Experienced Centreville Divorce Attorneys Protecting Clients’ Rights
Helping families throughout Maryland resolve divorce, support and custody issues
Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC, provides comprehensive counsel and innovative solutions for clients facing divorce. Our skilled Centreville divorce attorneys have successfully represented clients at the state’s oldest courthouse, easing them through the process of turning one life into two. With more than 30 years of combined experience at your disposal, you can be rest assured that your divorce, and its subsequent decisions, will be skillfully guided by attorneys who are both knowledgeable and compassionate.
Understanding the divorce process
In Maryland, a couple who wishes to go their separate ways has two options. They can file for an absolute divorce, which legally ends their marriage, or a limited divorce, in which they separate but are still legally married. In either situation, alimony and child support will be calculated and child custody arrangements will be made and set, if applicable.
In an absolute divorce, you have eight grounds in which to file for divorce: Adultery, Insanity, Desertion, 12 Month Separation, Cruelty of Treatment, Excessive Vicious Conduct, Mutual Consent and Criminal Conviction. In a limited divorce, you have four available grounds: Separation, Desertion, Cruelty of Treatment, and Excessive Vicious Conduct.
If you do not have children, and you have executed a Separation Agreement, then the mandatory one year of separation may be waived by the court. Couples with children, however, must wait one year. In all cases, one of you must fulfill Maryland’s residency requirement of having lived in the state for at least six months before you file.
However, military couples may be exempt from this law, as issues regarding deployment make it difficult for some to fulfill residency requirements. If this is the case, Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC can help. Our Centreville divorce lawyers have substantial experience assisting in military divorces, and are intimately familiar with the federal laws that protect both service members and civilians during this process.
Additional considerations
Whether you and your spouse have been married for six months or sixty years, you will have to divide that which you built during your marriage. We offer thoughtful, practical guidance to clients facing challenges regarding:
- Child custody. The court makes custody decisions based on the best interests of your children. As your advocates, we prove to the court that your best interests are your child’s best interests. We have significant experience helping clients who face unique challenges in this area, including military families and same-sex couples, for whom factors like second parent adoptions and embryo donation may come into play.
- Child support. Child support is calculated based on a formula, with very little “wiggle room.” We gather the documentation necessary to show what your child will need, so that the court understands the true costs associated with raising your children, and can make a decision that protects them.
- Alimony. Spousal support is not a given, and is based on a number of different factors. Our Centreville divorce attorneys have won some of the largest alimony awards in Maryland’s history and we know what it takes to make a successful claim.
- Asset division. Asset division can cause a lot of grief, even between amicable couples. When you have significant assets – especially comingled assets – this part of the divorce process must be handled with care by an attorney who understands exactly what is at risk.
Going through a divorce can be difficult, but modifying existing decrees is as well if you are unsure of your rights, or of what the law demands. Should you need to modify an existing order, our skilled Centreville family lawyers can handle the necessary documentation and paperwork to submit to the court. We also assist clients whose former spouses are in direct violation of an order by handling all necessary steps to request enforcement.
The Maryland family attorneys you can trust to protect your future
Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC has built its reputation through for exemplary client service and skilled representation through the years. We are particularly adept at handling high-conflict divorces where substantial assets are at play. To reserve a consultation with an experienced Centreville divorce attorney, please call 410.921.2422 or fill out this contact form.