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Divorce, Custody, and Family Law

Divorce is tough. Make sure your attorney is, too.

Andalman & Flynn family law attorneys represent Maryland clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody, child support, interstate child support and child custody, alimony, adoption, guardianship, alternative families, property division and settlements, and protection against domestic violence. The attorneys at Andalman & Flynn also help clients enforce separation agreements, divorce orders, child custody and child support orders, and monetary judgments.

Going through a divorce is never easy, but neither is holding together a marriage that is clearly falling apart. Whether the decision to pursue divorce is reached as a result of irreconcilable differences, adultery, mental illness, domestic violence, or even conflicts over how children should be raised, divorce is sometimes the only path to a better life.

At the law firm of Andalman & Flynn, we always impress upon our clients the idea that divorce is as much a new beginning as it is an ending. Hiring the right attorney to represent your best interests in your divorce is essential to ensuring your new life will have the freedom, happiness and financial independence you deserve. Andalman & Flynn recognizes that divorce is emotionally exhausting, but it is also a time for reflection and renewal, and when necessary we will help you find the right professionals to guide you through this period and into your new life. We pursue your rights and claims quickly and aggressively, so that you can focus on exploring and shaping the possibilities of your new life.

We can help you protect yourself with the following legal services:

Filing suit, and all aspects of domestic litigation
Property settlement agreements in conjuction with divorce
Support agreements
Custody agreements
Drafting of qualified domestic relations orders and retirement benefit orders
Income and gift tax planning in conjunction with all of the above services
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, and Collaborative Law
Enforcement of agreements, court orders and judgments

Divorce and Children

There are two types of divorces – those involving children, and those without. Divorces involving children are invariably more complicated, because child custody and child support must be determined. In situations where an impartial judge must make the final determination regarding the custody of your child, the courtroom often becomes a bitter and emotional battleground between divorcing parties. The attorneys at Andalman & Flynn are experienced in litigation, and, just as importantly, experienced in resolving custody through alternate means of dispute resolution.

Parent Mediation and Coordination

The state of Maryland (along with many other states) strongly encourages mediation between divorcing parents to negotiate the best arrangements regarding child custody. By litigating child custody and support, you turn over control of the decision to the judge, who will rely on legal precedent to make a decision, rather than on the intricacies of your specific situation. In parent mediation, a court-appointed mediator will offer advice, suggestions and alternatives in helping parents resolve conflicts or disagreements, and then all final decisions come about as a compromise between the two parents. Andalman & Flynn attorneys will guide you through mediation, also known as parent coordination, if that is the best route for you.

However, at Andalman & Flynn, we recognize that mediation is not appropriate for all cases, such as in instances of domestic violence, physical or mental abuse, or intimidation. Therefore, we carefully review your situation before recommending mediation.

Mediation promotes a cool-headed approach to the touchy issues of child custody, putting the best interests of the children at the forefront of the process. Studies strongly support that child custody disputes settled through mediation result in healthier, more cooperative relationships between both the parents and their children following the divorce.

Child Custody: Sole or Joint

Either through mediation or through a judge’s decision, child custody is determined during the divorce. There are two types of child custody in the state of Maryland: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody defines the parental right to make decisions regarding the child's health, education, and welfare. Physical custody refers to the child’s daily living arrangements. Regarding both legal and physical custody, there are two basic custody scenarios: sole custody and joint custody.

In sole legal custody, one parent has all legal rights and powers, including the right to make all decisions. In sole physical custody, the child resides with the custodial parent; the non-custodial parent is given the right to visit the child. The limited rights and privileges of the non-custodial parent have been expanded in most states over the past decade to provide equal legal access to child-related information of an educational and medical nature, and to make medical decisions in emergencies when the child is in the non-custodial parent's care.

In joint legal custody arrangements, each parent retains certain rights and responsibilities with respect to the post-divorce parenting of the children. Wide latitude exists among states in the definition of joint custody, and under what circumstances it will be permitted and denied. With joint legal custody, both parents retain power to make decisions about their children, although in many states, the particular decisions to be jointly made must be specified in order to preserve the authority. Likewise, while the definition of joint physical custody varies among states, it is traditionally an arrangement by which a child lives an equal amount of time with each parent. In contrast, joint legal custody may include a less than equal division of time, meeting the required number of overnights as specified by state statute, which allows greater flexibility in creating a joint physical custody schedule that suits a child’s best interests.

Once child custody arrangements are in place, they usually remain so until the child reaches maturity. However, custody is always modifiable. There are cases in which one parent can re-open child custody proceedings if the parent can prove that the other parent is causing emotional or physical harm to the child, or it is no longer in the child’s best interests to maintain the arrangement that is in place. Andalman & Flynn attorneys are experienced in enforcement and modification of existing custody arrangements, whether on the basis of changes to your current situation whether pending or having occured over time or an emergency requiring immediate intervention.

Child Support

In Maryland, the child support arrangements - how much the non-custodial parent will pay to the custodial parent are generally determined under the child support guidelines. However, the final monthly amount, whether determined by the parties or by the judge, can be substantially more or less than the guidelines dictate, based on several factors, including: marital debts, mortgages, college education expenses, the right to occupy the family home, and many other financial terms. Also a factor is the presence in either parent’s household of children from other relationships that the parent has a duty to support. Additionally, the family home, car, and items in the home may be awarded to the parent who has custody of a child to enable the child to continue to live in the environment and community that are familiar to the child. For a parent trying to get an approximate figure for child support, we have provided a link to Maryland's Department of Human Resources Online Child Support Worksheet.

Experienced Family Law Litigators and Problem Solvers

Andalman & Flynn’s family law cases involve divorce and the many legal considerations that accompany the separation of a family. At Andalman & Flynn, our family law attorneys know that a divorce is often a sensitive, emotionally wrenching time for a couple. When the person to whom you’ve given a part of your life becomes an opponent and an obstacle to your future happiness, emotions, instead of clarity and reason, sometimes dictate your actions. At no time is it more important to retain an attorney with a clear understanding of your best interests and the legal expertise necessary to attain them. For over 20 years, Andalman & Flynn divorce attorneys have accomplished this goal for our clients. Contact us today for legal help with your divorce or family matter, as well as for more information about whether Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, and Collaborative Law might be appropriate in your situation.

Protection from Abuse and Violence

Domestic violence and abuse are very sensitive and personal issues; they also require immediate action to protect yourself, your children, and loved ones from further harm, both physical and emotional.

The attorneys at Andalman & Flynn are very experienced in protecting victims of domestic violence and abuse by obtaining and enforcing Protective Orders and Peace Orders. Contact the attorneys of Andalman & Flynn immediately for a consultation and assistance seeking orders of protection from domestic violence and abuse.

If you are the victim of domestic violence and it is either after 5:30 p.m. on weeknights, the weekend, or a holiday, please contact the District Court Commissioners for assistance with obtaining an Interim Protective or Peace Order for protection from domestic violence or abuse. Then, contact us on the first business day after obtaining your Interim Protective or Peace Order for further assistance.

Library for Divorce, Custody, and Family Law:

Personal Expense Budget Excel Spreadsheet
Court-Appointed Lawyers Representing Children [PDF]
Description: In January 2007, the Court of Appeals of Maryland, on recommendation by the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, made changes to the existing laws concerning the appointment of “Guardians ad litem” for children in divorce cases.
Client Financial Worksheet [PDF]
Description: An income and expense worksheet for our divorce, child support, and alimony clients.
Joint Statement for Marital & Non-Marital Property [PDF]
Description: A property worksheet for our separation and divorce clients.
Debts and Assets Fact Sheet [PDF]
Description: A worksheet of debts and assets for our separation and divorce clients.

Frequent Questions for Divorce, Custody, and Family Law:

Web Resources for Divorce, Custody, and Family Law:

ABA Center for Children & The Law
Collaborative Dispute Resolution Professionals
Maryland Child Support Worksheets
Maryland Commission for Women
Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Montgomery County Courts
Description: Mostly devoted to Circuit Court, but also has some information and links regarding District Court; includes Circuit Court's new docket display which is updated every 30 minutes for the current day.
National Family Resiliency Center
U.S. Department of State, Office of Children's Issues
Women's Law Center of Maryland, Inc.

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Andalman & Flynn P.C.
8601 Georgia Avenue,
Ste. 604
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: (301) 563-6685
Fax: (301) 563-6681

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Disclaimer & Legal Notices
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