BDBF News and Legal Updates

One of the most emotionally charged issues in custody cases is time-sharing during the holiday season. Regardless of whether parents have just separated or have a long-standing custody agreement, the holidays can prove a tenuous time. Newly Separated Parents For newly separated parents, shared custody is new territory. Parents may agree they want to share...

It’s prenup season at Bulman Dunie. Like many things, requests for prenuptial agreements (or “prenups”) seem to come in waves. One initial question that prospective prenup clients commonly ask is whether to consider such a document. Two Reasons for a Prenup in Maryland and D.C. Maryland and D.C. are both “equitable distribution” jurisdictions. That means,...

While it might not seem complicated at first glance, there are many important factors for an attorney to consider before deciding whether to represent a friend or family member – and for a client to consider before hiring a friend or family member as their attorney. The Potential Benefits of a Dual Relationship The benefits...

Deciding where the children will attend school can be a daunting process, even for intact families. This is particularly true in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, where there are so many choices, from public school to private school to magnet programs and charters. However, for children who split their time between two households, school...

On April 24, 2024, Partner Meg Rosan presented to the D.C. Bar, Family Law Section, on the complex dynamics in “Resist and Refuse Cases”. Meg’s panel discussed “resist and refuse dynamics“, which present in cases where a child is resisting or refusing time with one parent. This can, of course, significantly complicate custody cases. How...

Bulman Dunie Partner Meg Rosan recently presented to the Family Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association “10 Tips for Resolving a Custody Case”. As a mediator, court-appointed best interest attorney, and a top 100 attorney in Maryland, Meg regularly litigates, negotiates, and resolves custody disputes. If you are an attorney or if you...

For parents who are separating, the fight over custody is often the most contentious. And some are willing to commit all their resources in an effort to maximize their time with a child (or minimize the other parent’s time). But taking a “scorched earth” approach to a custody fight can be counter-productive. The Cost of...