If you're working through a custody or divorce case in 2026 and want to understand what you might pay or receive, a Glen Burnie child support lawyer can help .

Does Equal Custody Mean No Child Support Is Owed in Maryland?

Equal parenting time doesn't automatically end a child support obligation in Maryland. This is because many – perhaps most – cases involve one parent who makes more money than the other. Child support in Maryland is meant to give children the resources they would have had if their parents hadn’t divorced. A system that canceled child support if there was 50/50 custody would take financial resources from the child and be unfair to both parents.]]> Child Support 2026-04-16 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-does-custody-work-in-maryland-if-my-spouse-and-i-are-both-in-the-military https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-does-custody-work-in-maryland-if-my-spouse-and-i-are-both-in-the-military Normal custody can be challenging. Custody when both parents are training and possibly deploying is even more challenging. This isn’t an uncommon situation, either. Human Performance Resources by Champ, seven percent of active duty military members and 2.6 percent of guard and reserve members are in dual-military marriages.

An Ellicott City custody lawyer can help you work out a custody arrangement that makes sure your child’s needs are taken care of and accommodates your family’s unique scheduling needs.

How Does Maryland Make Decisions About Custody for Dual-Military Families?

Maryland courts approach military custody cases the same way they approach all custody cases: by looking at what is in the best interests of the child. Under Maryland Family Law § 9-201, courts now follow a codified list of factors when making custody decisions. One of those factors is the impact of military deployment on the parent-child relationship.]]> Child Custody 2026-03-17 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-is-child-custody-decided-in-maryland https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-is-child-custody-decided-in-maryland Family law matters involving child custody are often emotional, resulting in significant anxiety and uncertainty. You agonize over the wellbeing of your children. You hope that their mental health doesn’t suffer. You worry about how much time you will spend with them. You don’t want to miss out on things in their lives.

In 2026, Maryland child custody laws are focused on serving the best interest of the child when determining a custody arrangement. Every situation is different, and Courts look at a litany of factors in reaching a decision on child custody. The Court doesn’t favor either parent, meaning that no one assumes that either parent is more capable of having custody.

In this article, our Columbia child custody attorney will give you a solid background of how a Maryland Court makes a child custody decision.]]> Child Custody 2026-02-25 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/preparing-for-a-custody-fight-with-an-abusive-spouse https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/preparing-for-a-custody-fight-with-an-abusive-spouse Sometimes, an abusive parent will fight tooth and nail to keep their children in a divorce case. There can be all kinds of reasons: they may want to hurt the other parent by keeping the kids, they may have mental problems that are making them behave irrationally, or they may just want to feel like they have power and control.

If you are in this situation, an Elkridge custody attorney can help you with your case so that you feel confident and prepared for the difficult days ahead.

What Do I Need to Prove Abuse in a Maryland Custody Case?

Important evidence can include:]]> Domestic Violence 2026-02-16 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/my-spouse-is-hiding-income-in-maryland-divorce https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/my-spouse-is-hiding-income-in-maryland-divorce People going through a divorce don’t always tell the truth about their income. It’s amazing how it works. During the marriage, you and your spouse are doing great financially. During the divorce, however, your spouse is suddenly crying poor.

In a Maryland divorce case, both parties are required to truthfully disclose their income, and the numbers are closely analyzed. Actual income has a major impact on the amount of child support payable, whether and how much alimony is awarded, and how much each side will receive from the marital assets. Whether it is due to entitlement, financial insecurity, or spite, If your spouse is hiding income, then it can significantly affect the outcome of your divorce case.

But there are warning signs and actions you can take along with your divorce attorney to make sure you get the best result possible, even if your spouse is being shady with money. Your Columbia, MD divorce attorney can help you find them.]]> Divorce 2026-02-11 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/do-i-need-an-attorney-for-my-divorce-case https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/do-i-need-an-attorney-for-my-divorce-case Yes, you need an attorney for your divorce case.

Are you required by law to use an attorney for your divorce case? 

No, not any more than you are required by law to use a dentist to extract a tooth from your mouth or to use a surgeon to repair a torn ACL. You can try to pull your own tooth or to staple your own ligaments together, but you’re most likely going to end up with a lot of pain and suffering, followed up by hiring a dentist or surgeon to clean up what you tried to do yourself.

The issues in a family law case – divorce, separation, child custody and visitation, child support, alimony, property division, etc. – need the same level of professional help and guidance as does a medical issue.]]> Divorce 2026-02-04 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-much-does-divorce-cost-in-maryland https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-much-does-divorce-cost-in-maryland Simply stated, getting a divorce is usually expensive. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not being completely forthcoming. But what does that mean – expensive? Expensive to me doesn’t necessarily mean expensive to you, and vice versa.

The actual, and somewhat unfortunate, answer to the question: "How much does divorce cost in Maryland?" is: "It depends." The cost depends on the issues arising out of your separation and divorce and it depends on how much you and your spouse agree (or disagree) about how to fairly resolve those issues.

It is unfortunate because the answer does nothing to provide clarity or ease your anxiety when it comes to planning for the financial ramifications of a divorce. Most people are shocked at how quickly the fees and costs increase during a divorce. Oftentimes, this shock is the result of unrealistic expectations and misinformation. People speak to the wrong advisors, compare their situation to someone else’s situation, ask the wrong questions, and rely too much on the internet for information.]]> Divorce 2026-01-28 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/the-divorce-process-in-maryland-what-to-expect-after-filing-for-divorce https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/the-divorce-process-in-maryland-what-to-expect-after-filing-for-divorce After filing for divorce in Maryland, it can take anywhere from a couple of months to a year or more for the divorce to be finalized with the Court signing a Judgment of Absolute Divorce. The timeframe depends on the level of acrimony or contention between you and your spouse, the issues involved, and whether you are able to come to an agreement on those issues.

At the outset, it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen after you file for divorce. Every situation is different. The initial steps tend to be the same, but the course your case will take after that can vary significantly based on whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, if there are children involved, and the specific circumstances of your situation.

But you have filed for divorce in Maryland in 2026. Now what? Our Columbia, MD divorce attorney can answer your questions.

Writ of Summons

After you file the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, the Court will process your filing and issue a Writ of Summons with a case number. The Summons is a document that is directed to your spouse and which tells your spouse that a divorce case has been filed. It will also tell your spouse when a response to the Complaint must be filed with the Maryland Court. You have 60 days to properly serve the Summons along with the Complaint.]]> Divorce 2026-01-19 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-does-my-spouse-going-to-jail-or-prison-affect-my-maryland-child-support https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/how-does-my-spouse-going-to-jail-or-prison-affect-my-maryland-child-support When your spouse or co-parent is sentenced to jail or prison, it can be hard not to panic. You may have questions about how you are supposed to keep getting child support if your coparent is incarcerated. If you are dealing with this situation in 2026, our Columbia, MD child support attorney can help you understand your options.

Does My Spouse Still Owe Child Support While in Jail or Prison?

Yes. Under Maryland law, child support orders stay the same until a court officially modifies or ends them. Even if your spouse cannot work while incarcerated, the support order continues.

Child support does not automatically stop when a parent goes to jail or prison. Unpaid child support will accumulate as "arrears," or debt. Interest may also be added. 

This situation affects many families. According to the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 50 percent of inmates are parents, and 20 percent have child support orders. Maryland law recognizes that incarceration can affect a parent's ability to pay, but if either spouse wants a change to the orders, the parent who is in jail or prison must ask the court to modify them. The court will not automatically reduce payments just because someone is incarcerated.]]> Child Support 2026-01-19 00:00:00 https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/the-divorce-process-in-maryland-how-to-file-for-divorce https://www.dmfamilylaw.com/blog/the-divorce-process-in-maryland-how-to-file-for-divorce Filing for divorce in Maryland involves more than just filling out a form and giving it to a Court Clerk. In addition to the emotional complexities involved with opening a divorce case, there are a number of other variables you must consider.

Hopefully by the time you are filing for divorce, you have consulted with a Maryland divorce lawyer. Regardless, an experienced attorney can help you through the divorce filing process.

Divorce cases in Maryland are filed in the Circuit Court, which generally has exclusive jurisdiction over family law matters, not the District Court. You should consult with your attorney to determine which Circuit Court is appropriate for your filing.

Grounds for Divorce

If you want to file for divorce in Maryland, you must have a justification (or grounds) for your filing. Maryland eliminated "fault" grounds for divorce in 2023, and limited the permissible justification to three "no fault" grounds for divorce:]]> Divorce 2026-01-12 00:00:00