Get free answers to your Family Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
answered on May 7, 2023
In order to enforce an out-of-state judgment or order in Maryland (or in any other state) you need to first obtain an “exemplified” or “triple seal” copy of the order/judgment from the state that issued it. This is different from a regular certified copy. It requires three signatures... View More
So I’m from italy, I am 17 and I came in USA 4 years ago, now I’m going back there to start university but my abusive mom doesn’t want to renew my passport and I’ll have to wait till Im 18 but University things are starting now, can I still do something to make her do what she should? (I... View More
answered on May 9, 2023
You may be able to apply for a passport from the Italian Consulate closest to you.
He started working under the table, moved so I cannot find his address, and has Virginia license tags. He has social media showing that he is working and stated in text messages that he is working his own business under the table. He gets him during the summer, and I get to see him during my... View More
answered on Apr 27, 2023
You need to file contempt. Deliberate failure to follow a court order could cause a judge to hold him in contempt. Contempt is to secure future compliance with an order -- so yes, the court can actually make him follow it. Or face severe consequences up to and including jail.
For... View More
My mother passed 2 years ago. About 2 months after their father left the house and has not been back. I used my life insurance money to take care of them, but the money has ran out. Now he pays the bills of the house. Even when my mother was alive I raised the children so he tries to manipulate me... View More
answered on Apr 24, 2023
Whatever informal arrangement might exist, formal custody is determined by the courts. You're asking questions that really would benefit from sitting down and consulting with a family law attorney who can go over all the specifics of your situation and the options to seek formal guardianship... View More
I am currently Homeless I have two small toddlers, and I am currently pregnant. The father of my children refuses to provide any help and does not pick the children up one days he said he supposed to. He does not send financial help, and he is verbally, and sometimes physically abusive to me. What... View More
answered on Apr 17, 2023
First, if you are homeless with children the immediate need would seem to be to secure housing for your family. A variety of government and non-government agencies are available to help. The local Department of Social Services may be a good place to start, or you may want to reach out to an... View More
I gave away all my rights so the mother has full sole custody. In the paperwork she chose to not put me on child support at the time. If she ever wanted to could she put me on child support even though I’m not responsible for the child at all?
answered on Apr 5, 2023
Yes. Both parents ALWAYS remain legally responsble to support their minor children. That legal obligation cannot be waived and "contracted" away, except through legal adoption (where another person adopts your child and you relinquish your parental rights). Absent a legal adoption, if... View More
answered on Mar 19, 2023
When a married federal employee retires and claims their benefits, they have to choose whether to take a full or partial survivor benefit- or waive the survivor annuity altogether. To take a reduced benefit, or waive it, their spouse (you) must consent by signing a waiver that is included in the... View More
answered on Mar 15, 2023
Yes. You can have no middle name, a middle initial, or a full middle name.
I'm facing homelessness in 2 months. I don't have a car and can't get a job without one. I severely broke my ankle in 2016 and had complications after my first surgery that led to a second surgery. Complications have continued and limit me to not being able to be on my feet for more... View More
answered on Mar 9, 2023
"Can" you file for alimony? Yes. Will a court award you alimony? Not enough facts to evaluate that claim. 7 years separation with no contact will not help, but is not determinative. Length of marriage prior to separation, total length of marriage including period of separation,... View More
answered on Feb 28, 2023
Either parent in a custody/child support case can request paternity DNA testing to prove whether the alleged father is in fact the father of the child. This motion and request is how that is done.
answered on Feb 17, 2023
By a court, no:
Family Law Code 8-103:
(b) The court may modify any provision of a deed, agreement, or settlement with respect to spousal support executed on or after January 1, 1976, regardless of how the provision is stated, unless there is a provision that specifically states... View More
I told her the street address where I was staying and showed her around the house and even let her talk to the owner of the apartment but I don’t feel comfortable telling her the door number. I am living with my uncle to get financially stable and he said she cannot come over. At first she agreed... View More
answered on Feb 15, 2023
Yes she has the right to know the precise location. If there is an emergency she needs to know exactly where the child is. Playing games about addresses never goes over well if this gets to court. Being more forthcoming and being willing to work with the other parent by giving information... View More
My father was abusive and had 50% 50% custody if me and my siblings. I havent seen him in about 5 years and I want to remove his name.
answered on Feb 8, 2023
No. By law, "If the child's mother was married at the time of either the conception or birth or between conception and birth, the name of the mother's spouse shall be entered on the certificate as the child's other parent." If the mother was unmarried at any of these... View More
My former step mom has done this on multiple occasions since my dad divorced her, even though she is not a contact for my doctor. Most recently she tried to cancel my therapy appointment. I am a minor.
answered on Feb 3, 2023
No. It is illegal. Discuss this issue with your parent(s) and ask for them to either file charges, or file for a protective order on your behalf against her from interfering with your medical care, medical records, and otherwise contactingyou.
He has a debt because he had an injury and stop working, that formed into a debt. My mom is trying everything she can to not let me see him and now has an arrest warrant towards him. Since we live in different states if he were to travel to see me he will get arrested. I don’t want to live with... View More
answered on Jan 27, 2023
If you are a minor child, so you are limited in what you can do. Your father's child support arrearage is not a bar to his having primary residential custody. Judges will start to take into consideration the wishes of the minor child at around age 12, and by 15 or 16, the child's... View More
Also, how to report child support application fraud?
answered on Jan 26, 2023
(1) Take your court order for child support to the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) in the county in Maryland or City of Baltimore where the order was entered, and have them open a case. If the child support order was entered in another state (you list Washngton DC in your question but... View More
I and my spouse separated. I moved out and my spouse stayed with the marital house. One day when picking up my child from that house for a doctor appointment I noticed that someone else was in that house.
Then I realized that I still had access to the front door security camera. By checking... View More
answered on Jan 19, 2023
Possibly, since your spouse presumably knew when the videos were created that the video surveillance system was in place and operational, so that she cannot claim she was videotaped without her knowledge or consent, even if she forgot she was being recorded. But further legal research should be... View More
answered on Jan 17, 2023
You can file a motion to (1) hold your ex in conempt of the court order to pay the full child support amount, and (2) enforce the child support order. You will need to list the total amounts over the time period he should have paid, and th amounts he actually paid, to support your motion. If you... View More
answered on Jan 16, 2023
That section simply sets forth the appropriate court venue (the county or City of Baltimore) where a suit may be filed for various types of actions. In the case of a custody matter, that Section states, "[T]the following actions may be brought in the indicated county: ... (5) Action relating... View More
How can genetic testing be done on a baby that doesn’t exist ?
answered on Jan 5, 2023
It is generally possible for a man to seek to establish paternity of a child, even if the child is no longer alive. Paternity can be established through a legal process, either voluntarily or through a court order. In some cases, paternity may be established through genetic testing.
If a... View More
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