This episode answers the question almost every Glen Burnie family asks first: how long is this actually going to take? Todd K. Mohink - 30 years in Maryland courtrooms, founding attorney of Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, and the attorney who argued Braun v. Headley - walks the full divorce timeline for Glen Burnie and Anne Arundel County families, from the day paperwork hits the Annapolis courthouse to the day the judge signs the final decree.

Todd covers the two-track system: an uncontested divorce with a signed MSA wraps in two to four months with a ten-minute Zoom hearing; a contested case runs a minimum of a year to a year and a half. He explains pendente lite relief - temporary child support, custody, and alimony orders that bridge the gap while the full case works through court - and covers the military-specific overlay driving roughly 40% of his practice: SCRA protections for deployed servicemembers, the Bangs formula for dividing military retirement, and the critical rule that Maryland state law - not federal law - governs divorce and retirement division for servicemembers stationed here. He also breaks down physical vs. legal custody, how Anne Arundel County mediation works (two Zoom sessions, $200 per party each), and the self-inflicted mistakes that drag Glen Burnie cases out the longest.

Questions answered in this episode:

- For a Glen Burnie couple, how long does a Maryland divorce really take from filing to final decree?

- What is a mutual consent divorce and is it the fastest exit for Glen Burnie couples who agree?

- Where does a Glen Burnie family file for divorce and what should they expect in Annapolis?

- Do Glen Burnie spouses still have to live apart before a Maryland court will grant a divorce?

- What is pendente lite relief and why does it matter in the first months of a case?

- How does a military family's divorce timeline differ near Fort Meade and NSA?

- What is the Bangs formula and how does it affect military retirement in a Maryland divorce?

- Who pays the bills and where do the kids sleep while a Glen Burnie divorce is pending?

- How does mediation work in Anne Arundel County and can it shorten a contested case?

- What is the difference between physical and legal custody in Maryland?

- What mistakes drag out a Glen Burnie divorce the most?

Topics covered: Maryland divorce timeline, Glen Burnie Maryland divorce, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, Annapolis courthouse, uncontested divorce Maryland, mutual consent divorce, marital separation agreement, irreconcilable differences Maryland, pendente lite relief, temporary custody Maryland, SCRA Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Fort Meade military divorce, Bangs formula military retirement, physical custody Maryland, legal custody Maryland, mediation Anne Arundel County, premarital interest Maryland.

Notable quotes:

"Even if you live in the same home, you can still seek a divorce from your spouse." - Todd K. Mohink

"The most important thing is the children come first - when things are tense and the temperature's up, they know." - Todd K. Mohink

"It is often better off to at least consult with an attorney before you make any moves." - Todd K. Mohink

Todd K. Mohink | Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

Empire Towers, 7310 Ritchie Hwy #910, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Phone: 410-766-0113 | marylandlawhelp.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts. Maryland attorney advertising; consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

• 00:00:00 How Long Does a Glen Burnie, Maryland Divorce Take? Todd K. Mohink on the Timeline
• 00:00:55 Filing to Final Decree - The Two-Track Maryland Divorce Timeline
• 00:02:29 What Is a Mutual Consent Divorce and Is It the Fastest Exit for Glen Burnie Couples?
• 00:03:30 Where Does a Glen Burnie Family File for Divorce and What to Expect at the Annapolis Courthouse
• 00:05:08 Do Glen Burnie Spouses Still Have to Live Apart Before Filing for a Maryland Divorce?
• 00:05:55 What Is Pendente Lite Relief and Why It Matters for Glen Burnie Parents in the First Months
• 00:07:00 Military Divorce Near Fort Meade and NSA - SCRA Protections and Deployed Servicemembers
• 00:10:15 The Bangs Formula - How Maryland Courts Divide Military Retirement in a Divorce
• 00:11:06 Who Pays the Bills and Where Do the Kids Sleep While a Glen Burnie Divorce Is Pending?
• 00:12:25 How Mediation Works in Anne Arundel County and Whether It Can Shorten a Contested Case
• 00:13:52 What Settles Cleanly in Maryland Divorce - Physical vs. Legal Custody Explained
• 00:15:03 The Biggest Mistakes That Drag Out a Glen Burnie Divorce
• 00:16:10 Why Knowing the Anne Arundel County Bench Changes Outcomes for Glen Burnie Families
• 00:17:15 Contact Todd K. Mohink - Glen Burnie and Anne Arundel County Family Law

This episode answers the question every Columbia and Howard County family asks the moment they decide to file: how long is this road, and what are the stops along the way? Todd K. Mohink - 30 years in Maryland courtrooms, founding attorney of Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA in Glen Burnie and Columbia, and the attorney who argued Braun v. Headley - maps the full divorce timeline for Columbia families, from first filing at the Howard County Circuit Court in Ellicott City to the judge's signature on the final decree.

Todd explains the two-track system that decides everything: an uncontested divorce with a signed marital separation agreement (MSA) takes roughly two to four months; a fully contested case involving custody, the family home, or significant assets runs at least a year - though Todd notes that roughly 98% of contested cases still settle before trial. He covers what Columbia's dual-income households face in the discovery stage - interrogatories capped at 30 questions answered under oath and document requests for financial records - plus Maryland's use-and-possession statute (up to three years in the family home post-divorce for the custodial parent), the contempt power that activates the day a judge signs the final decree, and the one step every Columbia spouse can take from day one to keep the case short and affordable.

Questions answered in this episode:

- What does the road from first filing to final decree look like for a Columbia, Maryland couple?

- Which courthouse handles a Columbia divorce and how does Howard County Circuit Court run its family cases?

- What is the real difference between a contested and an uncontested divorce in Maryland?

- What does every spouse have to agree on to qualify for Maryland's mutual consent divorce?

- When custody or the family home is disputed, how much longer should a Columbia family expect?

- What is discovery, and why does it matter for Columbia families with real assets?

- What is a marital separation agreement (MSA) and how does signing one collapse the timeline?

- What happens when spouses agree on 90% but one issue won't settle?

- What does the final decree contain and what changes the day the judge signs it?

- What can Columbia spouses do from day one to keep their divorce short and affordable?

Topics covered: Maryland divorce timeline, Columbia Maryland divorce, Howard County Circuit Court, Ellicott City courthouse, uncontested divorce Maryland, mutual consent divorce, marital separation agreement, Maryland Family Law Article, irreconcilable differences Maryland, discovery interrogatories, use and possession Maryland, judgment of divorce, contempt of court Maryland family law, modification of custody order.

Notable quotes:

"Record everything in a journal or a diary that you think is worth your lawyer possibly listening to." - Todd K. Mohink

"No judge who meets your kids through testimony in two or three days is ever gonna know your kids the way the parents do." - Todd K. Mohink

"Do not get involved in a divorce case that has any difficulty to it at all without the help of an attorney." - Todd K. Mohink

Todd K. Mohink | Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

10440 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044

Phone: 410-766-0113 | marylandlawhelp.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts. Maryland attorney advertising; consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA.

• 00:00:00 Maryland Divorce Law Explained for Columbia and Howard County - Todd K. Mohink
• 00:01:00 From Filing to Final Decree - How Long Does a Columbia, Maryland Divorce Actually Take?
• 00:02:11 Which Courthouse Handles a Columbia Divorce and How Does Howard County Circuit Court Run Family Cases?
• 00:05:31 Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce in Maryland - What the Difference Really Means for Your Calendar
• 00:08:09 What Keeps a Columbia Divorce on the Fast Track When Custody Is Involved
• 00:09:05 What Spouses Must Agree On to Qualify for Maryland's Mutual Consent Divorce
• 00:11:28 When Custody or the Family Home Is Disputed - How Much Longer Will a Columbia Case Run?
• 00:12:39 Discovery in a Columbia Divorce - Interrogatories, Document Requests, and Dual-Income Households
• 00:13:47 What Is a Marital Separation Agreement and How Does Signing One Collapse the Timeline?
• 00:14:45 90% Settled but One Issue Won't Budge - Does the Whole Columbia Case Go to Trial?
• 00:15:35 What the Final Decree Contains and What Changes the Day the Judge Signs It in Howard County
• 00:17:10 Day-One Playbook - What Columbia Spouses Can Do Right Now to Keep Costs and Time Down
• 00:18:15 What Documents to Have Ready So a Columbia Divorce Never Stalls on Missing Paperwork
• 00:19:30 Contact Todd K. Mohink - Howard County and Columbia, Maryland Family Law

Todd K. Mohink is the founding attorney of Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, a Glen Burnie, Maryland family law and criminal defense firm serving Anne Arundel and Howard County. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law, holds bar membership in Maryland state courts, the U.S. District Court for Maryland, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar, and has spent 30 years litigating family law, CPS and CINA cases, and criminal sexual offense matters across Anne Arundel and Howard County Circuit Courts.

In this debut founder story episode, Brooke sits down with Todd to trace his full path from Westchester County, New York through law school and three decades of Maryland trial work - including the landmark custody-relocation case Braun v. Headley, 131 Md. App. 588 (2000), which established that a parent's right to travel does not override a child's best interests in Maryland. Todd also covers his SCRA board service for deployed servicemembers, his settle-vs-litigate philosophy, Maryland's recent divorce law change allowing couples still living together to file, and how he uses AI as a research baseline without letting it replace attorney judgment.

Questions answered in this episode:

- How did a New York kid end up building a Maryland family law practice in Glen Burnie?

- What credentials and bar memberships does Todd K. Mohink hold?

- What types of cases does Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink PA handle in Maryland?

- What is Braun v. Headley and why does it matter for Maryland custody relocation cases?

- What is a CPS or CINA case and when should a Maryland parent call a lawyer immediately?

- Should Maryland families settle or go to trial in a divorce or custody case?

- How does Todd define success in Maryland family law representation?

- What changed in Maryland divorce law for couples still living together?

- How is AI affecting small Maryland law firms?

Topics covered: Maryland family law, child custody relocation, CPS and CINA cases, Maryland sexual abuse law, Braun v. Headley, Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, Howard County Circuit Court, marital separation agreement, discovery in Maryland family law, SCRA board, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Martindale-Hubbell gold status, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.

Notable quotes:

"I learned by fire - I was thrown into court when I barely knew what I was doing, and even though that is very difficult at the time, it ends up really helping you down the road." - Todd K. Mohink

"You never want to talk to the police without a lawyer present." - Todd K. Mohink

"I do much better by getting someone to get what they want and them telling their friends about it than I do by milking them for every cent." - Todd K. Mohink

About Todd K. Mohink: National Trial Lawyers Top 100 in Maryland. Martindale-Hubbell gold-rated for client satisfaction. Member of the Anne Arundel County SCRA board, the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association (MCDAA), and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Featured in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Todd K. Mohink | Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

Empire Towers, 7310 Ritchie Hwy #910, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Phone: 410-766-0113 | marylandlawhelp.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts. Maryland attorney advertising; consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA.

• 00:00:00 Maryland Family Law and Sexual Abuse Law in Glen Burnie - Todd K. Mohink, Founding Attorney
• 00:00:04 From New York to Maryland - How Todd Mohink Ended Up in Glen Burnie
• 00:02:52 Why Become a Lawyer? What Pointed Todd K. Mohink Toward Maryland Law
• 00:04:20 University of Baltimore Law School, Bar Memberships, and Credentials in Maryland
• 00:07:32 Why Glen Burnie? Building a Family Law Practice in Anne Arundel County
• 00:09:45 Maryland Family Law, CPS Cases, and Sexual Abuse Law - What the Firm Handles
• 00:14:16 Braun v. Headley and the Cases That Keep Todd Mohink in Maryland Courtrooms
• 00:20:27 Case Strategy and Client Involvement in Maryland Family Law Litigation
• 00:26:33 Settle or Fight? Todd Mohink's Approach to Negotiation vs. Litigation in Maryland
• 00:31:35 What Does Winning Mean? How Todd Defines Success in Maryland Family Law Cases
• 00:36:22 From Trial by Fire to Founding Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink PA
• 00:44:29 SCRA Board, MCDAA, and Todd Mohink's Role in the Maryland Legal Community
• 00:49:00 Maryland Divorce Law Changes and Where Family and Sexual Abuse Law Is Heading
• 00:51:44 AI in Legal Practice - How Todd Mohink Uses Technology in Maryland Family Law
• 00:54:38 Why Self-Representation in Maryland Divorce and Custody Cases Often Costs More
• 00:59:37 How to Reach Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink PA in Glen Burnie, Maryland

A Maryland child support number starts with the guidelines in the Family Law Article, but overtime, BAH and BAS military pay, custody overnights, and deployment status can move it far from what the free online calculator estimates. Todd K. Mohink, a 30-year Maryland trial attorney who argued Braun v. Headley, walks Glen Burnie and Anne Arundel County families through how a real child support number gets built, challenged, and modified.

Questions answered in this episode:

What income counts for a Glen Burnie parent, including bonuses, overtime, and self-employment?

How does a service member's BAH and BAS pay count toward child support?

What is voluntary impoverishment and how does a Glen Burnie parent avoid it?

When can a Glen Burnie child support order be modified?

Topics covered: Maryland Child Support Guidelines, the Family Law Article, the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court, the $30,000 extrapolation threshold, SassyCalc, BAH and BAS military pay, the 92-overnight threshold, deployment and custody, health insurance and daycare add-ons, voluntary impoverishment, and guideline deviations.

Maryland statutes referenced in this episode: Md. Code, Family Law Section 12-204 (guidelines and the $30,000 extrapolation threshold) and Section 12-201(q) (voluntary impoverishment).

Todd K. Mohink on the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court: "The court which deals with child support is called the circuit court. There's a district court right here in Glen Burnie, but the circuit court, which is the one that deals with child support and other family law issues, is located in Annapolis at Church Circle."

Todd K. Mohink on military BAH and BAS pay: "The government provides military members with certain pay, and that includes the BAH, which we talked about, which is locality pay. There's another pay called BAS. All of those payments count towards your number in child support, and people who are not in the military don't have those numbers."

Todd K. Mohink on voluntary impoverishment: "Voluntary impoverishment means that someone has intentionally taken an action in regard to their income that is directed significantly for the purpose of lowering that money."

Todd K. Mohink has practiced Maryland family law for 30 years and argued Braun v. Headley before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

Empire Towers, 7310 Ritchie Hwy #910, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Phone: 410-766-0113 | marylandlawhelp.com

#MarylandChildSupportGuidelines #AnneArundelCountyFamilyLaw #GlenBurnieMDAttorney #VoluntaryImpoverishmentMD #ChildSupportModification

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts. Maryland attorney advertising; consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA.

• 00:00:00 How Does Child Support Get Calculated for a Glen Burnie Family?
• 00:01:01 How Is Child Support Calculated in Maryland? Circuit Court in Annapolis
• 00:02:17 What Happens When Glen Burnie Parents Earn Over ,000? Extrapolation
• 00:03:36 Why Is Maryland's Child Support Calculator Just a Starting Point?
• 00:04:46 What Counts as Income for Glen Burnie Parents? BAH and Bonuses
• 00:06:30 How Do Overnights Change a Glen Burnie Number? The 92-Night Rule
• 00:07:39 How Do Military Deployments Affect Custody in Anne Arundel County?
• 00:10:10 How Do Health Insurance and Daycare Costs Raise Glen Burnie Support?
• 00:12:44 How Does a Fort Meade Service Member's BAH and BAS Pay Count?
• 00:14:19 What Is Voluntary Impoverishment Under Maryland Child Support Law?
• 00:16:14 When Can Anne Arundel County Deviate From Support Guidelines?
• 00:17:38 How Long Does Glen Burnie Child Support Last? Modification Rules
• 00:19:06 Why Does a Local Glen Burnie Family Lawyer's Credibility Matter?
• 00:21:02 What Should a Glen Burnie Parent Do Before a Support Fight?

A Maryland child support number starts with the state guidelines, but bonuses, self-employment income, military BAH pay, custody overnights, and add-on costs can move it far from the free online calculator's estimate. Todd K. Mohink, a 30-year Maryland trial attorney who argued Braun v. Headley, walks Howard County and Columbia families through how a real child support number gets built, challenged, and modified.

Questions answered in this episode:

What are the Maryland Child Support Guidelines and how do they set a support number?

How does the guidelines formula combine both parents' incomes?

What counts as income for a Columbia parent, including bonuses, BAH pay, and self-employment?

Why does discovery matter when one parent owns a business or gets a K-1?

What is voluntary impoverishment and how does a Howard County court impute income?

When can a Howard County child support order be modified?

Topics covered: Maryland Child Support Guidelines, the Family Law Article, joint gross income, the $30,000 extrapolation threshold, the 92-overnight custody threshold, military BAH pay, K-1 flow-through business income, discovery, voluntary impoverishment, guideline deviations, and health insurance and daycare add-ons.

Maryland statutes referenced in this episode: Md. Code, Family Law Section 12-204 (guidelines and the $30,000 extrapolation threshold) and Section 12-201(q) (voluntary impoverishment).

Todd K. Mohink on the Family Law Article: "The guidelines are a list that are included in what's called the Family Law Article of Maryland. The Family Law Article is a statute, which is a rule that explains, based on parties' joint income, what child support is."

Todd K. Mohink on military BAH pay: "For people in the military, it's important for them to know that BAH, which is locality pay and which in Maryland is significant, probably give or take $3,000 plus for people who move here to serve at Fort Meade or NSA, that income counts."

Todd K. Mohink on voluntary impoverishment: "The only way to prove voluntary impoverishment is to convince the court by what's called the preponderance of the evidence, which is basically 51%, that a person has taken an action to intentionally reduce their income."

Todd K. Mohink has practiced Maryland family law for 30 years and argued Braun v. Headley before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA

10440 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044

Phone: 410-964-0050 | marylandlawhelp.com

#MarylandChildSupportGuidelines #HowardCountyFamilyLaw #ColumbiaMDAttorney #VoluntaryImpoverishmentMD #MDFamilyLawArticle #ChildSupportModification

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual facts. Maryland attorney advertising; consultation does not create an attorney-client relationship with the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA.

• 00:00:00 What Sets a Columbia, Maryland Child Support Number?
• 00:01:00 What Are Maryland's Child Support Guidelines? Family Law Article
• 00:02:38 How Do Maryland Guidelines Combine Parents' Incomes in Columbia?
• 00:03:44 What Counts as Income for Columbia Parents? Bonuses and BAH Pay
• 00:06:27 What Is Maryland's High-Income Child Support Formula Above ?
• 00:07:36 How Do Overnights Change a Howard County Support Number?
• 00:09:05 Why Does Discovery Matter in a Howard County Business Case? K-1 Income
• 00:11:30 What Is Voluntary Impoverishment Under Maryland Family Law?
• 00:13:02 When Can a Howard County Judge Deviate From Support Guidelines?
• 00:14:42 What Add-On Expenses Raise a Columbia Child Support Bill?
• 00:16:52 When Can a Howard County Child Support Order Be Modified?
• 00:18:46 What Should a Columbia Parent Do Before a Child Support Fight?