Blended families face unique challenges in estate planning due to the presence of natural children, stepchildren, and half-siblings. Trusts are especially valuable as they allow parents to control asset distribution privately and avoid probate. Well-drafted wills complement trusts by providing clear instructions that prevent confusion or disputes, ensuring assets are distributed according to the creator’s wishes rather than default intestacy laws.

Bigamy, though rare, occurs when someone marries again while still legally married to another. In Peete v. Peete (2023), a first wife challenged her ex-husband’s second marriage decades later, after a divorce judgment was vacated for improper service. Ultimately, the appellate court found she had standing but denied her annulment claim because her motive was purely financial gain.

In Maryland, parties can freely move to revise a final judgment within 30 days, but after that, changes generally require showing fraud, mistake, or irregularity. In Smith v. Smith (2025), the appellate court reinforced this finality principle, ruling that the husband’s attempt to revise a 1999 divorce order decades later was untimely. This case highlights how strictly Maryland courts uphold the finality of judgments.

In Maryland, child support is a fundamental obligation and typically continues until a child turns 19 or finishes high school, based on standard guidelines rather than customized terms. Parents aren’t legally required to cover extracurricular or college expenses unless they agree to do so in a private contract. Such private agreements can be formalized into enforceable court orders, extending financial obligations beyond high school.