If you are going through a custody or divorce proceeding involving children, you may have heard the phrase, “the best interest of the child.” Well, what does that really mean and how is it relevant to your family law case? Maryland courts decide child custody disputes by making a finding as to...
Did you know that, as a uniformed member of the armed services, you CAN still sue the military? Many military members are unaware of this, which may stem from a number of misbeliefs, including an overgeneralization of the Feres Doctrine which has long prevented service members from recovering ag...
Many people know that the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA) applies to current employers. But did you know that USERRA applies to potential future employers as well? USERRA prohibits discrimination in employment based on an individual's prior service in the uniformed s...
You've served your country honorably, but there is one mistake during your 20+ years of service that you already paid for at the time. Now that you have put in for your retirement, you've been notified of an officer grade determination that may cost you hundreds of dollars a month in lost retire...
Watch out! The mildew smell in your bathroom may be more than meets the eye. Recently, PLG reviewed a military mold case involving a musty smell coming from a bathroom. After many unfulfilled demands for remediation, testing confirmed pervasive toxic mold growth in the bathroom, including ele...
Editor's Note: Last week, we discussed jurisdiction requirements for civilian divorces. In response to a few questions we received, we're going to expand on that topic this week to cover the differences for military divorces. Are you a servicemember that just received orders to D.C., Maryland...
Understanding Jurisdiction Requirements for Obtaining a Valid Divorce for Civilians In most states, getting married is relatively easy. You usually just need a license, a ceremony, and two people who are at least 18 years old (with some exceptions and additional requirements that can vary from...
In the first part of this series on marital contracts, we discussed agreements that are entered into in anticipation of marriage – more commonly known as pre-nups. For the second part of the series, we are going to focus on agreements that are entered into because of divorce, also known as separa...
Editor's Note: This is Part 3 of our series on the Probate Process. To learn more, start with Part 1: The Will and Part 2: Ways to Contest a Will. What happens when you don't make a plan for your estate? In our previous blog, Part I – The Probate Process: The Will, we stressed the importan...
“I've been called for jury duty—now what?!” If you've ever seen the television show 30 Rock, you may remember the episode where Liz Lemon gets called for jury duty and acts crazy so that she isn't picked to be a juror. She dresses up like Princess Leia from the Star Wars franchise and says she...
You may be surprised to know that there are multiple ways in which the law can establish someone as a parent. Whether or not someone is a parent usually comes up when there are issues regarding child custody and child support. For example, one person may claim that he or she is not a parent in an...
If you or someone you know are faced with a court-martial, it is important to be familiar with how a court-martial works. It undoubtedly may be a very scary time in your life. This blog will explain two distinct initial stages of a court-martial, the preferring of charges and the referral of char...
A couple can enter into a contract various times throughout the marriage. Part I of this 3-part series on marital contracts will focus on the first chronological type of marital contract that a couple can enter into, which is a contract or agreement entered into before the couple marries, usually...
For those of you who have seen My Cousin Vinny, you may remember the epic scene when Vinny calls his fiancé, Mona Lisa Vito, to the stand as an expert in general automotive knowledge. During a high-stakes criminal trial, Vinny defends his cousin and the cousin's friend, who have been accused o...
Editor's Note: This is Part 2 of our series on the Probate Process. To learn more, start with Part 1: The Will. In “Part 1: The Will,” we explained the purpose of a will and how a will is executed. In the second part of this series, we will highlight a few ways to contest a will. If a will is...
You may be surprised to know that there are different ways in which multiple people can own real property together. Plus, each way has its own requirements and implications. Generally, there are three main types of property ownership involving multiple owners: tenants in common, joint tenants, an...
Pleading guilty in a military court is different than pleading guilty in a civilian court. This blog will explain when an accused may plead guilty in a court-martial. A court-martial is a military hearing for criminal charges brought against a member of the armed forces, and what procedures need ...
You might be surprised to know that two people can get married without ever walking down an aisle. If those two people express a present tense intent to be married and hold themselves out as spouses, they may be considered legally married despite never having had a wedding or ceremony. There a...
In trial, you should never go it alone if you don't have to. Sometimes the best defense requires the testimony of an expert (or two). What is an “expert witness”? There are two types of witnesses in litigation: a lay witness and an expert witness. A lay witness is someone who testifies from...
In criminal court cases, both inside the military and in civilian courtrooms, there are certain procedures the prosecution must follow to admit physical evidence in a trial. This means that for every exhibit of physical evidence, the prosecution should have a carefully maintained record of where ...
At Patriots Law Group, we represent clients in every type of business matter, from formation to dissolution, contract disputes to debt collection. We take pride in helping veterans, retirees, and small business owners who serve the military community navigate the legal challenges of business owne...
Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of our series on the Probate Process. To learn more, move on to Part 2: Ways To Contest A Will. Part 1 of this 3-part series on the probate process focuses on the Will and understanding the distribution of an estate. All states consider the decedent's estate — th...
Criminal Military Trials are different from civilian trials in many ways. Known as a court-martial, a military criminal trial follows specific legal procedures outlined in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Major updates were recently made to the UCMJ and, if you are facing a court-mart...
Contracts are entered into for a variety of reasons: starting a new job, leasing a new home, promising the exchange of goods and services, and so on. But what happens when someone is ready to end, or terminate, a contract? Who has legal grounds, and when is a contract considered “officially” term...
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner. If you or a loved one have experienced violence, harassment, or threats at the hands of a domestic partner – or i...
