Parkville and Carney Family Law and Divorce Lawyer
Divorce, custody, support and modification of older orders for northeastern Baltimore County families.
Parkville and Carney are long established residential communities in northeastern Baltimore County. Families here often have deep roots, which shows up in the legal work: long marriages, a home owned for decades, and custody or support orders that were entered years ago and no longer fit.
Divorce
Where spouses can agree in writing, a mutual consent divorce is the fastest route through the court system, with no waiting period. Where agreement is not yet possible, the six month separation ground applies, and since 2023 spouses can satisfy it while still living in the same house if they are genuinely leading separate lives. That change is significant for families who cannot readily afford two households.
See grounds for divorce in Maryland.
A long marriage and a long held home
In marriages of substantial duration, the two largest items are usually the house and the retirement accounts. Both need care. The portion of a pension or 401(k) earned during the marriage is generally marital property regardless of whose name is on it, and actually dividing it typically requires a separate court order directed to the plan administrator. See property and debt division.
Duration of the marriage is also a factor in alimony, and long marriages are the usual setting for the narrow circumstances in which indefinite alimony is available.
Custody and parenting plans
Maryland distinguishes legal custody, the authority to make long term decisions, from physical custody, where the child actually lives. Parents in contested custody cases in Baltimore County are generally required to complete a six hour online co-parenting class before mediation. See custody, parenting plans and visitation.
When an old order stops working
This is a frequent reason people from Parkville and Carney call. A support order set years ago no longer matches anyone’s income. A schedule built for a six year old does not suit a fifteen year old. A parent moved.
Maryland allows custody and support orders to be modified on a showing of a material change in circumstances. Be aware that a private agreement between parents to pay a different amount does not change the order, and arrears can accumulate in the meantime. See enforcing or modifying an order and child support.
Filing in Towson
Cases from Parkville and Carney are filed at the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson, a short drive across the county. Our office is on Kenilworth Drive in Towson.
Related pages
Official resources
- Baltimore County Circuit Court, family law services
- Maryland Courts, divorce
- Maryland Parenting Plan Tool
Talk with a Towson family law attorney
Every divorce and custody matter turns on its own facts. The Law Office of Thomas K. Mallon, LLC offers a free consultation so you can get straight answers about your situation before you decide what to do next.
Call (410) 847-9075 or request a consultation online. The office is at 1107 Kenilworth Drive, Suite 305, Towson, MD 21204.
This page provides general information about Maryland law. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Maryland law changes, and how it applies depends on the facts of your case.