Trusted St. Michael’s Divorce Attorneys for Your Complex Family Law Needs
Skilled lawyers protecting clients in Talbot County and throughout Maryland
When a couple decides to divorce, they face important, and often difficult, decisions that will impact the course of their lives. Even the most amicable divisions may be frustrating or emotional at times. The experienced St. Michael’s divorce attorneys of Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC, put their resources and acumen to work for families whose substantial assets must be divided with care and certainty. We put our more than 30 years of combined experience to work for clients facing unique challenges, and help you plan for your future post-separation and divorce. If you have made the decision to move forward, you can rely on us to guide you.
Beginning the process of divorce
Few experiences are as emotional as divorce. We have found over the years that our clients, even when the decision to end the marriage was their idea, may still harbor feelings of anger, sadness or frustration. However, divorce is, if we take the emotions out of it, a business transaction. Two people have signed a contract, and now they wish to dissolve that contract.
In Maryland, that process follows one of two paths. The first is an absolute divorce, where the marriage officially ends under the law, all assets and properties are divided, alimony and child support may be awarded, and custody and access plans will be made. The second is a limited divorce is similar in that your custody and access plans will be made and alimony and child support can be awarded, however, you are still legally married.
Before you and your spouse choose to go either route, however, you must prove that one of you has lived in Maryland for at least six months before filing the appropriate paperwork. If you do not have minor children, and you have executed a Separation Agreement, you can file for divorce immediately. Couples with children, however, must live apart for at least one year before they are allowed to file.
Grounds for divorce in Maryland
Whether you choose to file for a limited or absolute divorce will determine the grounds under which you file. In an absolute divorce, those grounds are:
- Adultery
- Insanity
- Desertion
- 12 Month Separation
- Cruelty of Treatment
- Excessive Vicious Conduct
- Mutual Consent
- Criminal Conviction
In a limited divorce, four of those grounds apply: Separation, Desertion, Cruelty of Treatment, and Excessive Vicious Conduct.
Additional considerations for complex divorces
Once the decision to file is made, there is still more work to be done. Our team of family law attorneys represent clients in and around St. Michael’s when it comes to:
- Property division. Dividing your assets can create a lot of tension. This is intensified when a couple owns significant properties, stock options, businesses or retirement accounts. We ensure that the division is equitable under the law, so that you might retain all that is rightfully yours.
- Child custody and access. Custody decisions are made with the child’s best interests in mind. Our job is to show the court that your interests are your child’s best interests.
- Child support. Support is calculated by a formula. We handle the documentation that is necessary for an accurate calculation, and ensure that your child and his or her future is protected at all times.
- Alimony. Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC has obtained some of the most significant alimony awards on record in Maryland, including an award of $30,000 per month indefinitely. Our experience in these matters works for those seeking support and for those who believe they should not have to pay, because our St. Michael’s divorce lawyers know exactly what it takes to make a successful claim.
Our firm is sensitive to the needs of families that fall outside the realm of “traditional” divorce as well. Having worked with same-sex couples on complex issues regarding IVF and embryo donation, as well as military couples who face challenges related to pension division, residency and deployment, we know that wants and goals can change in an instant. Our experiences shape the way we approach each case without overpowering your specific needs. This means you receive the personal, detailed attention you have come to expect from our firm, while benefiting from our wide array of resources and knowledge of the law.
Seasoned divorce lawyers protecting St. Michael’s clients
The St. Michael’s divorce lawyers of Cynthia H. Clark & Associates, LLC, have protected client interests and futures for years; we can protect yours, too. If you are facing challenges because of substantial assets unique circumstances, our team can help. To reserve a consultation with an experienced family lawyer, please call 410.921.2422 or fill out this contact form.