Full Description

Simplify the Divorce Process

A divorce can be the most painful and expensive experience of your life. Whether you use a lawyer or not, protect yourself by getting all the information you need about divorce laws and your legal rights. Let File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia or the District of Columbia help you get control over this stressful time in your life.

Learn how to:
- File an Uncontested or Contested Divorce
- Protect Your Assets, Yourself and Your Children
- Save Money when Working with a Lawyer
- Negotiate Child Support and Visitation Agreements

Essential documents you need to:
- End the Marriage and Start Fresh
- Resolve Property Disputes
- Calculate Child Support
- Develop a Visitation Schedule
- And much more . . .

Table of Contents

Using Self-Help Law Books -
Introduction -

Section 1: What You Need to Know

Chapter 1: Marriage and Divorce -
-Marriage
-Common-Law Marriage
-Marriage Counseling
-Divorce
-Legal Separation
-Pendente Lite Relief
-Annulments
-The Emotional Divorce

Chapter 2: Lawyers -
-Doing it Yourself
-Needing a Lawyer
-Attorney’s Fees
-Finding a Lawyer

Chapter 3: Red Flags -
-Bank Accounts
-Credit Issues
-Insurance
-Utilities
-Dating
-Wills
-Domestic Violence
-Social Security
-Red Flag Items Checklist

Chapter 4: Get the Facts -
-Snooping
-Documents to Gather Checklist

Section 2: Settlement Out of Court
Chapter 5: Alternatives to Trial -

-Talking with Your Spouse
-Negotiation
-Mediation
-Collaboration
-Arbitration
-Children

Chapter 6: Different Types of Divorce -
-Contested Divorce
-Uncontested Divorce
-Length of Time
-Cost
-Separation Agreements

Chapter 7: Separation Agreements -
-The Essence of Divorce
-What to Include in Your Separation Agreement
-Sample Separation Agreement

Section 3: Court Procedures

Chapter 8: Legal Requirements for Divorce -
-Constitution
-Codes
-Cases
-Rules
-Where to Find the Law
-Jurisdiction
-Residency
-Venue
-Grounds for Divorce
-Maryland Grounds
-Virginia Grounds
-District of Columbia Grounds

Chapter 9: Starting the Divorce -
-The Complaint
-Maryland Complaint for Absolute Divorce
-Virginia Complaint for Divorce
-District of Columbia Complaint for Absolute Divorce
-Answer

Chapter 10: Information Reports -
-Maryland Civil—Domestic Case Information Report
-Virginia Divorce Case Cover Sheet
-District of Columbia Certificate of Divorce

Chapter 11: Service of Process -
-Maryland Service
-Virginia Service
-District of Columbia Service
-Once You Have Served Your Spouse

Chapter 12: Finding Your Spouse -
-Attempts to Locate Your Spouse
-Maryland Alternative Service
-Virginia Alternative Service
-District of Columbia Alternative Service

Chapter 13: Default Divorce -
-Maryland Default
-Virginia Default
-District of Columbia Default

Section 4: Uncontested Divorce

Chapter 14: Maryland Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing a Complaint
-Service of Process
-Answer
-Joint Request to Schedule an Uncontested Divorce Hearing

Chapter 15: Virginia Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing Your Complaint for Divorce
-Request for Ore Tenus Hearing

Chapter 16: District of Columbia
-Uncontested Divorce -
-Required Forms
-Filing Your Complaint
-Service of Process
-Answer
- Praecipe for Uncontested Divorce

Chapter 17: Preparing for the Uncontested Divorce Hearing -
-Maryland Uncontested Divorce
-Maryland Uncontested Divorce Checklist
-Virginia Uncontested Divorce
-Virginia Uncontested Divorce Checklist
-District of Columbia Uncontested Divorce
-District of Columbia Uncontested Divorce Checklist

Chapter 18: The Uncontested DivorceHearing -
-Courtroom Behavior
-Public Records
-Maryland Hearing
-Virginia Hearing
-District of Columbia Hearing

Section 5: Contested Divorce

Chapter 19: Preparing for a Contested Divorce Trial -
-Settlement Negotiations
-Trial Preparation Checklist

Chapter 20: The Contested Divorce Trial -
-Elements of the Trial
-Tips for Your Testimony

Section 6: Children

Chapter 21: Custody -
-Legal Custody and Physical Custody
-Best Interests of the Children
-Maryland Custody Factors
-Virginia Custody Factors
-District of Columbia Custody Factors
-Custody Trial
-Parenting Plans

Chapter 22: Visitation -
-Typical Visitation Schedules
-Visitation Disputes
-Withholding Visitation
-Grandparent Visitation
-Sample Guidelines for Effective Parenting

Chapter 23: Child Support -
-General Overview
-Maryland Guidelines
-Virginia Guidelines
-District of Columbia Guidelines

Section 7: Other Financial Issues

Chapter 24: Financial Statements -
-Maryland
-Virginia
-District of Columbia

Chapter 25: Alimony -
-General Information
-Alimony Factors

Chapter 26: Property -
-Equitable Distribution
-Equitable Distribution Factors
-Pensions

Chapter 27: After the Divorce -
-Finances
-Difficult Former Spouse
-Appeals
-Changes
- Records
- Bankruptcy
- Postdivorce Checklist

Glossary
-
Section 8: Maryland
Appendix A: Summary of Maryland Divorce Laws -
Appendix B: Child Support Guidelines in Maryland -
Appendix C: Maryland Resources -
Appendix D: Maryland Blank Forms -

Section 9: Virginia
Appendix E: Summary of Virginia Divorce Laws -
Appendix F: Child Support Guidelines in Virginia -
Appendix G: Virginia Resources -
Appendix H: Virginia Blank Forms -

Section 10: District of Columbia
Appendix I: Summary of District of Columbia Divorce Laws -
Appendix J: Child Support Guidelines in the District of Columbia -
Appendix K: District of Columbia Resources -
Appendix L: District of ColumbiaBlank Forms -

Index -

Excerpt

Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews: