Cockeysville, MD Divorce Lawyers

Reliable Divorce Lawyers Serving Clients in Cockeysville, Maryland

A divorce can come as a dramatic change to your living situation. During the legal proceedings, it is important to have a qualified representative on your side who can stand up for you and inform you of your rights. A Cockeysville divorce lawyer can provide you with aggressive advocacy and qualified legal advice to support you throughout your case.

If you find yourself at a loss during your divorce, Zide Law Group, LLC can help. We have decades of experience handling sensitive family law issues on behalf of our clients. We bring an analytical approach to every case, and if necessary, we are prepared to litigate your divorce in court to protect your best interests.

Is Maryland a No-Fault Divorce State?

Maryland does not recognize any fault-based grounds for divorce, meaning that you cannot end your marriage due to misconduct by your spouse. You can only file for divorce if:

• You have lived separate and apart from your spouse for six months.
• You and your spouse both agree to get a divorce.
• Your marriage has fallen apart due to irreconcilable differences.

Note that you do not have to live in different residences to be considered "separate and apart" for the purposes of a divorce. Interacting with different social circles, sleeping in separate rooms, and other ways of distancing yourself from your spouse can meet the qualification of separate and apart.

While you cannot file a divorce on fault-based grounds, marital misconduct can still play a role in the legal proceedings. When making decisions about property division and alimony, the court can factor in the circumstances that led to the divorce, such as infidelity or abuse.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can help you file for divorce and fight to make sure that you are treated fairly in court.

Equitable Distribution in Maryland Divorce

If you and your spouse cannot reach an agreement about how to divide your marital estate on your own, it will become the court's responsibility to split up your shared property.

For any divorce involving property division, the court adheres to the principle of equitable distribution. This means that your shared assets will be divided in a way that is fair to both you and your spouse, and not always in an equal way. If your spouse earns less than you, they might be given extra property or assets to help ease the transition out of the divorce. The length of the marriage and each party's contribution to the marriage may also influence how the marital estate will be divided.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, our attorneys can argue for your rights to property in court, advocating for a favorable share of assets on your behalf.

Divorce and Bankruptcy

The timing of your divorce can affect how you file for bankruptcy and vice-versa. In some cases, it may make sense to file for bankruptcy before your divorce, while in others, it may be best to wait until your divorce is finalized.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to discharge your unsecured debts in a relatively short period, typically within months. This can also help you wipe out marital debts prior to your divorce. However, this involves liquidating your assets, and your home may not be protected from foreclosure.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy puts you on a multi-year payment plan to make contributions towards your debts without having to liquidate your assets. Because Chapter 13 bankruptcies can last for years, it is generally advisable to file for this type of bankruptcy after your divorce. At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can go over your options for bankruptcy to see what option works best for you.

Meet With a Cockeysville, Maryland Divorce Lawyer Today

Are you dealing with a complicated or intimidating divorce? Our Cockeysville divorce attorneys can help. Call Zide Law Group, LLC at 410-760-9433 to schedule an initial consultation today.