
Heather is the firm’s managing partner and divorce law guru. Heather knows all the ins and outs of divorce in Maryland and DC, and she knows exactly what to do to put her clients in a position to accomplish their goals.
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Posts by Heather McCabe
Coping with Divorce: Lessons from Adele
Divorces happen for many reasons. Sometimes spouses mutually agree to end a marriage, and other times one initiates the divorce. In either case, parties to a divorce will each have to make numerous financial and practical decisions, while managing their own emotional responses to the divorce. When super-star, singer-songwriter Adele initiated divorce proceedings, even she…
Read MoreProtecting Your Credit Score During a Divorce
An important part of smart divorce planning is keeping your financial future in mind. Whether you are just thinking about divorce or have already decided, remember that a successful and independent financial future depends on a good credit score – and the steps you take now can go a long way in getting you there.…
Read MoreDebunking Divorce: Myths and Facts
Many individuals or couples put off getting a divorce. They might be staying together for the kids, or one spouse feels they may not have enough money to move out, or feel if they leave first they’ll be responsible for the majority of financial support. All of these, however, are not necessarily true. In today’s…
Read MorePost-Pandemic Divorce Filings Keeping the Courts Busy
You might remember that, during the early days of the pandemic, many experts predicted divorce rates would rise as couples forced into close quarters would have to face any problems in their marriages. However, that surge in divorces failed to come to light, with the rates of divorce and marriage remaining stable or even dropping.…
Read MoreKelly Clarkson Scores a Victory in Ongoing Divorce Battle
Singer-songwriter and television personality Kelly Clarkson recently received a big win in her ongoing divorce from estranged husband Brandon Blackstock. A judge awarded Clarkson ownership of the couple’s Montana ranch, although Blackstock currently lives there as his primary residence, and requested it designated as marital property. The two are divorcing after seven years of marriage.…
Read MoreWhy You Need a Divorce Attorney Even When You’re Going Through Mediation
A divorce is an emotional and stressful process, to say the least. It is not just the two marriage partners who are impacted by a divorce. Children, extended family members, and friends of the spouses may have to come to terms with the dissolution of the marriage. Changes in households and financial responsibilities will have…
Read MoreWhy a Forensic Accountant Is Necessary When You’re Getting Divorced
Let’s assume that you and your spouse decide to file for divorce, and you want to separate as amicably as you possibly can. While sorting out your property and debts, you can’t help but suspect that your spouse is not being as forthcoming when it comes to all of his or her financial assets. There…
Read MoreWhat Determines if a Parent Is Unfit for Custody?
One of the more challenging parts of the divorce process is the decision of child custody. Both parents generally want to spend as much time as possible with their child, or children, and the court takes a number of factors into consideration when making their determination on parenting time. In extreme cases, one parent may…
Read MoreWhat Is a “Pet-nup” and Should I Have One in My Marriage?
We are all familiar with the idea of a pre-nuptial agreement. These are agreements, or contracts, couples put together before marriage to protect themselves and each other in the event of a divorce later down the road. Pre-nups are simply a fact of modern life, and shouldn’t be seen as an unromantic gesture or a…
Read MoreSigns You Might be Facing a High-Conflict Divorce
Under even the best of circumstances, divorce can be an emotional process. When you enter into divorce proceedings with good faith and intentions, if your spouse does not do the same, you may be dealing with what’s called a “high-conflict divorce.” High-conflict divorce, however, doesn’t have to take you by surprise, if you know what…
Read MoreIs a Domestic Partnership Right for Me?
A recent article in the New York Times highlighted a new trend in the area of love and marriage – domestic partnerships. Although the idea of domestic partnerships is nothing new, especially in the LGBTQ community pre-marriage equality, a movement toward platonic marriage is yet another way we can look at how we define “family.”…
Read MoreUPDATED: Do You Know Your Divorce Goals? Planning for Your Divorce
We meet with a lot of clients who are just beginning to think about divorce and their divorce goals. Some of our clients are the ones seeking to end the marriage, and some of them are responding to a spouse’s announcement that the marriage is over. Whatever the case, there is usually one spouse is…
Read MoreKeeping the House in the Divorce May Be More Costly Than You Think
The divorce is almost final, and it turns out you are getting the house, which is great news! It’s the house where your children grew up and made happy memories, and now they don’t have to leave their friends or switch schools. You don’t have to worry about packing up your things and trying to…
Read MoreWhat Are Child Support Payments Supposed to Cover?
Whether you pay or receive child support, that monthly payment is financially important to everyone in your family. On average, according to the United States government, people pay around $5,760 per year in child support. When going through a divorce or split and determining child support, both parents should have a good understanding about how…
Read MoreHow the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Divorce
The world is forever changed since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold last year – the way we interact with each other, the way we work, and the way we do business have all evolved as the pandemic forced us into different ways of living. Even as more Americans are vaccinated, it’s likely to be a…
Read MoreWhat to Do if Your Spouse Has Borderline Personality Disorder
Living with someone who has borderline personality disorder (BPD) can feel confusing and cause anxiety in your relationship. It often leads to rifts in personal relationships and even poses problems in maintaining employment, which can lead to further turbulence due to financial woes. Understanding BPD will go a long way in determining whether your marriage…
Read MoreMeet Raylynn T. Best-James, McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers’s New Associate!
McCabe Russell Divorce and Child Custody Lawyers is proud to introduce Raylynn T. Best-James, one of our new Associate Attorneys! Raylynn’s experiences practicing estate planning & administration, personal injury, and other civil matters, along with family law, give her a unique advantage in the courtroom and during negotiations. Her proactive approach and attention to detail…
Read MoreReligious Extremism and Seeking Divorce: What You Should Know
When you and your spouse no longer share the same beliefs as a result of him or her subscribing to what you consider to be radical ideals, sharing a household can become beyond difficult. We aren’t talking about a slightly different view on something or a difference of opinion on one issue; we are talking…
Read MoreCivil Unions Vs. Marriage in Government Retirement Plans
Relationships are complicated, but even more complicated can be making a relationship official by law. We don’t mean that the actual ceremony can be tough to maneuver; we mean that all of “fun” administrative issues that come along with life can become more complicated by legally merging your lives. Part of that complication comes in…
Read MoreWhat to Do When a Spouse Is in Rehab
The pressures of life can be difficult to handle and for some people, marriage can add unexpected stressors. Financial troubles, insecurities that your spouse could be getting attention elsewhere, and arguments that you aren’t holding up your end of your partnership can send a spouse into a downward spiral that includes substance abuse and addiction.…
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