Many people today experience changes in their family structure at some point in their lifetime. Separation. Divorce. Custody issues. These changes often are significant. And confusing. When events like these occur, you need skilled, effective, and committed legal representation to guide you. You need Luchansky, P.A.

Our firm’s primary mission is to provide outstanding legal services to each and every client of Luchansky, P.A. We are thoroughly committed to pursuing our client’s interests and achieving their goals. We fulfill this commitment through technical excellence, powerful strategies, effective communication, and assisting our clients to articulate their goals, and then working together as a team to achieve them.

Our areas of practice include:

• Separation and Divorce
• Property Settlements/Alimony
• Child Custody/Relocation/Visitation Disputes
• Child Support Issues
• Modification of Court Order

Luchansky, P.A. also provides legal services for employment law and civil litigation matters.

If you or a loved one needs the help of an experienced Baltimore, Maryland family lawyer, call Luchansky, P.A. today at 410-443-0686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to arrange your free initial consultation.
 

Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Divorce:
A court of law is the only way one can obtain a divorce decree, dissolution, legal separation, nullity or other form of terminating a marriage. Other than the termination of the marital estate, the court also has jurisdiction to resolve other issues that are intertwined in the existing marriage which include, but are not limited to: custody and visitation rights, division of property of the marital estate, spousal support, child support, and restraining orders.

Spousal Support (Alimony):
Alimony is temporary or permanent financial support paid from one separated spouse to the other, either in one lump sum or in installments. Alimony is designed to provide the lower-income spouse with money for living expenses over and above the money provided by child support. Alimony differs from child support because it is at the discretion of the judge. Child support is usually determined by state-sanctioned guidelines.

There are several factors a judge considers when deciding whether to grant alimony. These differ from state to state, of course, but they usually involve things like the parties' relative ability to earn money, both now and in the future; their respective age and health; the length of the marriage; the kind of property involved, and the conduct of the parties. In general, about the only time a judge will award alimony in most states is where one spouse has been economically dependent on the other spouse for most of a lengthy marriage.

Property and Debt Division:
Marital property attained during marriage, regardless of whose name it is under, can be divided. Marital property can include real estate (including a home bought in contemplation of marriage), pension plans, vehicles, bank accounts, income tax refunds and/or household furnishings. However, property that is inherited by one spouse is not considered marital property, i.e. a family business or estate. If you are contractually bound with your ex-spouse on a debt, the creditor can require the entire payment of that debt from your share of the community property even though the divorce decree assigns the debt to your ex-spouse. Depending on the terms of your divorce decree, you may be able to have certain support obligations under the divorce decree determined to be non-dischargeable by the bankruptcy court or in state court.

Child Custody:
Custody is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare. Custody usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody. Many factors influence an award of custody and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children. If you are awarded the children as a primary custodial parent, it has far reaching consequences both to you and to their well-being and development.

Child Support:
Child support is a periodic payment made to a custodial parent from a non-custodial parent to help compensate a child's living expenses, i.e. food, clothes, etc., and any other related debts. When one parent is awarded sole custody, as in the event of a divorce, the non-custodial parent is required to fulfill his or her child support obligation by making set payments, whereas the custodial parent meets his or her support obligation through the custody itself. When parents are awarded joint custody in a divorce, however, the support obligation is shared and is based on a ratio of each parent's income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

The obligation to support minor children cannot be waived by either parent and is a right enjoyed by the child, not the parent. Each state has guidelines that factor the amount of child support, such as the amount of time spent with the child, the income of both parents and the standard of living the child is accustomed to. The court may allow deductions for items such as catastrophic medical expenses and travel expenses for visitation.

Relocation/Jurisdictional Issues:
When faced with a relocating custodial parent, the court will general require that parent to give the other parent a minimum amount of notice prior to the anticipated move. This notice gives the non-custodial parent an opportunity to go to court and seek orders restraining the relocation of the child.

These so-called move away cases have gone back and forth on allowing and disallowing a move by the custodial parent with the minor children for over 20 years. While the best interests of the child have always been central to the decision, the uncertainty has made this area murky. Prior to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, when parents sought an advantage in a custody tug-of-war, they would move to a "friendly" jurisdiction (that is, a region with a history of rulings favorable to their position). However, after the UCCJA was adopted by all 50 states, family law courts were forced to defer jurisdiction to the home state, and this custody battle tactic lost favor.

While no two situations are alike, the emphasis in a mediated approach is to achieve a satisfactory settlement in an efficient, cooperative manner. This might include “four-way” settlement conferences where the parties meet along with their divorce mediation lawyers to work on a settlement. The philosophy of Divorce Mediation is that as much effort should be exerted toward settlement as is traditionally spent in preparation for and conducting a trial.

Paternity:
Paternity covers all the matters related to proving the parentage of a child or children. For married couples, paternity of a child is assumed to be the spouse, unless there is a court order or judgment stating otherwise. For unwed parents, paternity can be established by signing an Affidavit of Parentage or by filing a paternity action with the court.

Legally establishing paternity or determining that someone is not the parent of child can have a significant impact on divorce settlements, property division, child custody, child support and the ability to move out of state. Determinations of paternity can also have a significant impact on interstate conflict between unwed parents.

Divorce Mediation:
The basic attitude marking divorce mediation is a focus on solving problems, not fighting the fight. Family mediation is a voluntary process which gives a divorcing or separating couple the opportunity to make their own arrangements for their financial and personal future, while protecting themselves and their children from distress and the needless expense of litigation. The strength of a mediated agreement is that it is built by both parties together in an open process that requires all participants to recognize and make accommodation for the needs of the other participants, often without having to compromise one’s own.

While no two situations are alike, the emphasis in a mediated approach is to achieve a satisfactory settlement in an efficient, cooperative manner. This might include "four-way" settlement conferences where the parties meet along with their divorce mediation lawyers to work on a settlement. The philosophy of Divorce Mediation is that as much effort should be exerted toward settlement as is traditionally spent in preparation for and conducting a trial.

If you or a loved one needs the help of an experienced Baltimore, Maryland family lawyer, call Luchansky, P.A. today at 410-443-0686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to arrange your free initial consultation.
 

If you or a loved one needs the help of an experienced Baltimore, Maryland family lawyer, call Luchansky, P.A. today at 410-443-0686, or complete the contact form provided on this site to arrange your free initial consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Luchansky, P.A.
606 Bosley Avenue, Suite 3B
Towson, Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-443-0686
 

There are plenty of lawyers out there. So why choose Luchansky, P.A.? If you care to stop by for a cup of coffee – which we invite you to do – we would be happy to tell you all of the reasons. For now, here are three:

1. We handle those issues that affect you most -- family law, employment law, and litigation matters. For most of us, our lives center around our families and our work. When problems arise in these central areas of life, we need strong, knowledgeable and professional guidance. Occasionally, disputes arise that require us to go to court – a marital or family controversy, a claim of unfair treatment at work, or a dispute over an inheritance or an estate. At these crucial times, you need hard-driving counsel that can advocate and litigate for you. Luchansky, P.A. has decades of collective experience in these areas. At Luchansky, P.A., we are Lawyers for the Life Cycle, handling those legal matters that affect you most.

2. We work for you, not the other way around. It often can seem intimidating to consult with a lawyer. People sometimes put off calling a lawyer because they are uncertain what to expect – difficult personalities based on inflated egos, uncomfortable questions, and standoffish formalities often come to mind. But not at Luchansky, P.A. At Luchansky, P.A., we are well-trained professionals who never lose sight of the fact that we are “service” professionals – we are here to serve you, not the other way around. We talk with you, not at you. We work as a team, we do not issue directives. We advocate for you, not to you. At Luchansky, P.A., the lines of communication between attorney and client are open and effective. Luchansky, P.A. – good guys, great lawyers.

3. We love what we do. We are extremely fortunate at Luchansky, P.A. Because there is nothing we would rather be doing professionally than practicing law. We love helping our clients – providing guidance, helping to solve problems, and fighting hard for your rights and to achieve your goals. When you step into the offices of Luchansky, P.A., be prepared to encounter enthusiasm and a can-do attitude. After all, people love what they are good at doing and at Luchansky, P.A., we are very good at delivering outstanding legal services. Luchansky, P.A. -- straight talk, sound advice, strong representation.


MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Attorney Bruce Luchansky

Mr. Luchansky has practiced law for more than 25 years. Before opening his own practice in 2004, Mr. Luchansky worked as a partner in a major downtown law firm, where his practice focused on employment law and civil litigation. Mr. Luchansky has represented both employees and employers in a wide variety of matters, including FLSA (wage and hour) overtime and minimum wage claims; breach of employment contract actions; claims of racial, gender, national origin, and religious discrimination; sexual harassment; Family and Medical Leave Act and other leave issues; unpaid wage, commission, and bonus disputes arising under the Maryland Wage Payment and Collection Act; drafting and reviewing agreements, including employment, non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality and severance agreements; and litigating employment and general business disputes.

A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, cum laude, Mr. Luchansky obtained his law degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore Law School with honors, and served there as an Associate Editor of the Law Review.

Attorney Michael Golburgh

After graduating, summa cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Michael earned his law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. He completed his internships at Greater Boston Legal Services (Family Law Unit), as well as with the Honorable Isaac Borenstein in the Massachusetts Superior Court, and his clinical training in the law school’s Domestic Violence Institute.

Following law school, Michael worked as an executive vice president in a Massachusetts corporation, while completing a Master of Laws in Taxation at Boston University School of Law. In that program, Michael concentrated in estates and trusts, tax controversies, and retirement plans. Michael also earned a graduate certificate in financial planning and has background in investments, insurance and retirement planning.

Prior to joining Luchansky, P.A., Michael honed his legal skills as the principal of his own law practice in the Boston area. Licensed in both Maryland and Massachusetts, Michael represents clients relative to family law matters; civil litigation; and estate, trust and will disputes.