Recent Blog Posts
Can a Judge Keep a Divorced Parent from Relocating?
Many times, parents who divorce remain in the same area where they lived as a couple. Being within close driving distance makes it easier for their children to maintain relationships and spend time with both parents, which is often in their best interests. However, parents may want or need to move. The relocating parent must notify the court of the proposed move, and the court will approve or deny the request.
Although a judge cannot prevent an adult from relocating, he or she can make adjustments to primary custody arrangements and keep the children from moving with that parent. Whether you want to take your children with you when you move or wish to keep your ex from leaving the area with them, you need an experienced Rockville, MD family law attorney. We will work to achieve your goals while keeping your children’s best interests in focus.
How Can You Obtain an Employment-Based Green Card?
Green cards are permanent residency cards that allow the holder to reside in the United States and work here. They are also a crucial step for foreign nationals on the road to obtaining U.S. citizenship. In addition to the family and marriage green card categories, employers can also sponsor green cards for certain types of workers.
An experienced Falls Church, VA immigration law attorney can advise you on the process of applying for an employer-sponsored green card and on the ideal green card category based on your circumstances.
What Is the Employer-Sponsored Green Card?
Via the employer-sponsored green card, your employer can sponsor you to obtain lawful permanent U.S. residency. Your employer applies on your behalf as the petitioner, and you are the beneficiary. This type of green card has some unique benefits, including that it is a direct route to a 10-year green card and has no conditional two-year green card period, does not require a monetary investment, and allows your spouse and minor children to qualify for a green card alongside you. However, there is a quota for employer-sponsored green cards.
What to Know About Maryland Slip and Fall Claims
Sometimes a fall is just a fall, and you get back up and keep walking. Sometimes, however, a fall can result in serious and even life-altering injuries: you might break your hip, bruise your spine, or tear a ligament.
If you slipped and fell and were injured as a result of an unsafe condition, you may have a claim against the person or entity responsible for the accident. An experienced Rockville, MD personal injury attorney can advise you on the merits of your slip and fall case.
Who Is Responsible for a Slip and Fall Injury?
It can be difficult to prove liability for a slip and fall accident, but property owners can be liable for your injuries in certain cases. Property owners are responsible for keeping their property in a safe condition. If they knew or should have known about the dangerous condition on their property that caused the injury, they could be liable in a slip and fall claim. However, liability will depend on the duty of care they owe the injured person and on other factors.
Preventing Worker Misclassification Claims
Workers are either classified as employees or independent contractors under the law, and their rights and protections vary significantly based on whether they are treated as one or the other. Employers must classify workers correctly to avoid legal action potentially arising from disputes with independent contractors who may claim they were incorrectly classified. An experienced Falls Church, VA wage claim defense attorney can advise your business on the best practices to prevent and defend against worker misclassification claims.
What Does the Law Say About Worker Misclassification?
The main law governing worker classification is the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under FLSA, employers are responsible for properly classifying workers. How employers classify workers matters because employees are entitled to rights such as minimum wage, overtime pay, and benefits whereas independent contractors generally are not.
What to Know About Drug Charges in Maryland
Drug charges can carry serious penalties in Maryland. Yet the penalties for a drug crime vary depending on the type of controlled substance or drug implicated and on the type of criminal activity. If you have been charged with a drug crime, you may not understand the charges or potential penalties. Turning to an experienced Rockville, MD drug crimes criminal defense attorney is crucial to understanding the charges against you and mounting a strong defense.
How Do Maryland Drug Charges Work?
In Maryland, controlled dangerous substances (CDS) are classified into five categories or schedules based on the drug’s danger and its potential for addiction and abuse. Penalties for drug offenses involving CDS will vary based on the type of drug and the amount involved. Additionally, using a minor to manufacture or distribute drugs, or distributing drugs near a school are separate offenses that carry their own penalties.
Common Intellectual Property Disputes In Business
One of the most valuable assets that a business can own is intellectual property, whether that is copyrights, trademarks, patents, or trade secrets. Intellectual property gives businesses an edge in the marketplace.
Yet intellectual property (IP) disputes are increasingly common. Whether intentional or not, businesses may infringe on intellectual property rights, and other businesses naturally want to protect their IP from competitors who seek to copy it without authorization. An experienced Rockville, MD intellectual property dispute attorney advises businesses on protecting their IP rights in disputes.
Copyright Infringement
Copyrights are legal rights protecting works of authorship such as written works, songs, dramatic plays, video games, movies, and software. A claim for copyright infringement usually arises when someone copies or distributes copyrighted work without authorization. For example, a software company could have a dispute with a competitor over the source code it owns that the competitor is now using to make a profit without any authorization.
What to Know About Construction Defect Disputes
One of the most frustrating and potentially expensive setbacks that a property owner can face is finding a construction defect. Minor or major construction defects are a hassle, can lower a property’s value, and are likely to require repairs. Whether the construction or renovation has been completed or is ongoing, there are strategies to seek legal redress for construction defects. A Falls Church, VA property dispute attorney can advise you on your rights in a dispute to address construction defects.
What Are Common Defects in Property Construction?
Construction defects occur when the construction has a flaw either due to substandard materials or work. Some common construction defects that lead to construction disputes include:
General Construction Defects
Examples of general construction defects include structural defects, failure to follow plans, electrical problems, sagging floors, door binding, stained drywall, moisture and mold issues, finishing issues, and more. Construction companies are required to hand over a finished product free of construction defects and that meets the terms of the agreement between the company and owner. If they do not, the property owners may have a claim for the construction defect.
What to Include in Your Maryland Prenup
If you have recently become engaged and are preparing for your upcoming wedding, there are surely many things on your mind during this exciting time. From the dress and suit to the flowers and venue, much must be planned before the wedding.
You may also have decided to sign a prenuptial agreement with your future spouse detailing how the division of assets will play out in the worst-case scenario of divorce or death. In that case, you may be wondering how to begin drafting that agreement and what should go into the contract. An experienced Rockville, MD family law attorney can draft a prenuptial agreement that protects your interests, your marriage, and your financial future.
What is a Prenuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement, or "prenup" as it is sometimes called, is a written contract signed between two people who are getting married laying out the legally binding ways that the spouses agree to divide their assets in the future if they get divorced. Prenuptial agreements also may deal with other issues, such as clarifying how the spouses intend to handle finances during the marriage. A prenuptial agreement gives the future spouses a chance to make decisions about the division of their assets.
What to Know About Liability and Dog Bite Claims
Dogs are man’s best friend, it is true. Yet dogs are also animals, and sometimes the worst can happen when a dog bites and hurts an innocent bystander. Whether the dog bites an adult or child, a dog bite can result in serious injury, emotional trauma, and financial harm.
If you have been attacked by a dog in Maryland, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the owner seeking financial compensation for your injuries. An experienced Rockville, MD dog bite attorney can represent your rights in a personal injury case to recover for your dog bites.
Who is Liable When a Dog Bites?
If you have been injured in a dog bite, you can sue to recover for your medical bills and non-financial damages such as pain and suffering. There are several theories of liability that can impact a personal injury recovery or settlement in Maryland.
Complying With Maryland Construction Regulations 101
One of the important ways to ensure that a construction project is successful is to comply with applicable local, state, and federal regulations. This is no easy task given the web of regulations that govern many aspects of construction, from environmental and safety regulations to zoning, building codes, contracts, and employment laws. An experienced Maryland construction attorney can help you ensure that you have a strong compliance process in place to stay ahead of legal issues on your construction project.
What Is Construction Compliance?
Simply put, compliance in a construction context means abiding by the laws and regulations that apply to a particular construction business or project to ensure the construction is completed safely and legally.
Compliance is often complex and involves many moving parts because construction touches on multiple areas of law and regulations. What is more, failure to comply can lead to steep financial and reputational penalties – everything from litigation to project shutdown.



