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For the Maryland public schools, the time has come for localities to decide whether it is safe for students to return to school. Governor Larry Hogan recently announced that all twenty-four public school systems in the state of Maryland met their benchmarks, indicating that it may be safe to reopen schools for in-person classes. Some private schools have already resumed in-person classes, and a select number of public schools are providing in-person classes for students who need it most. As we discussed in a recent blog post, the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for co-parents that are juggling custody agreements and the safety of their children. As most families have settled into online classes, they now face yet another challenge of what to do when schools inevitably reopen. How to Handle Child Custody Agreements Although parents anticipated that schools would reopen at some point, the decision to reopen as soon as November is a little unexpected. At Wasserman Family Law, we believe that co-parents should have custody schedules and agreements that outline what to do in the event of schools reopening and the possibility of them closing again with little notice. Many existing custody agreements and Orders did not plan for a pandemic. Our family law attorneys have been working with our clients to plan all possible outcomes and prepare for the uncertainty. With the right amount of planning and communication, co-parents can come together for the benefit of the children. We recommend consulting with your family law attorney as soon as possible to establish COVID-19 protocols—especially in regards to schools. If you work with your attorney to make decisions now, you have a better chance of avoiding lengthy and expensive court battles. What If My Ex and I Cannot Agree? For co-parents that have difficulty making shared decisions for their children, we offer our Parent Coordination services. Parent Coordinators (or “PCs”) are non-confidential, impartial individuals trained to assist parties to resolve parenting conflicts outside of court, including decisions related to COVID-19. Parent Coordinators help resolve day-to-day disagreements between parents, focusing on swift resolutions and allowing both parents to move forward. Our office has been very busy helping parents navigate the new world of COVID-19 and parenting. Parent Coordinators (PCs) must complete 100 hours of specialized training and continuing education to remain certified. The training involves learning how to minimize conflict and help parents come to a shared decision. To serve as a PC in the state of Maryland, Laurie M. Wasserman was required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of specified training in addition to 60 hours of mediation training skills. Laurie enjoys helping many families throughout the State of Maryland successfully resolve their disputes. If you have questions about child custody agreements or Parent Coordination, please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help guide and advocate for you. Recommended Next Reads: 9 Back-To-School Tips for Co-Parents Maryland Schools Go Online: How to Handle Co-Parenting Disputes Over Custody Schedules

Pursuant to Maryland law, there are two ways in which child support is calculated: primary physical custody to one parent, or shared physical custody between both parents. Beginning on October 1, 2020, the percentage of time a parent has physical custody of their children in order to be considered “shared” custody under the guidelines will decrease to 25% of the time (92 overnights). Child support is then calculated based on the percentage of time the children spend with each parent. Under the new law, if a parent has shared physical custody of their children more than 25% percent of the time (92 overnights), but less than 30% of the time (109 overnights), there are new calculations for each increment between 25% and 29%. This law changes the number of overnights a parent needs to have “shared physical custody” by 36 overnights per year and will allow the parent having 92 or more overnights per year to get the benefit of paying shared physical custody child support guidelines (which are usually less than primary physical custody). The new laws are not applied retroactively and only apply to cases filed after October 1, 2020. If you have questions about child support or this new law, please email Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070.

Family law is a rewarding practice. Most family law attorneys—including myself—love what we do because we help people get through a difficult time and see a future on the other side of their case. We are in the trenches with our clients, advocating with them throughout the entire process. And we get to see them move on to the next chapter of their life, hopefully in a better place than where they started. At the same time, family law can be exhausting. Divorce, child support, and the ever-changing custody agreements can sometimes become overwhelming. We are often left mitigating disagreements about every little detail in their children’s lives. That is where Parent Coordinators come to save the day. A few years ago, I hired a Parent Coordinator for one of my clients. My client and her ex could not agree on anything that had to do with their children. As the phone calls came in and the emails continued to flood my inbox, I needed help. I suggested that she hire a Parent Coordinator. The Parent Coordinator was able to help them come to resolutions on day-to-day disputes and free up my time to focus on the larger issues in their case. My experience with the Parent Coordinator completely changed my perspective on how to handle custody disputes moving forward. I was even inspired to become a certified Parent Coordinator myself and have thoroughly enjoyed providing this service in addition to my law practice. What is a Parent Coordinator? Parent Coordinators (or “PCs”) are non-confidential, impartial individuals trained to assist parties to resolve parenting conflicts outside of court. PCs help resolve day-to-day disagreements between parents, focusing on swift resolutions and allowing both parents to move forward. Parents give PCs the authority to make some decisions if they reach an impasse. A PC can resolve disputes regarding minor modifications to an existing access schedule, the selection of extracurricular activities, and other pressing, time-sensitive matters that cannot wait for a court hearing. A PC cannot make decisions regarding legal or physical custody, but they can help the parents facilitate a discussion in the hopes that they can resolve these issues. What are the Benefits of Hiring a Parent Coordinator? Parent Coordinators handle the day-to-day disputes clients have with their ex, so lawyers can focus on the bigger picture items. They are trained specifically to handle high-conflict families in making time-sensitive decisions, like deciding on school schedules and how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Parent Coordination is the perfect solution for clients that call and email you regularly to handle minor disputes and disagreements with their ex. Parent Coordination is also beneficial for your client. Parent Coordination provides a time and place for parents to meet and resolve day-to-day disputes. The overarching goal is to reduce the effects of conflict on the parents’ children. A PC will also save considerable time, energy, and legal fees—all while removing your children from the effects of conflict. How qualified is a Parent Coordinator? To become a certified Parent Coordinator in the state of Maryland, I completed a minimum of 100 hours of specialized training, including 60 hours of mediation training. I also have to complete continuing education credits to remain certified. The training taught us how to minimize conflict and help parents come to a shared decision. If you have questions about Parent Coordination please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. Parent Coordination sessions can be done remotely if preferred. Recommended Next Reads: Maryland Schools Go Online: How to Handle Co-Parenting Disputes Over Custody Schedules Top 10 Reasons to Use a Parent Coordinator for Custody Disputes Laurie M. Wasserman Earns Certificate in Parent Coordination

As the school year begins, parents are starting to get back into a routine with their child. School, as it is, can be both exciting and stressful for children. Now, with COVID-19 and most schools going online for the foreseeable future, it is more important than ever to be a strong support system for your child. For co-parents, this means battling the long-awaited hurdles of juggling online schooling and child custody. At Wasserman Family Law, we believe in helping our clients come to resolutions that are in the best interest of the child. Here are our top nine back-to-school tips for co-parents: 1. Focus on the child and their needs. As we begin the new school year, it is imperative for co-parents to set aside their differences and come together to support their child. 2. Be friendly to one another at school and sports events. If your child’s school has any in-person events that both you and your ex attend, remember to be cordial with one another. At the very least, greet one another and go your separate ways. 3. Make sure the child communicates with the other parent while they are away. If it is your time to have custody of your child, remember to encourage them to touch base with the other parent. It is important for your child to maintain communication with both parents. Even if it is simply to say hi and let them know they have been picked up from school for the weekend. 4. Notify the school to copy both parents on all communications. If you let the school know as soon as possible, you can avoid miscommunications about important school notices and updates. 5. Set up a shared calendar for important dates. On a similar note, avoid scheduling conflicts or miscommunication by using a shared calendar. Google Calendar or Our Family Wizard has worked for many of our clients, but whatever platform you and your ex will update and check regularly is best. 6. Decide on a protocol for homework on each parent’s days. Since the child will be in two different households throughout the school year, it is important to agree upon how homework will be managed. Will you and your ex check-in on the child and their progress with their homework every evening? Or will you keep track of their homework’s due dates to ensure it is done on time? It all depends on your child and their individual needs. 7. Make sure both parents have school supplies on hand for the child. Homework and transporting the child from home-to-home will be a lot easier if both parents make an effort to have the proper school supplies. 8. Consider having a folder (physical or online) for the parents to use for transferring important documents or items back and forth. This way, the child does not need to be burdened with any adult responsibilities. 9. Try your best to keep any child custody or support issues away from the child. As you co-parent with your ex, disagreements are bound to come up. Try your best not to involve the child in your arguments. If you and your ex have a difficult time coming to agreements, we encourage you to contact us for help. Our team can help advise you on the best solutions for your individual needs. In addition to being an experienced family law attorney, Laurie M. Wasserman is also a certified Parent Coordinator (PC). Laurie can meet with you and your ex (virtually if preferred) to help make shared decisions for your child(ren). PCs are a more affordable and quicker alternative to going through the legal system. Learn more about Parent Coordination here. If you have questions about back-to-school plans and child custody, please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help guide and advocate for you. Recommended Next Reads: Maryland Schools Go Online: How to Handle Co-Parenting Disputes Over Custody Schedules Co-parenting Tips: How to Handle Vacation Disputes During COVID-19 FAQ’s: Child Custody and COVID-19

Vacations, and how to safely getaway during this time of social distancing, have become the latest round of challenging co-parenting discussions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have had clients who concerned about how to properly handle child custody and changing homes safely. As we gear up to return to school, many parents have had to determine what their plan is as the new school year approaches. Now, as we all gear up for the long-haul in this COVID-19 pandemic, families are starting to reconsider what vacations are reasonable to take at this time. If you are co-parenting with an ex and are looking for some guidance about taking vacations, here are a few tips the team at Wasserman Family Law has been recommending to our clients. 1. Determine Your Risk Tolerance The reality we all face right now is that we all have different risk tolerances. The first thing you must do is sit down and determine where your risk tolerance is right now. And you should encourage the other parent to do the same. For most of our clients, they realize that their risk tolerance has changed over the course of the last few months and some vacation ideas sound more reasonable than they did when this pandemic started. 2. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate We cannot stress enough have important it is to communicate. Once you both understand your risk tolerances and boundaries, you will be better equipped to have an honest conversation with one another. You may even be surprised to learn that you and your ex have similar risk tolerances. For this step, is it imperative that you try to calmly communicate with your ex, away from your child(ren). The less involved your children are in the discussion, the less of a chance they will be mixed up in a disagreement. We suggest not promising anything to your child(ren) with respect to vacations until there is an agreement in place. 3. Hire a Parent Coordinator If you have a difficult time communicating with your ex and coming up with shared decisions, we highly recommend considering hiring a Parent Coordinator (PC). PCs are trained to help mitigate day-to-day disputes between parents and come to a mutually agreed-upon decision. Custody disputes can be exhausting, expensive, and overwhelming. The feelings of frustration and loss only intensify when parents feel that making decisions for their child(ren) is difficult. The last thing you want to do is go to Court over custody disputes that can be handled with less time and money outside of the courtroom. Parent Coordination provides a time and place (virtually, if preferred) for parents to meet and resolve day-to-day disputes. The overarching goal is to reduce the effects of conflict on the parents’ child(ren). A PC will also save considerable time, energy, and legal fees—all while removing your child(ren) from the effects of conflict. Laurie M. Wasserman is a court-certified Parent Coordinator. To serve as a PC in the state of Maryland, Laurie was required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of specified training in addition to 60 hours of mediation training skills. If you have questions about vacations and custody disputes, please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help guide and advocate for you. Recommended Next Reads: Living Together While Divorcing During COVID-19 FAQ’s: Child Custody and COVID-19 Maryland Schools Go Online: How to Handle Co-Parenting Disputes Over Custody Schedules

Divorce can be stressful and messy, even if you intend to split up amicably. Our team at Wasserman Family Law sees all kinds of cases, from the out-of-court settlement to the court battles over the smallest of details. We have a specific checklist for our clients to consider If they want to get a divorce. We understand that no divorce is alike, and this list is not a substitute for legal advice. Our team is here to support you no matter your situation. If you are seeking legal representation or have questions about divorce, please contact us at 410-842-1070. Here are some of the things you should consider doing If you are getting a divorce: 1. Make sure you are safe. Above all else, you must ensure that you are safe financially, physically, and emotionally. If you are not able to ensure your safety, we encourage you to seek help as soon as possible. 2. Change all the passwords for your personal accounts. If you have any accounts under solely your name, we highly encourage you to change the passwords to ensure their security from your spouse—especially if they know your current passwords or have access to your accounts. This Includes your email and cell phone password, as your lawyer will likely want to communicate with you using one of those two methods. 3. Make a list of all financial accounts. Your lawyer Is going to ask you questions about what assets you have In your name, In your spouse's name, and In joint names. It helps If you can keep a list of account names and balances as a reference. 4. Engage with a trusted family law attorney. At the Law Office of Laurie M. Wasserman, our team advocates for and empowers our clients to make the right decisions for their specific situation. We guide our clients through the legal system to help them achieve their goals and move on to the next chapter in their life as soon as possible. 5. Considering open your own checking and/or savings account(s). If you do not already have a separate checking or savings account, we recommend opening one to help ensure your financial independence, safety and stability. 6. Keep a diary of important things that happen in your case. You may need to reference certain events or provide specific evidence to help your case. We encourage you to be diligent in maintaining accurate records and saving anything of possible significance. We understand that divorce is life-changing and we are here to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. You should not—and will not—go through the divorce process alone. We recommend that before taking any of these actions, you consult with your lawyer. If you have questions about divorce, please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help guide and advocate for you. - - - - - Recommended Next Reads: What to Expect: Meeting Your Family Law Attorney for the First Time What are the Grounds for Divorce in Maryland? Living Together While Divorcing During COVID-19

Many schools throughout Maryland have decided to postpone in-person classes until January 2021. For co-parents, this means at least four months of figuring out what to do with juggling sharing custody of their child(ren), homeschooling, and their respective jobs. As if 2020 was not hard enough, now parents who share custody of their child(ren) are left with a lot of questions… “Will we need to modify our child custody agreement?” “I can never agree with my ex, how are we going to come up with a solution?” “How much is this going to cost?” “Do we have enough time to go back to Court to figure this out?” Our #1 tip for parents who have a difficult time communicating and coming up with shared decisions is to hire a Parent Coordinator (PC). PCs are trained to help mitigate day-to-day disputes between parents and come to a mutually agreed-upon decision. PCs understand that the transition to online schooling is going to have a huge impact on people who are co-parenting and will inevitably cause some disputes. In fact, PCs have helped many families as they determined what to do at the end of the 2020 school year earlier this year when COVID-19 became a health crisis. When you hire a PC, they will meet with you and your ex (virtually, if preferred) to discuss all the options regarding online schooling and what is best for the child(ren) because each family’s situation is unique and different. Whether you are a parent looking for a faster and more affordable resolution, or a family law attorney looking for help with your client’s day-to-day disagreements, Parent Coordination is the solution. What is Parent Coordination? Parent Coordinators (or “PCs”) are non-confidential, impartial individuals trained to assist parties to resolve parenting conflicts outside of court. PCs help resolve day-to-day disagreements between parents, focusing on swift resolutions and allowing both parents to move forward. PCs have the authority to make certain decisions if the parties reach an impasse, whereas mediation or counseling do not. A PC can resolve disputes regarding minor modifications to an existing access schedule, the selection of extracurricular activities, and other pressing, time-sensitive matters that cannot wait for a court hearing. What are the benefits of Parent Coordination? Custody disputes can be exhausting, expensive, and overwhelming. The feelings of frustration and loss only intensify when parents feel that making decisions for their child(ren)is difficult. For parents, Parent Coordination provides a time and place for parents to meet and resolve day-to-day disputes. The overarching goal is to reduce the effects of conflict on the parents’ child(ren). A PC will also save considerable time, energy, and legal fees—all while removing your child(ren) from the effects of conflict. For family law attorneys, Parent Coordination allows you to hand over day-to-day disputes to a trained Parent Coordinator so you can focus on the bigger picture items. Parent Coordination is designed to assist high-conflict families in making time-sensitive decisions, like deciding on school schedules. Recommended to read next: Top 10 Reasons to Use a Parent Coordinator for Custody Disputes In Summary, here are just a few of the many benefits of Parent Coordination: Save time, energy, and legal fees Finally have your voice heard by the other parent Come to mutual decisions, or agree to let the PC decide for you Parents share the PCs fee, which is a fraction of a lawyer's fees Stay out of court and stop relying on lawyers to resolve day-to-day disputes How qualified is a Parent Coordinator? Parent Coordinators (PCs) must complete 100 hours of specialized training and continuing education to remain certified. The training involves learning how to minimize conflict and help parents come to a shared decision. To serve as a PC in the state of Maryland, Laurie M. Wasserman was required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of specified training in addition to 60 hours of mediation training skills. Laurie enjoys helping many families throughout the State of Maryland successfully resolve their disputes. If you have questions about Parent Coordination, please contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help you. Important Note: Parent Coordination sessions can be done remotely and while the Courts are closed.

The legal team at Wasserman Family Law understands that, in many cases, you and your spouse would like to be divorced as soon as possible. In fact, one of the most common questions we receive during our initial consultation is, “How fast can I get a divorce?” The answer depends on your relationship with your spouse and how you are going to file for divorce—in other words, is your divorce fault-based or no fault-based? Fault-Based vs. No Fault-Based Divorce In simple terms, a fault-based divorce means that you and your spouse cannot agree upon the resolutions for your marriage or possibly even getting divorced in the first place. Fault-based divorces are typically argued in court and can take a year to 18 months to get a divorce trial before a Judge. On the other hand, a no fault-based divorce can expedite the process. One of the fastest ways to get a no fault-based divorce in the state of Maryland is a Mutual Consent Divorce because there is no separation period required to finalize the divorce. The caveat is that a Mutual Consent Divorce arguably requires the most resolutions between you and your spouse right off the bat. Under a Mutual Consent Divorce, you and your spouse must agree upon all resolutions of issues in the marriage, before filing. To learn about all the grounds for divorce in Maryland, please read our blog post here. How do I get a Mutual Consent Divorce? Before you can even file for a Mutual Consent Divorce, you and your spouse must have a written Separation Agreement that resolves all of the issues in the marriage. The agreement must address alimony, distribution of property, and the care, custody, access, and support of minor children. Once the agreement is finalized, one spouse will then file a “Complaint for Absolute Divorce” on the grounds of Mutual Consent. Then, the other spouse must file an “Answer” affirming that they have an agreement and consent to the divorce. In some cases, the spouses can work together to file both the Complaint and Answer at the same time and schedule the hearing even sooner. After the Answer has been received, the Court will schedule an uncontested divorce hearing. In most counties, only the moving party needs to appear in court for this type of divorce. Currently, these hearings are being done remotely. Please note that a Mutual Consent Divorce is very specific and if the court finds that your Agreement does not satisfy the requirements under the law, it has the authority to not grant you a divorce. For this reason, it is recommended that you consult an attorney to make sure that your Agreement and your Court documents are sufficient. What are my other options for divorce? There are other Alternative Dispute Resolutions that can help expedite the divorce process. In the state of Maryland, you and your spouse can decide on a Separation Agreement, Settlement Negotiations, Mediation, and Parent Coordination. To learn more about these Alternative Dispute Resolutions, please read our blog post here. If you have questions about divorce, contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070. The legal team at Wasserman Family Law is here to help you.

Parent Coordinators are specially trained to resolve disputes in high-conflict custody matters. Instead of long drawn out court battles, Parent Coordinators can draft a parenting plan, monitor continued compliance of the parenting plan, and can help resolve minor disputes between parents. Most importantly, when the parents cannot reach a consensus, the Parent Coordinator has the ability to decide on their behalf. Here are the top 10 reasons why using a Parent Coordinator can help with custody disputes: Parent Coordination addresses day-to-day issues. Parent Coordination provides a time and place for parents to meet and resolve day-to-day disputes. The overarching goal is to reduce the effects of conflict on the parents’ child(ren). Parent Coordination is designed to assist high-conflict families in making minor decisions. The Parent Coordination process is designed to resolve minor disputes between the parents. For example, the Parent Coordinator can assist with the selection of sports or camps, making temporary changes to a schedule or establishing rules for communication. Note: A Parent Coordinator is not permitted to decide a legal or physical custody issue, as it would be an improper delegation of judicial authority. Parent Coordination saves money. The cost of one Parent Coordinator— shared by two parents—for a Parent Coordination meeting is significantly less than the fees each parent will pay to his or her lawyer to resolve a dispute. Parent Coordination saves time. Parent Coordination provides a prompt resolution to daily child-related decisions. The parents do not need to wait for the lawyers to call each other and attempt to work out the issue. Parent Coordination encourages joint decisions. The Parent Coordinator is trained to first work with parents to try to reach a shared decision on the disputed issue, using mediation style techniques. If, after a good-faith effort, the parents still cannot resolve their dispute, then the Parent Coordinator decides the issue. Parent Coordination is child-focused. Parent Coordinators assist parents with establishing and maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship. The Parent Coordination process tends to reduce child conflicts, which, in turn, reduces the potential effects of conflict on a child. Parent Coordination is not confidential. Unlike mediators, Parent Coordinators can be called to testify as a fact witness at trial about what took place in session and how these parents make decisions. The lack of confidentiality tends to incentivize good-faith behavior from participants. Parent Coordination results in written decisions. Since the Parent Coordination process is not confidential, the Parent Coordinator will issue a summary of the discussions at Parent Coordination meetings, and those notes are admissible as evidence in Court. The agreements can then be used by the lawyers as the template for a Consent Agreement. Parent Coordination is a long-term resource. After the custody dispute is resolved, the Parent Coordinator can continue to work with the parents as long as they consent to the process. Parent Coordination benefits the legal profession. Parent Coordination will decrease the number of client calls to their lawyers, improve cooperation with Court orders, and reduce the number of litigated cases. Laurie M. Wasserman is a trained and certified Parent Coordinator (PC). To serve as a PC, Laurie was required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of specified training in addition to 60 hours of mediation training skills. Contact Laurie M. Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070. We can assist with Parent Coordination either in-person or virtually.

Many divorces can be resolved without having to fight in Court. By choosing, alternative dispute resolutions, you can negotiate settlement agreements and get an expedited divorce. What is a Marital Settlement Agreement? A Marital Settlement Agreement, also known as a Separation Agreement, is when two spouses agree on all of the issues relating to your divorce. These issues include child custody, child support, alimony, division of property, debts, and other financial issues. The spouses and their respective attorneys work together to create a legal document that outlines all the resolutions. If, and when, a settlement is reached, the divorce can then be finalized without contested litigation. What are the benefits of a Marital Settlement Agreement? Marital Settlement Agreements have several benefits, which is why many couples prefer them over going to court. Here are just some of the advantages: You can finalize your divorce without a judge having to resolve the dispute. You can save time AND money by avoiding a lengthy court battle. You can bypass the sometimes legally required one-year physical separation. You can settle your marriage resolutions in privacy. You and your spouse decide on the resolutions together, with the advice of your attorneys. How do I know if a Marital Settlement Agreement is right for me? The most important piece to a Marital Settlement Agreement is that you and your spouse need to agree on the terms. Therefore, we recommend this option for spouses that are motivated to resolve the issues and are willing to make compromises. If you and your spouse need assistance, you can engage the services of a mediator. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process. The mediator facilitates a discussion to help the parties reach a solution that meets their needs. If an agreement is reached, that agreement will be reduced to writing. If no agreement is reached, then the mediator and the parties cannot testify as to what was said during mediation. If you have questions about alternative dispute resolutions, contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070. Laurie can act as a mediator for both parties, or represent one party in the negotiations of a Marital Settlement Agreement. For the foreseeable future, we will be available by telephone and virtually to serve our clients.

When going through the divorce process, you will need to go through the legal process of determining who will be responsible for which debts. Perhaps your spouse is still paying out a student loan or has racked up a lot of credit card debt during your marriage. These are all financial situations you will want to speak with your attorney about to determine whether you are responsible for paying it off. Under Maryland law, you are only responsible for your spouse’s debt if you agreed to be personally liable for the debt, or you co-signed the debt with your spouse. For example, if you co-signed a loan or opened a joint credit card, you are both responsible for any debt incurred. If you are unsure, check the paperwork or pull a credit report. If your name is on the account or loan, you are going to be held responsible regardless of whether the loan was for your spouse or they incurred the debt. The two most important things are (1) whose name is on the debt and (2) when was the debt incurred. Here are the situations where you are NOT responsible for your spouse’s debt: You did not agree to be personally responsible, or co-responsible, for the debt. Your spouse’s debt occurred before your marriage and you were not added as a responsible person to the debt. Your spouse committed fraud and you have proof. What if the debt is considered a marital asset? If the debt Is tied to a marital asset (e.g. mortgage on the marital home, loan on a car), the debt Is considered a "marital debt" within the jurisdiction of the Court. However, if it is not tied to the acquisition of a marital asset (e.g. a personal credit card, student loans) then the Court does not have jurisdiction over it and cannot reallocate the debt. The Court can, however, require one spouse to pay a monetary award to the other in the divorce which could be used to pay off personal debt. Most settlement agreements will resolve the payment of existing debt and most Judges will consider each spouse's personal debt when deciding financial Issues. There are arguments that can be made in settlement and in Court to address complicated debt issues. With the right attorney, it is possible to come to a fair resolution. At Wasserman Law Office, we can help. Contact Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070. For the foreseeable future, we will be available by telephone and virtually to serve our clients.

Important Legal Update: New Child Support Law Goes Into Effect October 1st, 2020. Learn more in our blog here. Child support payments can be difficult to manage without the weight of a global pandemic like COVID-19. Now, with the U.S. unemployment rate at 14.7% in April and businesses slowly reopening, you may have found yourself unable to afford your regular child support payments. Fortunately, there are options for modifying your child support payments because of specific circumstances. Here are some circumstances for when you can apply for child support modification: You lost your job because you were laid off. You lost your job indefinitely because you are furloughed. Your income has gone down by at least 25%. In this current environment, it may be possible to modify your child support payments for a special situation other than the ones listed above. If your circumstances have changed significantly since your original child support court order, we encourage you to speak with your attorney about modifying your payments. Can I make a verbal agreement with the other parent? Verbal agreements are extremely risky. Even if the other parent verbally agrees to let you pay a lower rate of child support, they are still legally entitled to the original amount. They can choose to fight you in Court at a later date to receive those missed payments. A verbal agreement may be difficult to prove In Court. Ultimately, child support modifications are only valid through a formal, legal agreement or court order. Failure to pay child support in full can result in several consequences, including losing your driver’s license and passport to going to jail. Please speak with your family law attorney to avoid these repercussions. If you have questions about child support, please email Laurie Wasserman at laurie@wassermanlawoffice.com or call our main number 410-842-1070. For the foreseeable future, we will be available by telephone and virtually to serve our clients.