Maryland Divorce & Separation Law, 10th Edition

Editors: John J. Condliffe, Esq. & Debra B. Cruz, Esq.

Contributors: Eric P. Bacaj, Esq., John J. Condliffe, Esq., Debra B. Cruz, Esq., Elizabeth R. Estephan, Esq., Richard B. Jacobs, Esq., William T. Kerr, Esq., Brian K. Pearlstein, Esq., Linda J. Ravdin, Esq., Thomas C. Ries, Esq., Christopher W. Roberts, Esq., Robert A. Rombro, Esq., Jared S. Sands, Esq., Alaina L. Storie, Esq., Daniel F. Thomas, Esq., and Wendy Widmann, Esq.

All new in 2019 with a 2020 supplement included, the Tenth Edition of this definitive work, available in hardcopy or digital form, is the Family Law practitioner’s comprehensive reference book and guide on divorce and separation law in Maryland. The book sets forth the legal principles and procedures for handling family law actions, including divorce, separation, child custody, child support, adoption and paternity matters, from the initial contact with a potential client through appeal. Updated by expert practitioners, it provides tips and forms and is an easy-to-follow guide on Family Law.

This Tenth edition provides a step-by-step guide to handling a family law case, including:

• An outline of the procedural requirements as set forth in the Maryland Rules, a summary of the Maryland Code’s Family Law title, and a discussion of available remedies, with practice tips and strategies
• Updates statutes and rules and case law governing legal principles that apply to all aspects of practice including grounds for divorce, child custody, child support, property distribution, alimony, settlement agreements, adoption, paternity, tax considerations, and employee benefits
• Separate, detailed chapters on Alimony and Child Support
• Contains a form settlement agreement that enables you to choose from various provisions including those relating to custody, visitation, child support, alimony and property distribution, to enable you to select the ones that fit the particular circumstances of a case
• Includes sample forms (includes a sample Marital Settlement Agreement) and court orders for QDROs, QCOs, and WMCSOs, as well as a table of cases, table of authorities, and index
  AND MORE!!

Summary of Contents:

Chapter 1–Divorce Grounds and Defenses
Chapter 2–Alimony
Chapter 3–Child Support
Chapter 4–Property Disposition in Divorce & Annulment
Chapter 5–Marital Settlement Agreements (including Form Agreement)
Chapter 6–Child Custody Proceedings (including Visitation, Adoption and Paternity)
Chapter 7–Federal Income, Estate, and Gift Tax Aspects of Separation and Divorce
Chapter 9–Pleading and Litigation Tactics in Domestic Cases
Chapter 8–Employee Benefits

Click to view detailed Table of Contents.

The 2020 Supplement to Chapter 3: Child Support, included free in every purchase, addresses the upcoming changes to Maryland’s child support statute.

Effective October 1, 2020, the percentage of overnights for using shared physical custody Guidelines decreased. Effective a year later, on October 1, 2021, the upper limit of the Guidelines will increase to $360,000 per year. In addition, the definitions of “voluntary impoverishment” will be tightened in line with case law, and a self-support reserve will be created for low-income child support obligors.

Updated by expert practitioners, the 2020 Supplement to Chapter 3 gives family law practitioners a detailed overview of the changes and how they will affect the calculation of child support. The Supplement summarizes the new rules and case law and includes practical tips and strategies on their use. Includes Sample Child Support Worksheets and all relevant statutory provisions.

Please note the Supplement to Chapter 3 is available as an electronic version only.