Towson Family Law Attorney
Changes to the family structure can bring challenges and sometimes conflict. Divorces, remarriages, adoptions, and changes in child custody impact not only how families live and relate to each other, but these life events also impact important legal rights and responsibilities. Family law is the area of law that governs these facets of life, and Lebovitz Law is a Baltimore County family law firm helping individuals and families throughout Maryland understand and deal with the legal implications of divorce, paternity, domestic violence, and the many other legal areas that touch their lives and alter the family dynamic. Family law attorney Richard Lebovitz and his team are well-versed in conflict avoidance and conflict resolution and can help you reach your goals through mediation, collaborative law, and litigation when necessary to resolve disputes. Learn more about some of the many areas of family law addressed at our firm, and contact our experienced Towson family law attorney today.
Married couples and families deal with many disputes throughout their lifetime. Some of these disputes may require the guidance and expertise of an experienced Towson family law attorney. A family attorney understands how emotionally taxing family disputes can be, and they will do everything legally possible to protect you and your family.
At Lebovitz Law, we’re dedicated to providing our clients with advocacy on all sorts of family law issues from start to finish. We understand that your family’s security and happiness depend on the outcome of the case. We’re ready to provide you with compassionate and solid legal representation every step of the way.
Learn More About Our Family Law Practice
At Lebovitz Law, our Maryland family law practice areas include, but are not limited to:
Divorce
To many people, family law is synonymous with divorce. While divorce is not the only topic that family law is concerned with, it is probably the most common. Lebovitz Law guides clients through every step of the divorce process, including limited divorce, absolute divorce, contested divorce and divorce by mutual consent. With over 30 years of family law experience, attorney Richard Lebovitz has handled many different divorce matters, including high-conflict custody disputes and high-asset property disagreements. We’ll make sure your needs are heard and represented in all aspects of the divorce, including child custody, child support, alimony, and the division of marital property. We also represent parties in post-divorce modification requests, including motions to modify child support, terminate alimony, or relocate out of state as a custodial parent.
The process of getting divorced usually addresses various basic issues such as property division, child custody, child support, and alimony. Without the right legal representation, divorce may become messy.
At Lebovitz Law, our Towson divorce lawyers have handled many divorce cases in the past. You can count on us to defend your legal rights and ensure a satisfactory outcome during the divorce process
Paternity
If paternity was not established when a child was born (if the parents were unmarried at the time), affirmative steps must be taken to officially verify who a child’s father is in the eyes of the law. This is essential for a father to seek custody or visitation, for a mother to get child support, and for many other important reasons. Lebovitz Law is here to answer your questions and guide you through the process of voluntary acknowledgment or seeking or challenging a court order for paternity in the Maryland courts.
Establishing paternity is important for asserting parental rights and proving eligibility for child support. At Lebovitz Law, we have years of experience working with clients all over Maryland to establish the paternity of their children.
A paternity lawyer will work closely with you to protect your child and develop the proper approach to help resolve issues related to parenting time and child support.
Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Premarital and postmarital agreements are used to settle in advance how issues such as the division of property or the payment of alimony would play out in the event of a future divorce. These agreements can be used to keep separate property separate, protect a spouse’s business interests, provide for children from a previous marriage, ensure a spouse is provided for in case of death of the other spouse, and make sure each party is taken care of and not taken advantage in a later divorce. We welcome the opportunity to assist couples in preparing these documents so that they have a clear understanding of their entire financial situation and expectations for the future. Prenups and postnups can help couples establish their marriage on a firm footing with security and peace of mind.
Regardless of how agreeable the marital circumstances are, entering into a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is undoubtedly one of the best decisions you can make. At Lebovitz Law, we help our clients negotiate and draft prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect their assets and financial interests in the event of a divorce or death after marriage.
Domestic Violence
Maryland has strong laws in place to protect people from abusive acts committed by a family member, household member, current or former dating partner, ex-spouse, or sexual abuser. Abuse means more than just assault or physical violence and includes acts that place a person in fear of harm as well as stalking and other acts. Protective orders can keep an abuser from having any contact with family members and even force them out of the house. Protective orders can address temporary child custody, financial support, and other critical issues as well.
Over the years, Maryland has passed many laws to deal with domestic violence cases. If you’re encountering any form of domestic violence, we can help you secure immediate temporary or permanent protective orders against the perpetrator.
At Lebovitz Law, we’re always ready to defend our clients and prosecute perpetrators fervently. We also help individuals falsely accused of domestic abuse to clear their names.
Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption
The United States Supreme Court recognized a Constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry in 2015, but recent changes in the makeup of the Court and the rejection of long-established precedents are cause to worry about the stability of this decision. Regardless of what happens at the federal level, same-sex marriage has been officially recognized in Maryland since a statewide referendum was passed in 2013. It’s been a divisive issue, and current law blandly states that “Only a marriage between two individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from marrying is valid in this State.” Lebovitz Law can counsel and represent you on the thorny issues that can arise concerning marriage, divorce, and adoption for same-sex couples.
Same-sex marriage in Maryland has been legal since 2013. Similar to heterosexual couples, same-sex couples require legal representation for divorce and adoption processes.
At Lebovitz Law, we help same-sex couples draw legal agreements that define property rights to help simplify the division of property and debts in the event of divorce. We also have extensive experience providing same-sex couples with legal representation and guidance during adoption proceedings.
Grandparents’ Rights
Courts tend to defer to the decisions made by parents regarding their children, even when the decision restricts or eliminates contact between the children and their grandparents. Parents for the most part have the authority to decide what is in their children’s best interests. On the other hand, grandparents often play a significant role in their grandchildren’s lives and can be a positive influence. If grandparents are being excluded from their grandchildren’s lives, especially in instances after a divorce or the loss of a parent, Maryland law allows grandparents to petition the court for visitation rights. Maryland courts can grant reasonable visitation if the judge finds visitation would be in the best interests of the child. Lebovitz Law represents parents and grandparents to find a workable solution that protects their rights and makes decisions in the best interests of the kids.
The family lawyers at Lebovitz Law are dedicated to providing grandparents with the legal representation they need to remain part of their grandchildren’s lives even after a divorce. We even go a step further to ensure that the grandparents are considered a priority solution if the grandchildren’s biological parents are declared unfit to care for them.
Stepparent Adoption
Blended families are becoming more common every day. Adopting your spouse’s children solidifies important rights for them to inherit from you, receive dependent benefits through your Social Security or Veteran status, and be placed on your health insurance. The act of adopting also makes great strides in bringing a new family closer together. Adopting a stepchild can be easy or difficult, depending on factors related to the child’s biological father.
Stepparent adoption refers to the process of formalizing the relationship one has with their spouse’s children. A family attorney from Lebovitz Law can help you navigate the entire stepparent adoption process from the initial consultation to the final adoption hearing in a courtroom.
Child Protective Services
Teachers, doctors, daycare workers, and countless others are obligated to report suspected abuse or neglect. Whether true or not, allegations can quickly result in children being taken from their homes and placed with another family member or in foster care. Towson family law attorney Richard Lebovitz works with families navigating the DHS social services bureaucracy to swiftly reunite families where appropriate or find suitable placement for children where necessary.
If a child protection lawsuit has been filed against you, you’ll need the legal assistance of a family law attorney. A family lawyer from Lebovitz Law will defend you against all allegations and help protect your parental rights.
What You Need to Know About Divorce in Towson, Maryland
There are two types of divorce in Maryland: limited and absolute divorce.
Limited divorce
Limited divorce is a legal separation where a married couple lives separately while maintaining a legal framework for child and spousal support. In this type of divorce, neither spouse is allowed to engage in sexual relations with another person. The couple remains legally married until they obtain an absolute divorce, after which they can remarry.
The grounds for limited divorce in Maryland include:
- Cruelty towards the spouse or child
- Actual or constructive desertion
- Excessively vicious conduct toward the spouse or child
- Voluntary separation
Absolute divorce
This is the end or dissolution of marriage. If a couple chooses to pursue an absolute divorce, it will either end up contested or uncontested. A contested divorce occurs when a married couple cannot agree on basic divorce issues such as property division, child custody, alimony, and child support.
On the other hand, uncontested divorce is when the married couple doesn’t disagree over basic divorce issues. Once a married couple obtains an absolute divorce, they’re free to remarry.
The following are the grounds for absolute divorce:
- Adultery
- Conviction of a crime resulting in a jail sentence of at least three years
- Separation spanning over a year
- Insanity, where the insane spouse has been in confinement for at least three years
- Cruelty towards the spouse or child
- Excessively vicious conduct toward the spouse or child
- Mutual consent
- Desertion for over a year
Why Does the State of Maryland Make Divorce Cases So Difficult?
This is because marriage is considered a contract in the state. You need to have the proper legal reasons to end a contract. The same applies to marriage. You must have the proper grounds to get a divorce.
Why Choose Lebovitz Law?
If you’re having a family law dispute, hiring a family law attorney is the best decision you can make. The following are some reasons you should consider choosing Lebovitz Law to represent you:
Knowledge of Maryland family law statutes
Our attorneys have extensive knowledge of Maryland family law statutes and how to interpret them in our client’s favor. Therefore, you can count on us to help you navigate your case smoothly and achieve the most favorable outcome possible.
Protects your rights as a father
At Lebovitz Law, we’re always dedicated to protecting our clients’ rights. We will prioritize your best interests throughout the legal process and help you get what you rightfully deserve.
Modify your support obligations
If you’re facing financial hardships that have made it difficult to meet your court-ordered child and spousal support obligation, we’re here to help. A family law lawyer near me from Lebovitz Law will help you file a motion in a Maryland circuit court to modify your support obligations.
Ensure financial stability
Lebovitz Law can help your family find alternative resolution methods to settle disputes and avoid costly litigation. We can also lead negotiations between you and your spouse to ensure that assets and liabilities are divided fairly.
Divorce and Marriage Dissolution in Towson, Maryland
Divorce refers to the legal termination of a marriage. For a divorce to occur in Maryland, a spouse must file a Complaint for Absolute divorce or a Complaint for Limited Divorce with the circuit court citing grounds for divorce.
On the other hand, marriage dissolution is a mutual agreement between two married people to end their marriage. The married couple agrees on issues such as child custody, child support, alimony, and property division without the court’s interference. Marriage dissolution is based on no-fault grounds.
What Do I Do Next? Contact Lebovitz Law Today!
If you’re looking for the best family law attorney near me, don’t hesitate to contact us at Lebovitz Law. We have the experience and knowledge to help you with any family law issue you may be facing, including divorce, adoption, child custody, and paternity.
