Law Office of Dawn M. GreenFamily Law Attorneys in Annapolis, MD | Law Office of Dawn M. Green2026-07-24T11:05:29Zhttps://www.dawngreenlaw.com/feed/atom/WordPressOn Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[3 divorce options for a shared business]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503492026-07-24T11:05:29Z2026-07-24T11:04:06ZIf you and your spouse are business owners, and you have been working together to grow the company, you know that it can certainly complicate things if you decide to get a divorce. After all, your business is an asset that both of you own, and you may be wondering how the end of your marriage will affect that company.
Every situation is unique, but there are three main options that you should keep in mind.
You can keep working together
First and foremost, you do have the option to keep working together after the divorce. Perhaps the two of you could write a business partnership agreement and maintain a professional relationship, even after the romantic relationship ends. It likely just depends on the level of conflict in the divorce and whether you are still on relatively good terms.
One of you can take over
Another option is for one of you to exit the business while the other takes over as the sole owner and runs it independently. The main hurdle here is that the spouse who wants to stay typically has to buy out the ownership share of the spouse who is exiting the company.
You can sell the business and split the revenue
Finally, if you cannot find another solution, your business may have a certain cash value on the current market. If you can find a third party that is interested in buying it, you turn your company into a financial asset. You can split the earnings from the sale. You do lose the business that you built and will need to seek new employment options, but you both get the value out of that company.As you navigate your divorce, it can become complicated to address these types of issues. Be sure you know what legal options you have and what steps to take.
]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[Does your co-parent regularly fail to use their custody time?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503432026-07-14T12:55:05Z2026-07-14T12:55:05ZCancellations cause complications
One parent canceling at the last minute creates practical and financial strain for the other. Parents may have to call in sick to work, cancel their plans or pay out of pocket for child care. Additionally, children may develop a sense of personal rejection. They may view the cancellation as a reflection of the other parent’s care for them, rather than the result of practical complications. The emotional and social consequences of parental rejection can affect children for years to come.
Custody modifications can help
A parent requesting a custody modification must document the cancellations to show a pattern. Modifying the order can make life more predictable. Children may appreciate the stability of the schedule that does not involve last-minute changes. They are less likely to feel rejected if they know the custody order limits the parenting time one adult has with them.
Reviewing your current co-parenting circumstances with the family law attorney can help you decide if the allocation of parental rights and responsibilities in your order accurately reflects your family circumstances. Modifications are sometimes necessary when one parent doesn’t use their time.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[What are the differences between legal and physical custody?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503412026-07-05T02:02:39Z2026-07-05T02:02:39Zlegal custody rights, the emphasis is on making decisions for the child. This includes decisions about health care, education and religion. Parents are responsible for making these decisions and putting the child's best interests first, and a parent with legal custody rights is allowed to do so.
These rights can be divided differently
It is important to go over the child custody order and related documentation carefully. Do not just assume that both physical and legal custody are going to be divided the same way.
For instance, a court may decide that both parents are fit to take care of the child and spend time with them, maintaining a relationship and providing a safe and stable living situation. Physical custody could be divided evenly.
However, the court may also decide that only one parent should be making important decisions for the child. That parent could be awarded sole legal custody, meaning that the other parent is excluded from decisions made on the child's behalf.
Naturally, every case is different. It is critical for parents who are going through a divorce to know exactly what rights and options they have.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[How do you protect privacy in a high-asset divorce?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503382026-06-22T15:56:45Z2026-06-22T15:56:45ZKeep sensitive details within a small circle
A smaller, trusted circle may make private details easier to manage. When too many people receive updates, one comment could reach someone who does not need the information. For instance, a casual note about selling a vacation home might reach an adviser or lender before you have a clear message.
It often helps to route updates through one person when family members or colleagues need information. That approach could help mitigate mixed messages and keep explanations consistent. You might also want to treat written messages with care. Workplace email or group chats may leave records that others could access.
Financial records may need even more careful handling. Statements and property documents stored across several devices might be difficult to track. A secure storage system could minimize repeated sharing and help you find records when financial questions come up during divorce proceedings.
Limit outside attention before it grows
Outside interest often grows when people see social media posts or sudden updates without context. Posts about the divorce may invite more questions, even when you only mean to explain your side. A short, neutral message might work better if your business, board role or community position makes silence difficult.
Your online footprint may spread beyond your own profiles. Tagged photos and comments could invite questions about private matters, even when you do not post about the divorce yourself. It might be beneficial to review privacy settings and reduce personal updates while the matter remains active.
Shared social spaces may also create pressure. At a public event or community gathering, someone might ask a personal question in front of others. A calm answer that your family is keeping the matter private could end the exchange without adding new details.
Privacy comes from measured choices
Privacy during a high-asset divorce usually comes from decisions made early and repeated carefully. When you keep your message limited and consistent, you may stay focused on navigating the process rather than reacting to outside noise.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[What is pendente lite alimony?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503362026-06-17T01:00:32Z2026-06-17T01:00:32ZThe goal is to maintain the status quo
The courts can use alimony to make the final outcome of a divorce more reasonable and fair. They can also order alimony payments during the divorce to allow one spouse to pay basic cost-of-living expenses, such as maintaining the family home, before the marriage officially ends.
The primary purpose of pendente lite alimony is to provide temporary financial support for a lower-earning or dependent spouse for the duration of the divorce. It helps bridge the gap between the financial support received before separating from a spouse and any final financial determination made by the judge hearing the divorce case.
When a lengthy absence from the workforce, medical challenges or responsibility for children interferes with an adult's ability to support themselves during this divorce, a judge may order pendente lite alimony. Doing so helps to ensure they can maintain the status quo until the courts finalize the divorce and establish more permanent financial arrangements.
Spouses concerned about affording basic necessities may need help putting together the paperwork necessary to request pendente lite alimony when they initially file for divorce or respond to a spouse’s divorce petition, and that’s okay. Learning more about the different types of alimony available can help people pursue the financial support they need during and after a divorce.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[Could your prenuptial agreement be “unconscionable?”]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503342026-06-10T15:51:26Z2026-06-10T15:51:26ZOften, when couples get a prenuptial agreement, one of them wants it more than the other. That person may have considerable assets they want to protect as they go into the marriage, they may have parents who feel strongly about protecting a future inheritance or they may simply be more forward-thinking than their future spouse.
Too often, the person who simply goes along with their partner’s wish for a prenup doesn’t put a great deal of thought into it. They may not even have an attorney review it to ensure that it is fair to them before they sign it.
Understanding unconscionability
If this describes you, but now you’re facing an impending divorce, you may be faced with having to abide by terms that you realize are unfair to you. In fact, the prenup – or at least parts of it -- may even be what’s referred to as “unconscionable.”That’s a term used in the law to refer to any contract that is grossly unfair to one of the parties. If challenged in court, it is likely to be ruled invalid and unenforceable. An unconscionable contract is more likely when the party to whom it is unfair didn’t have their own legal representation, as is too often the case with prenups.
What else can invalidate a prenup?
Another thing that can invalidate a prenup is if a party was pressured to sign it. This doesn’t always mean that someone was threatened or bullied. In the case of a prenup, it can happen if one party presents the other with a prenup late in the wedding planning process, after invitations have been sent out and nonrefundable deposits have been made on venues and honeymoon destinations.You don’t have to be trapped in an unconscionable or even an unfair prenuptial agreement. The best first step is to get experienced legal guidance to review the document. This can help you protect your rights and your future as you divorce.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[The importance of financial transparency during divorce]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503282026-05-27T22:56:27Z2026-05-27T22:49:53ZFinancial transparency means more than just sharing bank account balances with each other. It includes providing insurance policies, pay stubs, retirement statements, valuable personal property and anything else that might need to be divided.
Why is hidden information a problem?
When financial details are incomplete, the spouse who doesn’t have the missing information can’t make an informed decision about how to proceed. If new information is found during the property division process, it may mean that the entire process has to start over, which can delay the finalization of the divorce.
How can you increase transparency?
Organizing all financial documents is one of the most important ways you can increase transparency. Providing a list of all assets and debts is important, but it’s even better if you have copies of the most recent statements or documents associated with them all. It may even help for each party to check their credit report to find out if they forgot about any debts.
Full financial transparency doesn’t mean that there won’t be disputes about property division. It’s possible that issues like challenges about fair market values or responsibility for debts could be contentious.
The property division process is just one reason why it’s critical to have sound legal guidance throughout your divorce. It’s imperative that you make decisions that are in your best interests so you can start your new life on the best footing possible.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[Does remarriage automatically end Maryland alimony?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503262026-05-12T15:49:09Z2026-05-12T15:49:09ZRecipient remarriage is grounds for termination
Most of the time, Maryland alimony orders terminate before they might otherwise end when the spouse receiving alimony remarries. The marital status of the paying spouse typically does not impact their obligations, as those responsibilities predate their new relationship.
In some cases, alimony may continue even after the remarriage of one spouse due to unique terms included in the order. The recipient spouse does not even need to marry for an alimony modification to be possible. The courts may review and update the order if the recipient spouse lives with a romantic partner and therefore diminishes their personal cost-of-living burden.
Reviewing changes in circumstances with a Maryland divorce attorney who handles alimony petitions and modifications can help spouses understand their options and ensure the fairness of their current financial arrangements. When the need for alimony decreases, the courts may agree to adjust an order accordingly.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[4 mistakes that can undermine your position in a custody case]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503242026-05-01T03:29:59Z2026-05-01T03:29:59Z1. Speaking negatively about the other parent
Don’t let your emotions get the better of you during the legal process. Tearing down your co-parent, especially in front of your child or during court proceedings, can seriously undermine your case. Judges pay close attention to whether each parent encourages a positive and ongoing relationship between the child and the other parent. If you come across as hostile, dismissive, or unwilling to support that relationship, it may raise red flags about your ability to act in your child’s best interests.
2. Ignoring court orders or agreements
A judge may issue temporary or interim orders pending a final custody determination. Those directives are not optional. Follow them to the letter even if the arrangement feels inconvenient. Making unilateral changes to the schedule or repeatedly failing to adhere to the terms can raise concerns about your reliability and respect for the court’s authority.
3. Oversharing on social media
Social media content is often used as evidence during custody hearings. Posts showing reckless behavior, disparaging comments or even vague complaints can be misinterpreted in court. Even posts that feel unrelated to parenting can still be used to challenge your credibility, stability or decision-making.
4. Overlooking legal guidance
Navigating custody proceedings alone is not in your best interests. Family law regulations in Maryland are detailed and often unforgiving when deadlines are missed or filings are handled incorrectly. The right legal support can help you understand your rights, avoid procedural missteps and ensure that your actions align with what courts are looking for when evaluating custody arrangements.]]>On Behalf of Law Office of Dawn M. Green<![CDATA[Who keeps airline miles and club memberships in divorce?]]>https://www.dawngreenlaw.com/?p=503222026-04-24T14:59:04Z2026-04-24T14:59:04ZAre airline miles marital property in Maryland?
Maryland uses equitable distribution in divorce. That means courts seek a fair result based on the facts, not an automatic fifty-fifty split.
Courts may consider airline miles earned during your marriage when dividing property, especially if shared spending helped generate them. If your spouse earned points through business travel during the marriage, those rewards may still become part of settlement discussions.
Miles can be harder to divide than cash, especially as some airlines restrict transfers or charge fees. Because of that, one spouse may keep the miles while the other receives another asset of similar value.
What happens to a country club membership?
Country club memberships raise different issues. Some memberships have transfer value, while others only grant access and cannot be sold. Many require large initiation fees or yearly dues.
If you or your spouse use the club for networking, client meetings or business development, that use can become relevant in divorce discussions. Courts or negotiating spouses may look at who paid for the membership, whether it has resale value, how each spouse used it during the marriage and how it affects the larger property division.
More than perks, assets with real value
Airline miles and country club memberships fall into a category many people overlook during divorce: lifestyle perks. These benefits may not look like traditional assets, but they can still carry real value. Other examples can include:
Hotel reward points
Golf or yacht club memberships
Concierge travel benefits
Elite travel status
Private social club access
These perks may save money, create access or support business relationships. In higher-income households, they can reflect the lifestyle built during the marriage, which is why they may matter when property division begins.
How courts may treat lifestyle perks
Maryland courts usually focus on fairness, value and how the benefit was acquired. Some lifestyle perks have a clear dollar value, such as refundable fees or transferable benefits. Others are harder to value because they mainly provide access or status. When a direct split is not practical, one spouse may keep the perk while the other receives value elsewhere in the settlement.
Protecting your interests
Your divorce may involve more than houses and bank accounts. Airline miles, club memberships and similar lifestyle perks can carry real financial and personal value. If you overlook these items, the final settlement may not fully reflect everything you built during the marriage.
Taking stock of all assets early can help you make informed decisions and prepare for property discussions. A careful review of both major assets and smaller benefits can support a fair result that fits your future needs.]]>