect your rights and promote your interests so that you can move on with your life in the best interests of you and your family.