Holiday Custody for High-Conflict or Long-Distance Maryland Families: How to Reduce Stress and Protect Your Parenting Time
November 4, 2025
For many high-earning Maryland families, the final weeks of the year bring more than holiday planning and financial review, they also trigger important decisions about marriage, separation, and divorce. If you’re a business owner, professional practice partner, or a high-income executive, year-end is one of the most strategic times to evaluate your marital and financial options. The decisions you make in November and December can affect tax filings, business valuations, support calculations, bonuses, and long-term financial stability.
Whether you’re quietly considering a divorce, or you are already in the middle of one, thoughtful year-end planning can protect your financial interests and reduce conflict in the months ahead. Here are key considerations to keep in mind before December 31st.
Jump to Section:
- Why Year-End Matters More for High-Asset and High-Income Families
- If You’re Considering Divorce: Strategic Planning Before You File
- If You’re Already in a Divorce: Smart Moves Before December 31st
- Year-End Planning Areas Often Overlooked in Divorce
- How CPAs, Financial Advisors, and Other Professionals Can Help Clients Now
- A Thoughtful Approach Today Leads to a More Secure Tomorrow
- About the Author
Why Year-End Matters More for High-Asset and High-Income Families
Family law intersects with multiple year-end financial events, especially for business owners and professionals. The end of the year often brings:
- Annual bonuses and commissions
- Business valuations and forecasting
- Tax planning and year-end reporting
- Retirement contribution deadlines
- Charitable giving and estate planning decisions
If a separation or divorce is on the horizon, these financial and legal events require an added layer of strategy. Decisions made now may influence how assets and income are divided later.
If You’re Considering Divorce: Strategic Planning Before You File
1. Understand Your Financial Picture Before Opening the Conversation
Before discussing separation or filing for divorce, gather and review key financial information. This will help you make informed decisions and reduce early surprise or conflict.
Consider gathering:
- Personal and business tax returns (last 3–5 years)
- Year-to-date financial statements, K-1s, and profit distributions
- Bank, investment, and retirement account statements
- Any deferred compensation plans, RSUs, bonuses, and executive benefits
- Business valuations or partner agreements, if applicable
Creating a clear picture now helps you understand what’s at stake and what requires protection before the new year.
2. Consider the Impact of Filing Before vs. After December 31st
The date you separate or file could influence:
- Tax filing status for the year
- Calculation of income for support purposes
- What portion of a year-end bonus or business income may be considered marital
Many high-income earners evaluate whether it serves them better to file in December or in January. What may be beneficial for one spouse may not be for the other, so it’s important to obtain individualized advice.
3. Be Mindful of Year-End Bonuses and Deferred Compensation
For executives, physicians, and professionals with performance-based compensation, timing matters. In many cases, a bonus earned during the marriage may be considered a marital asset even if it is not paid until the following year. Similar questions arise around vesting schedules for stock options, RSUs, and other deferred compensation.
A consultation before year-end can help you understand how to position these benefits if you are contemplating a separation.
If You’re Already in a Divorce: Smart Moves Before December 31st
1. Review Tax Filing Status and Plan Ahead
If your divorce is not finalized by December 31, you will need to determine whether it is more advantageous to file jointly or separately for the year. Couples in the divorce process often overlook this decision until tax season, but the discussion should ideally happen before year-end.
This is especially the case for high-income households, where tax consequences may be substantial. If filing jointly, both spouses should consider signing a tax indemnification or reimbursement agreement to avoid disputes later.
2. Gather Year-End Financial Statements for Support and Property Division
Accurate year-end financial documentation makes negotiations in January and February more efficient. This may include:
- Year-end business financials
- Final paystubs showing bonuses or supplemental income
- Retirement account balances on December 31st
- Updated business valuations or asset appraisals
For business owners, CPAs and valuation professionals typically prefer December 31 as a valuation date. Obtaining this documentation early in the new year can accelerate the divorce process and reduce disputes.
3. Revisit Interim Support and Expense-Sharing Arrangements
The holiday season often brings increased spending such as travel, childcare, gifts, additional parenting time costs. If you are already separated, consider whether current interim financial arrangements are still fair or need adjustment.
Divorce attorney can help you assess whether to:
- Seek temporary support
- Modify existing arrangements
- Clarify payment responsibilities for seasonal expenses
Having expectations set before the holidays can ease stress for both parents and children.
Your Family. Your Rights. Our Priority.
Baumohl Hamburg: Trusted Family Law Representation in Maryland
Year-End Planning Areas Often Overlooked in Divorce
Even the most financially savvy clients sometimes overlook these areas during the holiday season:
Retirement and QDRO Planning
Dividing retirement accounts requires specific orders, usually prepared after the divorce is finalized. In some cases, timing a contribution before year-end can be beneficial.
Health Insurance and Open Enrollment
If one spouse is losing access to employer-sponsored insurance after the divorce, this impacts planning, COBRA, and budgeting.
Charitable Giving and Gifting
Charitable contributions or family gifting may affect year-end tax planning and should be discussed if marital funds are involved.
Estate and Beneficiary Designations
Separation is a natural time to revisit beneficiary choices on life insurance, and estate plans.
How CPAs, Financial Advisors, and Other Professionals Can Help Clients Now
December is a crucial touchpoint for your clients who may be facing marital strain or actively divorcing. Professionals in wealth management, accounting, real estate, and business planning are often the first trusted advisors to hear concerns.
Encourage clients to:
- Review their financial health with a divorce lens
- Consider timing of key transactions
- Avoid making large financial moves without legal guidance
A collaborative approach among family law attorneys and trusted advisors helps protect clients and ensures smart decision-making at year-end.
A Thoughtful Approach Today Leads to a More Secure Tomorrow
If you are facing the possibility of separation or are already in a divorce process, you don’t need to navigate year-end decisions alone. This is a time to gather information, protect your options, and take thoughtful steps that set the stage for a more secure new year.
If questions arise about timing, financial strategy, or how year-end decisions may affect your future, we are here to help guide you.
Call Baumohl Hamburg today at 443.940.2000, email us at harry@bahalaw.com or schedule a confidential consultation online. Let’s find the best way to move forward.
Serving families throughout Maryland in divorce, custody, and family law matters.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified attorney for personalized guidance and representation in legal matters.
About the Author
Harry A. Baumohl, Esq., a founder of Baumohl Hamburg, LLC, stands among Maryland's elite family law practitioners, bringing: Over Four Decades of Proven Excellence; Established track record in complex family law matters; Strategic location serving Baltimore County and surrounding jurisdictions.
Specialized Expertise in High-Stakes Family Law Cases
- Complex divorce litigation for high-net-worth and high asset individuals and families with sophisticated asset division and financial untangling.
- High-conflict custody and parenting disputes.
- Prenuptial Agreements, Preventive Planning, Mediation and Collaborative Law solutions.
Distinctive Approach to Client Representation
- Results-driven methodology backed by decades of experience and success.
- Strategic thinking combined with emotional intelligence mixed with calm, measured guidance during turbulent times.
- Proactive communication and responsive client service.
Geographic Reach
- Primary office in Pikesville, Baltimore County
- Active practice throughout: Baltimore County; Baltimore City; Carroll County; Harford County; Howard County & Anne Arundel County.
Ready to benefit from Harry's unique blend of experience and strategic thinking?
- For Clients: Visit our website at https://bahalaw.com/. And for direct access feel free to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your family law matters. Direct access to seasoned counsel who understands the complexities of Maryland family law. Harry@BahaLaw.com.
- For Professionals: Our firm welcomes strategic partnerships with attorneys and other professionals seeking experienced Maryland family law counsel for their clients. We offer comprehensive case collaboration and maintain the highest standards of professional service. For referral inquiries: Harry@BahaLaw.com
