4 Things to Know When Getting Divorced

Posted on by Horman Nichols, LLC

Written By: Trevor Addie-Carter

Divorce is complicated, both emotionally and legally.  Emotionally, the divorce process is stressful and can come with strong emotions about yourself, your partner, your marriage, and the divorce process.  Legally, there are multiple different stages and decision-makers involved, which can feel overwhelming.   Here are 4 things you should know about the divorce process.

  • You will experience strong emotions – Divorce is defined as the legal dissolution of a marriage.  Divorce cases themselves focus on the family relationship, often explore matters that you and your spouse may or may not have shared with others and will do so in front of lawyers and judges whom you may have never met before.  You will very likely experience strong emotions, and that is okay.  It is also okay to seek counseling if you feel you need help processing or managing these emotions.
  • You will need to understand your finances – In cases where child support or alimony are requested, you will need to have a firm understanding of your finances, including your income, your expenses, your assets, and your liabilities.  Even without child support or alimony, divorce means you will likely be going from a two-income household to a one-income household.  A strong understanding of your finances will help you to budget for the future.
  • Family Law cases have multiple stages – From the initial Complaint for Divorce to the final Judgment of Divorce, a Family Law case may have multiple stages and hearings.  These could include a Scheduling Conference, at which the Court reviews the initial filings and sets dates for hearings; a Pendente Lite Hearing, at which a Family Magistrate holds a hearing to make recommendations for a temporary order while the case proceeds through the system; and a Settlement Conference, where the parties discuss settlement.  You may also be ordered to attend Mediation and will likely have to request and produce discovery.
  • Family Law cases also have multiple actors – Aside from the Circuit Court Judge and Family Magistrate, there are multiple other actors that may be involved in your case.  Depending on the legal issues presented, your case may also involve Mediators, Parenting Coordinators, Custody Evaluators, mental health professionals, and attorneys who represent the parties’ children.

Divorce can easily become overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.  A strong support network, advanced financial planning, and a law firm with a deep understanding of family law can help.  

If you have any questions, are contemplating divorce, or have been served with divorce papers, please contact us through our website or call our office at 301.663.8101.

3 of the Best Lessons I’ve Learned as a Lawyer

Posted on by Horman Nichols, LLC

Written By: Andrew Nichols

Every profession comes with learning moments and opportunities.  During my time as an attorney, I’ve had so many of these moments.  Here are three of the best lessons I’ve learned.

  1. Zealously representing your client does not mean you have to be a complete jerk.  As a general rule, throughout my career, I have had very good working relationships with my opposing counsel.  You often hear people say they want a “pit bull” who will fight for them and they seem to believe this is best demonstrated by screaming at the other attorney(s) and being difficult to work with.  In my nearly 20 years of practice, I have found the opposite to be true.  When I was in law school, one of the most important lessons I had a professor teach me, is that you get one crack at establishing your professional reputation.   By being courteous and professional, I have been able to establish good working relationships, and in many cases, friendships, with opposing counsel.  Without doubt, this has allowed me to get better results for my clients.

2. Having a job that allows you to have a happy balance with work and personal/family time really has a value to which you can’t assign money.  Prior to starting Horman Nichols, I was a partner, and prior to making partner, an associate attorney with a mid-sized firm in Baltimore.  When I interviewed at that firm, I had just found out my wife was pregnant with our first child.  The partner I interviewed with assured me that the firm believed in a balance of work and family.  At the time they offered me a position as an associate attorney, I had two other job offers on the table that were offering a higher salary.  I accepted the position with my old firm because I knew life was going to change (I didn’t know how much!) and I didn’t want to be chained to a desk.  I have never regretted that decision.  

3. Just be nice to people.  This ties back in with number 1 above, but it can’t be stressed enough.  I vividly remember after a 3-day jury trial in Cecil County, I had the courtroom bailiff (a retired law enforcement officer) stop me as I was leaving the courtroom.  He thanked me and said I’d shown him more courtesy over the last 3 days than some local attorneys he’d known for years.  The only thing I really recalled doing was simply saying good morning and good night every day, and thanking him for his assistance in the courtroom.  My parents taught me that your degree or your job doesn’t make you better than someone else and I try to keep that lesson with me.  I’ll say it again – just be nice.