BLOGS

I have sat across the table from many people who came to my office after the worst night of their lives. Almost all of them told me some version of the same story: "He cried. He promised it would never happen again. He said he was sorry."

If you are living with fear, intimidation or violence from someone you love or once loved, you are not alone. I have worked with families across Harford County and Baltimore County who felt trapped, confused and unsure where to turn. This guide explains how protective orders and domestic violence prosecution work in Maryland, why leaving is so hard, and what help is available.

If you've been served with a temporary protective order in the middle of a separation or custody dispute, you already know how serious this is — and it may not feel like an ordinary family law matter.

In more than two decades of practicing estate planning, probate, and elder law throughout Baltimore County and Harford County, I've sat across the table from hundreds of families.

In more than two decades of defending people across Harford County, I have noticed something the headlines never capture: almost nobody I represent in an alcohol case set out to break the law.

I've sat across from a lot of people in the hallways of the Towson courthouse who told me some version of the same thing: "I'm not a criminal. I'm sick, and I got caught."

Defending Justice-Involved Veterans Facing Substance Abuse Charges in Cecil, Harford & Baltimore County, Maryland

When Silence Isn't the Same as Innocence: The Recanting Witness Problem in Maryland Domestic Violence Cases

For many Maryland families, pets are much more than animals—they are beloved members of the family. Whether you have a loyal dog, an independent cat, colorful birds, horses, or other cherished companions, one important question often gets overlooked during estate planning:

One of the most common questions we hear at Atkinson Law is: "Can I leave someone out of my Will?" The short answer is yes – but not always. Maryland law gives you a great deal of freedom to decide who will receive your property after your death. However, certain family members have legal rights that may limit your ability to completely disinherit them.