5 Best Divorce Attorneys in the Mid-Atlantic

Do you need counsel from experienced divorce attorney in Maryland? View our recommendations of the best lawyers and law firms in the Mid-Atlantic state. These are the legal representations that you want to be on your side of the table. They will fight for the alimony or your money. So take a look at our list of the top divorce attorneys because you want this guys to be headlining your team during settlement.

Silverman | Thompson | Slutkin | White Attorneys at Law

The law firm roughly has 40 tightly-knit lawyers all working collectively in their main downtown Baltimore office.

Law Offices of Sondra M. Douglas, LLC

Are you looking to resolve your family matter respectfully? Clients will feel confident and protected in their divorce process with the work ethic of the Law Offices of Sondra M. Douglas, LLC.

As a side note, Mrs. Douglas appears on a daily basis as a guest speaker for FM 88

David Zerivitz, P.A.

With over 40 years of practice, David Zerivitz’ experience speaks for itself. Divorce and its related issues are challenging at best, and this law farm has continuously provided a full range of support and legal guidance to their clientele.

Fishbein and Fishbein, P.A.

At Fishbein and Fishbein, they pride themselves on being easily accessible to their clients on a 24/7 basis. For 75 years they have dealt with family law issues that are life changing. The duo understands that you have a limited amount of time in your hands to deal with legal issues. That is why they are available when you seek true personal service.

Baltimore area for decades, including particularly complicated cases involving business valuation and the division of significant assets.

Law Offices of Kerri Cohen, LLC

Kerri Cohen knows Baltimore quite well because Baltimore is her native city. She will provide a free initial case evaluation and her practice includes divorce cases as well as divorce-related cases, including child support, paternity, and child custody disputes.

Wise & Donahue, PLC

410-280-2023

18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401

www.wisedonahue.com

What Your Divorce Attorney Should Be Doing

Since the law means order, your divorce attorney should also know the things he/she must do in a manner appropriate to legal regulations and restrictions regarding your divorce case.

Divorce can be complex and involves a lot of work. So expect that in every action that your lawyer will take, you have a role in all of it. But of course, you are not obliged to know the laws applicable for divorce because if that happens, getting a lawyer would be senseless.

Read through these guidelines of what your divorce attorney should be doing when handling your divorce case:

Your attorney should explain the game plan in your case during an initial consultation. After getting the initial information about your case, a divorce lawyer already has a task. He/She should clearly present a strategy according to your terms which he/she believes would be of great help for you.

Your attorney should have an overall plan. Apart from presenting the most effective strategy for your divorce case, your lawyer should also make a plan for the other aspects of the situation. He/She should have a plan of when to meet with your spouse’s lawyer to discuss a settlement, as well as a timeline to process all necessary documents to be submitted in the court.

Your attorney should avoid delays in processing your case. Primarily, to make sure that your divorce case be processed and handled well, choose a divorce attorney annapolis md who does not have a lot on hand. One who can dedicate a lot of time to work on your case to avoid delays and will not waste a lot of your time.

Your attorney should demand all financial documents from your spouse’s party. Your lawyer should do his/her best to get a copy of any documents showing all assets, properties, employee benefit, or pension which should be rightfully divided between you and your spouse. Because in a case like this, you are always to gain something in the end - and that is money or financial support.

Your attorney should evaluate any expert needed in your case. If you need to hire an accountant to analyze your financial statements and assets, your hired divorce lawyer is responsible in assessing or even finding the most appropriate financial advisor or accountant for the case. He/She may give a list of qualified experts as well.

Your attorney should be a good spokesperson. If you are willing to listen and discuss with any settlement proposal or negotiation from your spouse, your lawyer will be the one to relay the message and tell the other party about your point of view.

Your attorney should immediately respond to letters and phone calls regarding your case. With all such communication, your lawyer should give you update on what is the call or message all about. A copy of the letter should be sent to you within 24 hours with the lawyer’s receipt.

Your attorney should fully prepare if your divorce case goes to trial. In the legal part, your lawyer should gather and interview witnesses and make sure to notify them in advance of the trial date. Now, expect that your lawyer will prepare you as well. He/She might tell you to visit the courtroom beforehand, brief you of the questions he/she plans to ask and what to expect during cross-examination.

Your attorney should be honest with you. A good lawyer will tell you frankly if you have lesser chance of winning the case, but then will give you a smart advice on what should be the better next step to take.

All the guidelines are quite achievable when you choose a credible and honest lawyer who is a good match for you and your case. Therefore, you should be wise first when assessing and finding a divorce lawyer to work with.

Looking for a sincere divorce attorney in Annapolis, MD?

Wise & Donahue, PLC

18 West Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

410-280-2023

www.wisedonahue.com

Divorce Attorney Annapolis MD: Important Queries to Ask

So, we have boiled down this important decision in your divorce into 5 steps to find a good divorce attorney for you. What exactly do you need to know before you hire an attorney? Here are some questions to ask before you sign the retainer cheque.

What is collaborative law and how can I use it for my divorce?

Collaborative law is a relatively new concept in divorce law that allows divorcing spouses to avoid contentious disputes in court. In a collaborative divorce, you and your spouse will agree up front not to go to court, and you will work closely with your divorce attorneys and subject-matter experts to come to an amicable resolution on all of the key aspects of your divorce.

Who will handle my case and how will tasks be delegated?

Attorneys in every state have an ethical obligation to advise you of any conflict of interest. Still, you should ask the question. If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly represents, there would be a conflict. A conflict might also arise if the attorney you are interviewing has already been hired by a co-defendant in your case. Not all conflicts automatically disqualify potential counsel, but you must be fully aware of and understand the nature of the conflict before deciding whether to hire a lawyer in spite of it.

What Can You Tell Me About Child Custody?

When you have children with your spouse, and are unable to privately agree as to who will retain custody, it’s important to understand from the outset which factors are important to state judges when deciding which parent to award custody to. Therefore, you should ask your attorney what your chances are of obtaining custody of your children. Since child custody issues sometimes prolong divorce proceedings, it’s best to know which issues are best to concede and which to challenge. You might also ask about alternative dispute resolution like mediation or arbitration if you feel going to trial is something you'd like to avoid.

What is Your Hourly Rate?

Find out what the divorce attorney hourly rate is, what the up-front retainer will be, whether any portion of the retainer is refundable if it is not used, and how often you can expect to receive invoices that detail their hourly charges and expenses. Insist on a contract signed by you and the attorney clearly outlining the fee agreement before contracting with an attorney.

If you can think of more, add them to this list. Your divorce attorney annapolis md is your legal advocate during divorce. Without asking the proper questions, you won’t know how well they will be able to advocate for you.

Are There Ways to Cut the Cost of My Divorce? 

Begin by not making the divorce lawyer annapolis md your very own private therapist. If you truly are concerned about keeping your legal fees down, use your attorney for legal advice and legal counseling only.  Remember your legal counsel is a professional who will charge for his or her time. Use that time spent effectively and wisely and find empathy somewhere else. Do this by keeping track of the time spent on the phone or in court. Discuss immediately if you somehow find the charges not accurate.


After carefully weighing all of these issues and thoughtfully considering your needs, you should be able to make a decision on an appropriate divorce attorney. In the end, it may come down to just trusting your gut instinct and going with someone who you are comfortable with and who is a good fit for you.

Wise & Donahue PLC

410-280-2023

18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401

www.wisedonahue.com

Divorce Attorney Annapolis MD: How Should They Act In Court

In order to appear shipshape and knowledgeable during court trial, your divorce attorney should always act and speak accordingly. You don’t want to leave a not so good impression as the weaker party just because your lawyer does not dress well.

Here is some guide on how your divorce lawyer should behave in the court:

Straight to the point. A divorce attorney should be brief and straight to the point when stating pleadings for a motion, even when arguing. He/She should deliver clearly to the judge your interests and what you really want out of the case. Sometimes less is more, so it’s better that a lawyer only talk less and avoid steering the wheel to another direction.


Smart talker. When a lawyer represents a client in the court, he/she should be vigilant and wise in choosing his/her words, and should speak authoritatively. Because every information your party releases could be used against you.


Avoid redundancy. Your lawyer should avoid restating verbally what has been written in your motion because it might annoy the judge. Judges come to the court prepared by reading all written documents regarding your case. What your lawyer can do - is to expand the motion staying on point, of course.


Always prepared. As how the judges prepared, your lawyer must do more than just reading paperworks concerning your case. He/She should review documents and prepare evidences significant to your case beforehand to avoid misrepresentations or worst - embarrassing his/herself and you as as the client.


Well mannered. Your lawyer is still human. He/She still feel disappointed and upset if the judge does not agree or favor your case. However, a well mannered lawyer will remain courteous and respectful towards the person in position. This kind of act will only show that you are working with a credible and wise lawyer.


Appropriately dressed. Let’s go physical. Just like any other occasion, a trial also suggests appropriate fashion. Your lawyer can’t go to court in T-shirt and jeans, definitely not. I believe you already know that. Suits and ties are the best fashion when your lawyer started speaking about legal rules and articles. It leaves a positive impression to the people on the courtroom.


Punctual. Punctuality is one important thing to show people in the court that you and your lawyer is sincere and committed. Your lawyer should engrave the three most significant words in the legal world, “Be on time” and “Don’t keep the other party waiting”.


Keep an eye on the behavior and actions of your divorce attorney annapolis md because that helps with earning a good outcome out of your case. But of course, this should already be part of evaluating him/her during an interview - that if you’ve included it.


Looking for a law firm that offer experienced and well mannered divorce attorney in annapolis md?

Wise & Donahue PLC
410-280-2023
18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
www.wisedonahue.com

Divorce Attorney Annapolis MD: How To Find a Good One

In selecting the divorce attorney who will represent you, interview more than one potential candidate and choose the one whose approach matches your needs. It is important that you feel confident that you’ll be able to work with your attorney. Hire an attorney who will listen to you and be responsive to your questions. You will be paying for your attorney’s time, so keep your interaction efficient by grouping your questions and limiting contact to once a week or once a month. Constantly calling your attorney with questions will cause your costs to mount up quickly.

The Vast Experience

Perhaps, this is the most significant thing you should be on the lookout for when choosing attorney. Whether you are looking for any type of attorney, it’s worth noting that only an attorney with experience can help you get out of almost any situation. He or she is capable of understanding what you are going through and will go the extra mile to ensure that you are out of trouble.

The Much-Needed Knowledge

Another thing that you need to look for when selecting a divorce attorney annapolis md is knowledge. If you require discovering more about the knowledge that an attorney has, you can raise a few questions during the first meetings. A knowledgeable attorney will give you all the answers that you need and is aware of all the rules and regulations and how they apply to your case.

His or Her Specialty

Attorneys specialize in different fields. For example, if you are involved in a divorce case then you will have to look for some divorce attorneys. On the flipside, if you are included in criminal proceedings then you will need a criminal attorney. Other agents specialize in other fields that include personal injury, the family just to mention a few. Only select an attorney that will be appropriate for your case to increase your chances of emerging victorious.

A Proven Track Record

Before choosing an attorney it’s a grand idea to find out more about their record. It is the only way that you can evaluate the performance of the prosecutor. Make sure that the attorney that you are going to choose has a proven track record of helping clients win their cases. If you can across an attorney with a poor record don’t be shy to move to the next otherwise, you risk losing your legal battle.

That Reputation

A divorce attorney annapolis md can evaluate your situation and let you know the likely outcome if you take your case to court. Based on their experience with the judge and similar cases to yours, they’ll be able to offer a variety of legally-acceptable options to settle your case. This is another quality that you should search for when choosing a attorney. A law firm with a solid reputation is the right choice for your case because their reputation indicates that clients are satisfied with their services.

The Courtroom Appearance

For instance, if you are involved in a divorce case then you must attend court sessions frequently. It is vital for you to engage a divorce attorney who is willing to appear in court whenever necessary to address the judge and present your case. Moreover, the attorney needs to develop a significant presence in court to increase your chances of winning.

The Affordability

Maybe it’s possible to find an affordable divorce lawyer annapolis md. Maybe it isn’t. Most individuals will put a gauge on quality - by how much is the price of the lawyer’ service. But there are great divorce attorneys who can help you at a very reasonable price. There can be times that a bankruptcy lawyer who keeps an unusually high charge quite unprofessional and off-putting. So, look for a professional who has reasonable charges and gives more personal attention to the case.


A family attorney will concentrate on creating the best deal possible – which may mean helping you to compromise on some issues so that you can get more of your “must haves.” In a divorce, a good deal is one where both sides gave up some of what they had hoped to gain, but both can live with the settlement – moving forward.

Wise & Donahue PLC
410-280-2023
18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
www.wisedonahue.com

Divorce Attorney Annapolis MD: Common Reasons Why Married Couples Divorce

Sometimes a “‘till death do us part” end up with a “‘till divorce do us part”. Some marriage may be perfect, but others sadly end with a not-so-happy-ending, some married couples may stick together until the end but some only sticks together only for a year.


In the United States, 50 percent of first marriages and 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce.

Wondering why a lot of married couples broke up? Or how they end up with divorce or separation? 

Take a look at these 10 common causes of divorce.

1. Infidelity

Either of the couple or both of them chose to cheat may be because of anger or lack of time for each other which leads to reduced emotional intimacy. Infidelity begins with a seemingly innocent friendship, says cheating expert Ruth Houston. “It starts as an emotional affair which later becomes a physical affair”.

2. Money

Money as one important part one’s daily living, greatly affects a marriage. Marriage also means being one - suggesting that both the person in a marriage should be honest about their financial capacity, goals, and spending habits. Yet sometimes that is not the case which causes a large gap between spouses.

3. Nonstop Arguing

A marriage is clearly not healthy when couples constantly arguing about nonsense stuff over and over again. This is because both of them are hunted by their perception of not being appreciated or recognized. This often happens when both spouses don’t know how to compromise. Because in a relationship - it should give and take, not give and, give or take and take.

4. Lack of Intimacy

Intimacy is a much needed ingredient in a marriage, it strengthens the connection between two people. Without connection, couples in a marriage tends to feel that they are not meant for each other. You can also show intimacy through physical and emotional ways, such as a hug before going to bed, a kiss every morning or just saying ‘I love you’ - it is not only about sex. Of course, both spouses are responsible in maintaining the fire in a marriage.

5. Unequal distribution of responsibilities

Lack of equality is also one cause of divorce because when one spouse start to feel that he/she is carrying most of the responsibilities in a marriage, it can reduce their respect for another spouse. Resentment and anger will take over and can lead to heavy arguments unless one partner will compromise and settle the problem peacefully.

6. Domestic Violence

When one spouse emotionally or physically abuse the other, it degrades the love and trust between them. In marriage, couples should be the first to prohibit abusive behaviour, especially if they have kids.

7. Getting married for wrong purposes

Not all people get married because of love because some of them only get in for money. The marriage started beautifully, but as time passes, one spouse will realize discontentment and emptiness.

8. Varying priorities and interests.

Actually, the differing interests and goals of spouses should not be a problem as long as both of them understand such differences. And with proper communication, they can even do each of their plans together.


The only thing that summarizes these causes is the inability of marriage couples to solve conflicts. Yes, being in a marriage is not easy because challenges will always be part of our life. When you decided to divorce, make sure to do it peacefully to avoid events you will regret in the end.



Find a lawyer who can deeply understand what exactly you need for your divorce case. Work with Wise & Donahue, PLC, your most compassionate and sincere partner when it comes to divorce attorney annapolis md. Visit us at 18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401.

Wise & Donahue PLC

410-280-2023

18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401

www.wisedonahue.com

Divorce Attorney: Why You Really Need It

If separation is the only recourse for your marriage, then as a divorcing couple now is the right time to make sure that you have an experienced divorce attorney on your side throughout the process. Here are some key reasons why:

To eliminate the risks of mistakes that can be truly expensive at the very end. Due to spur-of-the-moment and emotional choices that were made without first consulting a lawyer, separating couples could make a blunder in issues from financial to parenting. 

A legal representation will shed light on your marriage’s recent crossroad in a confidential, no-cost, no-obligation evaluation of your circumstances. Despite having no legal requirement in hiring a divorce lawyer for your divorce, you can know the advantages and disadvantages of having one in your side. There are even some alternatives for affordable legal help if you’re interested. More and more states are lowering the procedural walls so that they can help former partners file their simple uncontested divorce. Imagine having a sort of self-service center intended to allow warring couples to contest their union. 

Having a divorce lawyer will take off the burden when it comes to facing tax issues. These matters need to be handled carefully. Most marriages which have lasted for several years will have entangled family assets that need to be carefully handled especially if some of them have increased value prior to your separation. 

Even in the simplest of marriages, there will always be items of ownership that needs to be change. If you are going for a DIY divorce, the chances of you or your former partner missing on the legal matters surrounding this are high. 

A divorce attorney in annapolis md will work for their clients to make things not get worse. He or she will make sure that their client is being treated fairly in the proceeding. Especially, as most divorce cases will get a little nasty as it moves forward. Have you hired a divorce lawyer who prefers settling matters in a friendly manner, or does he or she take the initiative to not fan the flame before it reaches the court? Obviously, you want a divorce lawyer who is going to get things done in the least aggressive manner, and avoid going to court.

Hiring the convenience of a divorce attorney is strictly up to your personal choices. But bear in mind, your divorce lawyer is set up to work with you like a coach who will help you think out the issues that come along the way. He or she will be there for you when you need information. Typically, your counsel will be available to file documents or argue your case for you if that later becomes necessary.

Your divorce attorney can help you focus on what the “big picture” of your separation is. He or she will create the best deal possible for you not to compromise any issues. He or she will find ways to have both sides come to an agreement where they can live with the settlement. 

Wise & Donahue PLC
410-280-2023
18 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
www.wisedonahue.com

Effects of Parental Separation and Divorce on Very Young Children

According to Robert Emery, a recognized researcher, therapist and mediator, “divorce is invariably painful”.

Every member of the family suffers from the crisis brought by divorce, but in the whole process, it is always the children who suffer a lot. At a very young age, they already have a sense of familial bond. Most of them don’t want their parents to separate which will lead to emotional and mental stress.

Moreover, the children have to withstand the tiring procedure of divorce attorney annapolis md transition. They will be exhausted by the thought of losing everyday contact and interaction with the other parent. It would be difficult for them to cope up with the change in family setting without the daily presence of  other parent.

Yet, it is not the process that troubles the children, it is the degree of emotional and physical conflict between the parents. Hearing the shouting and fighting of their parents, they can definitely feel that something is wrong. Parents should calmly and wisely handle the situation, so that their children can immediately overcome the consequences of divorce and can easily adjust to the new set up.

How does divorce affect the whole being of a child?