Even when spouses make a mutual decision to end their marriage, agreeing upon a divorce settlement is rarely easy. It’s important to get in touch with a family attorney near Owings Mills who can represent your best interests during negotiations with your soon-to-be ex-spouse’s counsel. Your family law attorney can advise you as to your state’s laws regarding property division, child custody issues, and other matters pertaining to your situation.

Asset Division
In a divorce settlement, a distinction is made between marital property, which is subject to division, and non-marital property, which isn’t. For example, Maryland law recognizes that any property obtained by an individual prior to the marriage remains the property of that individual, provided it is not gifted to the other spouse. The debts of the other spouse cannot affect non-marital property. Maryland law further establishes that all property obtained during the marriage is considered marital property, regardless of which party obtained the asset. An exception is if one spouse is gifted property, which would be considered non-marital property, and another would be if a spouse inherited property. Divorce lawyers can negotiate a fair division of marital property .

Liability Distribution
Before engaging in negotiations, your family law attorney will need to know about all of your debts and the debts of your spouse. Maryland courts may not require one spouse to resume responsibility for paying obligations that are solely the other spouse’s. However, marital debts may be divided. A marital debt is one that is traced to the acquisition of marital property, such as a home.

Child Custody and Visitation
Child custody is often a point of contention in divorce settlements. When negotiating with divorce lawyers, it’s essential for both parents to set aside their differences and work together for the best interests of the child. Under Maryland law, unless a court orders otherwise, both parents are considered to be the joint guardians of a child. If one parent is awarded sole physical custody, the other parent may be given visitation rights.

Each couple’s reasons for consulting divorce lawyers are highly personal. However, there are some common trends regarding the breakdown of a marriage, such as frequent arguing, infidelity, and unmet expectations. If you find that your marriage can be defined by any of the following characteristics and a resolution is not likely, it may be time to consult a family law attorney near Owings Mills regarding key issues, such as alimony laws and child custody issues.

Infidelity
Many people consult divorce lawyers when they become aware that their significant others have engaged in an affair. Affairs often begin as friendships, which may then gradually evolve to infidelity. However, even if no cheating actually occurs, an emotional affair can be devastating for a marriage. Men and women cheat for a variety of reasons, such as to get revenge or to obtain reassurance about self-worth. Regardless of the reason, infidelity and emotional affairs tend to irreversibly destroy trust between spouses.

Codependency
A codependent relationship is broadly defined as one in which an individual feels reliant on the other person for identity, value, and meaning. Codependency often arises from a traumatic childhood and typically leads to relationship problems. Some of the characteristics of codependency include low self-esteem, overreactions, obsessive thought patterns, and dysfunctional communication. When individuals who suffer from codependency do not receive counseling for their challenges, the marriage may deteriorate and divorce may be the result.

Improper Conflict Management
Many couples cite frequent arguing as the overriding factor behind their decision to get a divorce. Spouses often fight over trivial issues, such as whose turn it is to take out the trash, which may then escalate into arguments about significant problems that never seem to be resolved. Couples who argue frequently may benefit from marriage counseling. A therapist can help spouses learn effective conflict management skills that may save the marriage. However, when this doesn’t work, or when one or both spouses remain uncommitted to working to improve the marriage, the help of divorce lawyers may be needed.