Recent Blog Posts
What Happens to the Family Home in a Maryland Divorce?
For many couples, the family home is the most valuable and emotionally significant asset involved in a divorce. Questions about who gets the house, whether it must be sold, and how equity is divided are common and often stressful. William C. Fanning Jr. works with clients in La Plata, Waldorf, and Lexington Park to… Read More »
Gray Divorce in Maryland: Planning for Divorce Later in Life
Divorce is often associated with younger couples, but many individuals face the end of a marriage later in life, a phenomenon known as gray divorce. At Fanning Law, our La Plata family lawyers help older couples in Maryland navigate the unique financial, emotional, and legal challenges that can arise during this stage. Gray divorce… Read More »
Understanding Maryland’s Grounds for Divorce (And When They Matter)
Divorce can feel overwhelming, especially when you are unsure how the law applies to your situation. Many people assume they must prove fault or wrongdoing to end a marriage, while others are unclear about how legal grounds affect the outcome of a case. At Fanning Law, La Plata family lawyer William C. Fanning Jr…. Read More »
How to Co-Parent Successfully After Divorce, Even When It Feels Impossible
Learning how to co-parent after divorce can feel challenging, emotional, and unfamiliar. Even when a separation is amicable, adjusting to shared parenting takes time and intention. Parents often worry about communication, schedules, and how the transition will affect their children. At Fanning Law, attorney William C. Fanning Jr. works closely with parents to help… Read More »
What Are the Risks of Arbitration in a Maryland Divorce?
Most Maryland divorce cases are resolved without the need for courtroom litigation. Even if the parties have difficulty reaching an agreement on certain issues, there are still alternative forms of dispute resolution they can turn to, such as mediation or arbitration. But it is important to understand the limits, and potential risks, of such… Read More »
New Maryland Child Custody Guidelines Take Effect
In May 2025, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed into law HB1191/SB0548, which codifies the factors that judges must use in deciding child custody cases. The legislation formally took effect on October 1, 2025. This article contains a brief explanation of the new legislation and how it alters existing Maryland child custody law. Common Law… Read More »
When Can a Maryland Court Award Indefinite Alimony?
In most cases where a Maryland court decides to award spousal support (alimony), the judge will prefer rehabilitative alimony over indefinite alimony. Rehabilitative alimony means one spouse must pay support to the other for a limited period of time with the ultimate goal of the receiving spouse becoming self-supporting. In contrast, indefinite alimony continues… Read More »
Do I Have to Prove My Spouse Is Having an Affair to Get a Divorce in Maryland?
One of the most common reasons marriages break down is adultery. If one spouse, or even both spouses, are cheating, that signals a betrayal of the very commitment that serves as the basis of marriage. But do you actually need to prove adultery as grounds for a divorce? No. While adultery used to be… Read More »
Navigating Social Media During a Maryland Divorce: 5 Tips to Protect Yourself
According to one survey published earlier this year by SOAX, about 73 percent of the U.S. population currently uses some form of social media. This broadly includes not just the big public-facing platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, but also popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage. Overall, SOAX estimated the average person… Read More »
Can Keeping Guns Affect Your Child Custody Rights in Maryland?
The Second Amendment protects every American’s “right to keep and bear arms.” And while Maryland has somewhat more restrictive gun laws than other states, generally any law-abiding person over the age of 21 can obtain a license to purchase, own, and carry a handgun. That said, a police officer or family member can ask… Read More »