Prenuptial Agreements: A prenuptial agreement is signed by both parties before the marriage license is signed by the officiant. This agreement often stipulates how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. These agreements will supersede local statutes, and they should be left with an attorney who will help execute these documents during a divorce proceeding.nnOur divorce attorneys will help clients craft a prenuptial agreement, and that agreement will be kept private until a divorce occurs. Some spouses may believe that they were coerced into signing a prenuptial agreement, and we will review the circumstances surrounding its creation and signing.nnWe also ask that anyone who enters our offices for a consultation disclose the existence of a prenuptial agreement before we build a case. We must know if that prenuptial agreement is valid, if there is a copy that can be used while filing the divorce petition, and if it was signed legally.nnPostnuptial Agreements: A postnuptial agreement is signed after a couple has already been married. This type of agreement may be used to protect one spouse who had a financial windfall in the event of a divorce. For example, a spouse may inherit a large amount of money from a relative, and they may want to protect their savings in the event of a divorce.nnSomeone who is thinking of creating one of these documents should not try to do it on their own. Additionally, no one should sign a hastily written document that was created by their spouse. We can help clients build a document that makes the most sense for both parties. This is not a tense negotiation, but a conversation about how both parties would like to protect themselves. We ask that the document be disclosed when we are retained for a divorce case. We need to know what agreements have been made, if they are lawful, and if they are written properly.nnParenting Plans: Parenting plans should be created for all parents if they plan to separate or divorce. Parenting plans can be used to determine visitation, and these plans will explain how the parents can share custody if they are living in the same household.nnWe understand how to create these documents and help parents make the best decisions for everyone. Older children may have a say in where they would like to live or the level of visitation that is needed. We also offer special option, such as nesting, where the child lives in the same house and the parents rotate living there. If the two parents can reach an agreement on their own, they can submit that agreement to the court. The court will likely sign off on that agreement, and both parties can move on with their lives once the divorce is finalized.nnMediation: We provide mediation when two parties need to reach an agreement on the divorce. Mediation is a good first step when spouses do not know how they can come to an arrangement for the divorce. This is especially important when a divorce becomes contentious. Clients may ask for mediation because they know their ex-spouse will make the divorce process extremely difficult. A high asset divorce can become even more contentious when there is money at stake. These divorces might include the following:nnBusiness transfersnOffshore accountsnBusiness succession plans for children and grandchildrennStock portfoliosnExpensive carsnMultiple homesnArtworknCollectiblesnPriceless family valuablesnMediating the divorce can help both parties come to an agreement about who will move, who will keep the house, and how child custody will work. We will remain in mediation for as long as it takes to help both parties come to an amicable agreement.nnProperty Division: Property division is especially important for couples who have valuables to divide. Clients who are in the process of an amicable divorce can create a property division agreement and submit it to the court. Clients who are in the midst of a difficult divorce battle may need assistance from adivorce lawyer who can fight for one’s money, investments, collectibles, and valuables.nnAlimony and Child Support: Divorcing clients in Maryland can agree to several forms of alimony and/or child support during a case. Alimony in Maryland can be awarded in the following ways:nnPendente Lite Alimony: This type of alimony is typically a bridge to traditional alimony payments. The higher-earning spouse agrees to pay alimony as the two spouses separate. This is typically done when the spouse with the lower earning potential cannot afford to be divorced. That spouse then uses the alimony to prepare for the divorce, move, and get their affairs in order. This is not a permanent type of alimony. The two sides will agree on an end date when the divorce is finalized.nnRehabilitative Alimony: Rehabilitative alimony is offered to the lower-earning spouse since they have contributed more to the marriage. This spouse may have quit jobs, moved multiple times to advance their spouse’s career, worked while their spouse was in school, or raised the children almost on their own. This type of alimony typically has a stopping date that is determined by the court because alimony is partly calculated on how long the marriage lasted. A longer marriage will net more alimony for the spouse with lower earnings.nnIndefinite Alimony: Indefinite alimony is paid to the lower earning spouse with no definite end date. This is also called permanent alimony in some states because it does not stop until death closes the agreement for one or both parties. Although indefinite alimony is rare, we can petition for indefinite alimony when the lower earning spouse is disabled, ill, or otherwise cannot maintain gainful employment. This type of alimony may also be necessary because the lower earning spouse must care for a disabled adult child or family member.