Elkton's Premier Family Law Attorneys

Divorce

We realize that couples do not get married with the expectation that their relationship will fail.  Facing a divorce is overwhelming enough without the added stress of attempting to navigate the court system alone.  Divorce cases can involve several key issues that have the potential to impact your life for years to come.  These issues include child custody, child support, alimony, and the division of marital assets and debts.  Whether your divorce is contested or uncontested, our experienced attorneys will tirelessly advocate for you to achieve the best possible outcome.

Child Custody & Visitation

Disputes regarding child custody and visitation can leave parents distressed and in a state of high anxiety.  When making custody decisions, courts weigh several factors including, but not limited to, the age, health, and gender of the child, each parent's capacity to care for the child, the role each parent has played in the upbringing of the child, the fitness of each parent, and the character and reputation of the parents.  The attorneys at Barnes, O'Donnell & Moore listen to the concerns of our clients and vigorously engage in custody and visitation actions to achieve the custody award and visitation schedule that is best for your child.

Child Support

Regardless of a child's living arrangements or ability of the custodial parent to care for the child financially, children are entitled to child support payments from their parents.  In Maryland, excepting certain "above-guidelines" cases, child support is calculated according to statutory guidelines known as the Maryland Child Support Guidelines.  In accurately calculating child support it is imperative that all income for each parent, no matter the source, and creditable expenses are accounted for.  Our experienced attorneys have the necessary tools and techniques to ensure child support is accurately calculated in your case.

Marital Settlement Agreements

Marital Settlement Agreements are written contracts between spouses that settle all issues in a divorce, including marital property, alimony, retirement assets, monetary awards, and child custody.  With an executed Marital Settlement Agreement, spouses can immediately pursue an uncontested divorce without waiting to satisfy statutory time constraints present in contested divorce cases.  Aside from the expedited nature of uncontested divorces, the main advantage of a Marital Settlement Agreement is that it allows spouses to decide the terms of the dissolution of their marriage with minimal court intervention.  At Barnes, O'Donnell & Moore, our attorneys have the experience and knowledge necessary to determine if a Marital Settlement Agreement is appropriate in your case and to negotiate the best possible results for you.