In This Section, You will find out what some legal terms and their definitions:

1) Scheduling Conference:
 This is a conference with the lawyers and judge without the parties present. The only way you can be in on this meeting if you are not represented.
2) Mediation:
This is normally awarded when the parties cannot see eye to eye and the court would like to have a court appointed "third party" to oversee the conversation. Mediators can work in your favor. They can get a "deal" done and submit it to the court,which is sometimes good, or they will file a report to alert the judge that no deal was made.
3) Transparenting Classes:
 In these classes, the counselors goal is to teach the parties involved how to co-parent without being together in the same household.
4) Communications Counseling:
This is counseling that is ordered when the parties cannot even talk without fighting. It is done with an independent counselor and it normally last 4 weeks or so.
5) Anger Management and Domestic Violence Counseling:
Your main goal is to avoid this at all costs. This is a 26 week course labeled"for the man" that is supposed to teach you how to "walk away" from a conflict with your other.
see peace order or protective order

Protective and Peace Orders:
These orders are almost the same. The only difference is,, is that a peace order is against someone that you are not related to and there are no children involved. A protective order is an order that is against a spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, child, or when physical harm  could be or may be imminent. AVOID CONFLICT. With an order against, you are starting with your back up against a wall.

Pre-marital Property:
This is property that was owned prior to marriage, including, houses,vehicles,or anything in the persons possession. This is supposed to stay with the party it came with, but this does not mean anything. In my case, I owned a house 10 months prior to my marriage, and through the proceedings, I was ordered to sell my house. This was because , I really didn't want to sell it. But on the other hand,  there was so much damage to it that it would of been hard to salvage, or for that matter, live in the house I was kicked out of. So, the pre-marital rules do not always apply. It seems to be on a case -by-case basis. This might also be how that judge is feeling also that morning. 

Contempt of court and court orders:
This is not where you want to be. First off, contempt is pretty serious, depending on what the charge is and what item in the court order one is violating. Follow all court orders to the "t", even if sometimes it means a possible visit may occur, or the mother is throwing a guilt trip at you, stand strong and do not cave in. The first time you break an order, she will not hesistate to have you back in court. These orders are sometimes vague and not that in depth, but you have to be the smarter party and abide by them. See the child support column about the money being a gift. 

Here are some helpful links:
1) www.peoples-law.info
2) attorneypages.com
3) lawyers.findlaw.com
4) www.lawyers.com
5)www.mdlab.org
6) www.ancpr.com
7) casesearch.courts.state.md.us/
8) www.winatdivorce.org
Check your local yellow pages and make phone calls, or visit the courthouse in your applicable county and they will also be able to assist you.

Legal terms and Definitions:

1) Pro se:
This means you are going at it alone. No lawyer, no nothing. It is not impossible to win case going Pro Se, But almost every time I've been in court, the judge always asks when the person is going to get a lawyer and they stay the hearing.
2) Guardian ad litem:
This is a court appointed lawyer for the children. This is usually recommended by one of the attorneys and granted by the judge. This person is not and will not get involved with the every day issues. This person is only there for the best interests of the child/children.

Custody Types and Definitions:
1) Physical custody:
The person whom the child lives with on a day-to-day basis, and has the right to make decisions regarding the child's everyday needs.
2) Legal custody:
The responsibility of making all long range decisions for the child's education,religious training,discipline,non-emergency medical care and other matters of major significance to the child's welfare.

What is Sole Custody? 
Sole custody is when one parent receives both physical and legal custody. The child lives with that parent on a day-to-day basis and the parent has the right to make all decisions, regarding the child.

What is Joint Custody?
 Joint custody is actually broken up into 3 categories:
1) Joint Legal Custody:
 The parents share care and control of the child's upbringing, but the child has only one residence.
2) Shared Physical Custody:
 The child has 2 homes, but spends at least 35% of time with each parent.
3) Your own custody:
 This is an agreement that is made up of both joint legal and shared physical custody, meaning that the child has one residence , but the parents live there on a revolving basis.

                    

Child Support:
Welcome to the wonderful world of child support. The formula is confusing and the man will always lose, if he is a working man. Please do not try to figure this garbage out, leave that to the lawyer. If you don't, you will have a whole bunch of gray hair. Really, just remember, 2 keys to child support, if you have to pay it:
1) Make the court order that the support is paid through the state.
2) Do not, under any circumstance, give her any money after the order is signed. If you do, this will not be considered support and it will be considered a gift. Even if the ex calls you and asks for money, don't do it.  It's a trap and the ex will try and make you feel guilty ,saying things like "the kids don't have diapers, or I don't have any more money" I know that it will be hard to hear, when it's your children, and if you feel that you want to give her money, just don't expect it back or her to even consider that it is a child support payment.

To view the child support forms, go to the DHR web site and find forms. Here is the link:
www.dhr.state.md.us