Another successful week of litigation completed.
A successful morning litigating third party custody with the added bonus of pleasant water views. #brackishlife
Alimony payments are not designed to remain the same. If your circumstances changed significantly, you can petition the court to modify it. Read our full blog to learn more.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Can I Modify My Alimony Payments After the Divorce?
6th in-person trial/hearing of the week. Tie. Check. Pants. Check. Mask. Check.
As Maryland Courts are reopening in phases, it is important to keep an eye on your case to make sure you do not miss your hearing and to check to see if the hearing is remote or in-person.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call our office at (410) 643 - 4727 or to email at matthewpenick@matthewpenicklaw.com
Mid-Shore Pro Bono
July 20 at 3:03 PM ·
Did you know that Maryland Courts enter Phase III of reopening today? Read below for details on what that entails!
Divorce is challenging for families. Read our full blog to learn more about the mistakes you should avoid during this process.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Mistakes Fathers Should Avoid During the Divorce Process
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please reach out to Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence for help. During the many years I have worked with them, I have seen their empathy, advocacy, and kindness. Having successfully represented petitioners today in two final protective orders, I can't stress enough how important it is to have an organization such as MSCFV that supports victims of domestic violence.
MSCFV.ORG
Welcome to Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence
Effective October 1, 2020, the state of Maryland updated its child support guidelines. Read our full blog to learn about these changes.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Child Support in Maryland
With the spike in positivity rates, beginning today, Maryland Courts have re-entered Phase III until the end of the year. What does that mean for your family law matter?
Each county is likely to handle this slightly differently. Unless a case is settled, a contested final merits hearing will not be able to occur until next year. However, courts will still be able to handle certain hearings such as contempt hearings, scheduling conferences, settlement conferences, protective orders, and hearings on temporary support, access, and a few other issues on a temporary basis.
Most hearings will likely be heard remotely, so make sure you are able to download the appropriate software, have access to a device with a microphone and a camera, and can access a reliable Internet connection. If your hearing is set remotely but you do not have the capability of participating remotely, let the court know as soon as possible.
If you have any questions about any of this, please feel free to call us at (410) 643 - 4727 or e-mail matthewpenick@matthewpenicklaw.com
Maryland offers both no-fault and fault-based divorce. If you wish to file for fault-based divorce, you must prove grounds, which can be quite a difficult process and requires skilled representation. Read our full blog to learn more.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Grounds for Divorce in Maryland
Spouses do not always have to end their marriage in court. If you agree to keep it outside of court, you can negotiate a settlement with the assistance of an experienced divorce attorney. Read our full blog to learn more about divorce settlement agreements.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
What You Need to Know About Divorce Settlement Agreements
Unlike divorce litigation, the mediation process is a more amicable process and far more beneficial for children. Read our full blog to find out why this process is often better for those involved in a child custody dispute.
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Why Mediation is Better for Your Children
The Supreme Court first recognized the right to privacy in a cell phone and required a search warrant for law enforcement to peer into a cell phone in Riley v. California. Since that case came out, there has been continued litigation between federal/state governments and defense attorneys over what needs to be in the search warrant and what can be searched.
General warrants are specifically prohibited as they were used by tyrants in the past to sweep through entire neighborhoods looking for seditious material.
This past week, a big case came out of the Fifth Circuit which essentially separates by category various items which might be found on a cell phone and indicates that photographs can only be searched if there is specific probable cause to review them, merely having probable cause to get into the phone and look at messages, call logs, or contacts is not sufficient to form probable cause for other items on the phone.
CA5.USCOURTS.GOV
www.ca5.uscourts.gov
A quick hearing in Easton this morning, then a drive up to Chestertown this afternoon.
A residential visitation schedule serves a family for the majority of the year, but typically is too generic to cover protocol for the holiday season. Learn more about holiday visitation schedules here! Read more on our blog:
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Potential Holiday Visitation Issues and Solutions
Whether you are seeking third-party custody or you are fighting against a third-party petition for custody of your child, it is essential to hire an experienced family law attorney to represent your case and guide you through every step of the process. Read more on our blog:
MATTHEWPENICKLAW.COM
Pursuing Third-Party Custody
