Family Law Attorneys & Estate Planning in Maryland
With years of experience and a commitment to compassionate, personalized service, we help clients in Anne Arundel County and across Maryland navigate complex legal matters with confidence and clarity.
Protecting Your Family And Your Future.
At Jimeno & Gray, P.A., we are top-rated Maryland attorneys specializing in family law and estate planning. Our experienced legal team provides trusted guidance for divorce, child custody, wills, trusts, and long-term estate planning. We are dedicated to helping families in Anne Arundel County and throughout Maryland protect what matters most with knowledgeable, compassionate legal support.
We’re here to guide you through life’s most personal legal matters.
Whether you're facing a family law issue or preparing for the future through estate planning, our team offers personalized support to help you move forward with confidence. When it comes to your family and your future, experienced guidance matters. Learn more about how we assist clients with divorce, custody, wills, trusts, and long-term planning.
Family Law
If you’re facing a divorce, separation, or issues involving child support or custody, having a skilled family lawyer from the beginning is essential to protect your rights, assets, and time with your children.
Estate Planning
Without a solid plan for how your home and assets should be handled after you pass, your family may face confusion, conflict, and unnecessary stress during an already difficult time.
Our Family Law and Estate Planning Team.
We are honored to have earned top ratings for our work in divorce, custody, child support, and estate planning matters, reflecting the care, clarity, and skill we bring to every client we serve. When you meet our team, you’ll find advocates who listen, guide, and stand by you every step of the way.
Explore and download our collection of free eBooks.
You can request a free copy of our legal education books, which are available as a free download. We hope that these resources assist you in making an educated decision on what action should be taken in your legal case.
What our clients say about us.
We’re honored to have earned top ratings for our work in auto accidents, criminal defense, DUI/DWI, family law, and estate planning. Our team is committed to delivering attentive, informed, and compassionate legal support. As a small firm, we take pride in going beyond the ordinary for every client who walks through our doors. Our client testimonials highlight the trust we’ve earned and our unwavering dedication to every matter we handle.
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Answers to your frequently asked questions.
The Court has authority to grant a party attorney’s fees in actions involving a divorce, custody, visitation, and/or child support. In order to obtain an award of attorney’s fees a party must prove a need for the award, the ability of the other party to pay the award, and whether there was a substantial justification for bringing the action.
As with alimony, there is no calculator to draw upon to determine these awards. Counsel Fees are awarded by the Court on a discretionary basis, meaning the Court has wide power to do what they think is fair.
A variety of new terms are likely infiltrating your vocabulary if you are considering a divorce in Maryland. For example, you may be hearing the words “separation agreement” thrown around for the first time in your life. Deciding if you should file a separation agreement can be difficult, and here, a lawyer discusses a few reasons why you may not need this type of documentation.
If You Don’t Have Any Children
One of the biggest reasons people draft Maryland separation agreements is to document custody of their child and the terms of child support. If you and your spouse do not have any children, you may not need to file a separation agreement.
If You Don’t Have Real Estate Together
If you and your ex didn’t buy real estate together, or don’t have both names on your home or other property, a separation agreement may not be needed. The terms of this division of property is often documented in the agreement. Therefore, if you don’t have issues such as these to consider, you likely don’t need the agreement.
If You Lack Shared Debt
When you and your ex have shared debt, a separation agreement states the terms of the repayment. If you are void of any debt, you may not need this document.
The lawyers of Jimeno & Gray, P.A., can help you determine if you need a separation agreement as part of your divorce in Maryland. We have helped many who are in the same situation as you. Give us a call at (443) 232-9479.
Request your free copy of the book What Your Spouse Doesn’t Want You to Know: The Ultimate Guide to Divorce in Maryland, written by Maryland separation attorney Frank C. Gray, Jr., when you call.
Even if the Court has already issued a final Order in a custody case, the Court always maintains jurisdiction over the children to modify its own Order. But, for the Court to take another look a child’s situation, a parent must allege that something significant has changed in the child’s life or one of the parent’s lives. The purpose of the requirement that something substantial change before a Court will re-examine a custody or visitation Order is to prevent parents from asking the Court to revisit their cases just because they do not like the original outcome.
Once you have filed for an absolute divorce in Anne Arundel County, there is a court process that you will go through to obtain your final divorce decree. After your spouse has been served with the complaint for the divorce there is a specific time period for filing an answer to the complaint. After the answer is filed, the case will be set in for a Scheduling Conference with the Court to schedule other court appearances and deadlines. The second court appearance is usually for a Settlement Conference, where the parties try to resolve the matter with the assistance of a judge or master. If the case is still contested, the parties will be given a trial date. The goal for the court is that the case be completed within a year. If the parties are unable to resolve their matter, the case will likely take approximately a year to be completed. What this means is not only have most people been separated for a year before filing fo an absolute divorce, but it may take up to another year to complete the court process and obtain an absolute divorce from the court.
Every case is different, therefore, different services may be available through the court to expedite your matter. It would be in your best interest to speak with a Millersville divorce lawyer to get a better explanation of what services are available and how long your case may take to be completed.
The Millersville divorce attorneys at Jimeno & Gray, P.A., understand the nuances of the court process in Maryland. Our Millersville divorce attorney team is ready to help you with your family law needs. Contact us today for consultation – 443-232-9479.