Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
Questions Answered by Dawn Renee Gould
2 Answers | Asked in Divorce for Maryland on
Q: I was separated from my husband 9years. I am ready to get a divorce. I don't know where he lives; however, I know where

Works. Should I tell the sheriff to serve the divorce papers to his job?

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Mar 14, 2019

You can do that yes. Most attorneys also have contacts with private process servers to serve papers which isn't as "shocking" as having a sheriff show up. Private process servers often cost the same as a sheriff ($40 +/-)

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Child Support for Maryland on
Q: My husband hasn't forced my daughter to finish school (homeschool) she's 19 and I'm still paying child support.

He says I have to pay while she is still being schooled? Is this true?

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 27, 2019

Not true. If the child is 18 and still enrolled in school, then yes, but once the child turns 19 your obligation stops. HOWEVER, if you have a court order to pay, it does not stop automatically, you should file a motion to terminate child support based on the fact that she is 19. If you have an... View More

View More Answers

2 Answers | Asked in Domestic Violence for Maryland on
Q: Expungement

I had an assault case but it was dismissed. What do I need to do to get it expunged? Can a lawyer help? I live in PG county, Md

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 25, 2019

This is the link for the brochure on how to expunge records. You can also hire a lawyer to do it for you. More often than not, it's just filling out paperwork and filing it with the court agencies.... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: My ex- husband has sole and physical custody of my kid in MD. who is responsible for the child medical expenses ?

My ex- husband has sole and physical custody of my kid in MD. who is responsible for the child medical expenses ?

Sole legal and physical custody/ The custodial and non-custodial parent : Who is responsible for medical expenses ?My son is hospitalized and the insurance requires a co-pay, my... View More

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

If a Judge didn't sign an Order, then you don't have an Order at all. If you signed an agreement with your ex, then whatever the agreement states, is what you need to abide by unless you file to strike the agreement. If you don't abide by it or even if he doesn't abide it, one... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: In court last week there was a new court order made but has not been signed yet. Is the previous court order in place?
Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

If the Judge ruled on the record then that ruling is an Order. However, your question is very vague. The ruling could've been only a ruling on a certain issue which means that all other orders are still valid regarding other issues. Your question is lacking too much information to truly tell... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Adoption and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I get my son’s bio fathers right revoked so my fiancé can adopt him?

I’ve had full legal and physical custody of my son always. His bio father never met him, never contributed anything. He was a drug user and a criminal and he scammed me. It’s been almost 5 years with no contact. My fiancé is the only dad my son has ever known. My ex is vindictive and violent... View More

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

No, he will have to be served. He has a right to a hearing on terminating his parental rights, which must be done prior to a hearing on adoption.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Default hearing for custody

Were scheduled for a default hearing for custody, visitation and support for my child. We had a private processing server serve him but he didn’t respond in the time frame (30 days). An order of default was granted and a default hearing is scheduled, what should I expect at this hearing.What... View More

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

Typically, an Order of Default is granted in these types of scenarios but also the other parent may show up for the hearing, even though the other parent didn't file an Answer. Regardless, testimony will be taken a the hearing and the Judge will make a ruling based on the testimony and evidence.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Divorce and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: I’m separating from my husband &want to move out of Maryland to another state and there’s no custody arrangement

Our relationship isn’t healthy and my daughter isn’t close with him. I have proof of him leaving her in the dark for 30 minutes when I went to work. He cheats on me and for the first 4 months of when our youngest was born, he wasn’t there at all. CPS came and did an investigation and told me... View More

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

It's probably prudent to file for custody prior to moving. However, without a custody agreement, you are free to move anywhere. The risk that you run if you move with your daughter is your husband filing for custody and then you'll have to return to MD to defend the suit. You said that... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: In Maryland, can I obtain child support while pregnant or at least begin the process before the child is born?

I was a virgin at the time of conception, so paternity is not in question. My ex stopped communicating as soon as he learned I was pregnant, so I am hoping the courts can hold him accountable as soon as possible.

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Feb 23, 2019

Paternity is never irrelevant. The father can always ask for a paternity test when the child is born. He can also just sign the Affidavit of Parentage which legally recognizes him as the father. You cannot get child support until the child is born and you cannot start the process for child... View More

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Maryland on
Q: Can I file for divorce if I just moved to Maryland and we agreed to a mutual consent divorce after I moved?

I am originally from Maryland and I just moved back 2 months ago with my child after living in another state for a few years. My spouse and I agreed to separate/divorce by mutual consent after I moved back. I am reading that I must be a resident of the state for 6 months prior to filing. However... View More

Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Oct 30, 2018

If the ground for divorce occurred in Maryland, you need only be currently living in Maryland at the time you file for divorce. Where the grounds for divorce occurred outside Maryland, you or your spouse must have lived in Maryland for at least six months before filing your divorce complaint.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce for Maryland on
Q: If I receive a huge raise after my divorce, will it affect my spousal support payments?
Dawn Renee Gould
Dawn Renee Gould
answered on Aug 31, 2018

It may affect your payments but it depends upon what your Court Order states. Additionally, your ex would have to file to modify the payments and then the Court would hold a hearing to determine the accurate amount based upon the calculations.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.