BDBF News and Legal Updates

October 1 is the date when the majority of laws enacted by the Maryland legislature during the preceding session take effect. While the 2022 legislative session wasn’t as busy of a legislative session as 2021 as far as the estate and trust world is concerned, there are a few new interesting Maryland laws which may...

In the last few weeks, parents across the country have navigated an emotional and logistical whirlwind.  Sometimes tear-filled, often stressful, we’re talking about moving your kids into college. Parents almost always remember the dorm essentials – laptop, sheets, mini-fridge, storage cubes, desk lamp, whiteboard, and decorations. Often lost in the process is the realization that...

Much like students returning to the first day of school, standing up one-by-one, and telling tales of summer travel to classmates, BDBF attorneys present “how we spent our summer vacation”. Dan Shaivitz This summer my family took a trip to southern California and, as part of our tour of the Pacific coast, we visited San...

The divorce process is daunting. For many of our clients, the road to a 10-minute uncontested divorce hearing has been fraught with contentious and exhausting negotiations.  So much so, that the final hearing and receipt of the final order can feel anti-climactic. By the time they have that final order in hand, our clients are...

Estate planning clients often engage us along with their spouses. Even though each spouse signs their own will, they often coordinate their documents with one another after a major life event, such as a marriage, birth of a child, or emancipation of grown children.  These clients feel great relief as they leave their signing appointment. ...

If you pay or receive child support in Maryland, you are likely familiar with the concept of the “Maryland Child Support Guidelines”. In short, these guidelines provide the presumed amount of child support owed based upon the number of children and the combined monthly income of the parents. If you’re curious what that looks like, I’ve...

In a case involving somewhat unusual facts, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals revived a recovery for victims who suffered emotional distress without physical harm. A Harford County family was home at night, fast asleep.  A drunk driver lost control of his truck and smashed into the family home, crashing through the garage and below...