Real estate is one of the biggest investments that most people will make in their lifetime. So, when problems arise with real estate that you own – or a property that you are buying or selling – it can be overwhelmingly stressful and scary.

If you are facing a potential real estate-related legal issue, you should seek counsel from an experienced real estate attorney as soon as possible. Proper and timely legal advice is of critical importance, as mishandling the matter could end up being financially, and emotionally, devastating.

At Coover Law Firm, LLC , we have extensive experience in both residential and commercial real estate law in Maryland. For over 30 years, we have been representing the interests of home buyers, home sellers, builders, developers, renters and investors in Columbia, MD and beyond.

Maryland Residential Real Estate Law

Item: Coover Law Firm, LLC
Rating: 5

According to Zillow.com, in April 2018 the median value of homes in Howard County, MD was $435,998 … more than double the national median of $213,146.

Why does this matter? Because, quite simply, it means that you must put a lot of money on the line when you choose to purchase real estate in the Columbia, MD area. Therefore, when problems arise with a property that you own, or are buying or selling, you need an experienced real estate attorney on your side, that you can trust to represent your interests and protect your investment.

For example, here are a few examples of common issues that arise relating to Maryland residential real estate:

A buyer purchases a home, only to later discover that the home has major (and expensive) structural problems that were not disclosed by the seller.
The seller backs out of the contract prior to settlement, and is refusing to return the buyer’s earnest money deposit. The buyer feels that not only are they entitled to a refund of their deposit, but that the seller is guilty of breach of contract.
A buyer purchases a new construction home, and later finds evidence of sub-standard construction by the builder.

Fred L. Coover, Esquire has a long history of representing clients’ interests in residential real estate matters. In addition to advocating for clients in his private practice, Mr. Coover also serves as a mediator for the Maryland Association of REALTORS® (MAR).

Maryland Commercial Real Estate Law

Commercial real estate refers to property that is used solely for business purposes, such as office complexes, hotels, restaurants, apartment complexes, shopping centers and convenience stores.

Coover Law Firm, LLC has extensive experience representing Howard County, MD builders and developers in matters relating to the purchase, sale, lease and/or development of commercial real estate in Maryland, to help ensure that the process goes smoothly. We are skilled in the following areas:

Securing project financing
Entity formation
Land acquisition
Contracting with subs
Litigation of disputes, should they arise

Coover Law Firm, LLC is well-versed in all areas of construction law and land use and zoning law, from obtaining permits to understanding liability for violations. Likewise, we are highly knowledgeable regarding liability for injuries occurring on private property, as well as other civil litigation matters.

Commercial Real Estate Litigation

When a dispute arises over commercial real estate, time is often critical. Knowing where to go to get things done early on in the process can make a huge difference in the ultimate outcome. At Coover Law Firm, our extensive experience handling commercial real estate matters in Howard County, MD allows us to react quickly, and effectively, on our clients’ behalf.

While we always encourage our clients to try to resolve matter at hand without intervention by the Court – often by utilizing mediation and/or arbitration – sometimes the parties are simply unable to reach an agreement. In cases where litigation becomes necessary, Coover Law Firm aggressively advocates for our clients’ interests, both in and out of the courtroom.

We are highly experienced in a wide range of commercial real estate-related conflicts, including:

Breach of contract
Breach of fiduciary duty
Commercial lease disputes
Construction defects and mechanic’s liens
Construction Trust actions
Environmental compliance issues
Fraud, misrepresentation and nondisclosure
Land use and zoning disputes
Little Miller Act Claims
Payment Bonds/Performance Bonds
Real estate partnership and joint venture disputes
Recovery of earnest money
Title insurance litigation
Establishing real estate partnerships & joint ventures
Wrongful foreclosure

For more information on these and other issues relating to commercial real estate, please click here

We are Here to Help

If you are looking to develop commercial property, or find yourself facing a real estate dispute that requires legal intervention, call us today at (410) 553-5042 to schedule a consultation with an experienced commercial real estate lawyer, Fred L. Coover. Our office are conveniently located in Columbia, MD adjacent to the Columbia Town Center and Merriweather Post Pavillion. For directions, please click here.

We look forward to serving you!

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1. What is the difference between a legal separation and a divorce?
The legal process is the same. While in the absence of adultery, parties must both (a) separate; and (b) remain physically separated on an uninterrupted bases for at least 12 months before either party may legally seek a divorce from the Court, a legal separation can be achieved by agreement of the parties, does not involve a “waiting period” and does not necessarily involve a Court. Divorces cannot be final for at least 6 months, while a legal separation can be final almost immediately. The largest difference between the two is that if you proceed with divorce you are no longer married. A legal separation only separates the two parties – they remain married.
2. Do I really need an attorney?
Yes. Going through divorce, child custody or support, adoption, etc. without an attorney is like riding a bicycle with no handlebars. You will get somewhere, but chances are you will not end up where you want to be and you will likely get hurt along the way.
The majority of people who represent themselves focus on things that are not important. Coover Law Firm, LLC attorneys are trained to recognize and deal with the most important issues.
3. What is equitable distribution
Equitable distribution is a method for dividing the marital assets in a manner that is fair and equitable, which is different from equal. Your Coover Law Firm, LLC divorce attorney can assist you in the most fair and equitable way to divide your marital assets.
4. How much child support will I receive?
In Maryland, the amount of child support each parent is responsible to pay is generally determined through a formula known as the Maryland Child Support Guidelines. The Guidelines take the following factors into consideration:
- Income of each parent;
- Number of children;
- Work related child care expenses;
- Health insurance costs for each child;
- Extraordinary regular medical expenses for each child; and
- Number of overnights with each parent
Through the Guidelines and with the assistance of a Coover Law Firm, LLC attorney, it is generally possible to determine the amount of child support that the Court will require each party to pay. Under certain circumstances, the Court can order amounts greater or lesser than the Guidelines amount to be paid.
For your convenience, a link to a Maryland Child Support guidelines calculator is provided below. Please use the calculator as a guide only in addition to consulting with a Coover Law Firm, LLC attorney. Coover Law Firm, LLC cannot be responsible for the accuracy of either the calculator or the results you obtain from it.
http://www.marylandlawonline.com/cal/MDCSC.html
5. What can I do if my ex-spouse refuses to pay child support?
If your ex-spouse has been ordered to pay either child support or maintenance and fails to do so, you can ask the court to hold your ex-spouse in contempt of court. If found to be in contempt, your ex-spouse could be imprisoned. Another available remedy is to garnish his/her wages; the disobedient ex-spouse’s employer will deduct money from his/her paycheck and pay you directly.
6. How does the court determine what is in the best interest of my children in a child custody case?
The court will examine a number of factors, including who the children are living with at the time the custody determination is made, the children’s historical relationship with each of the parents, and each of the parents’ ability to care for the children.
7. What is adoption?
Adoption is “the legal and social process involving the transfer of rights over a child from a set of birth parents to a set of adoptive parents”. Adoption is a huge, life-altering decision that will affect the future of many people. Consequently, you will need to collect as much information about adoption as you can in order to make an informed decision based on the child’s best interests. An attorney should be number one on your list of people to contact before deciding to adopt.
8. Once the divorce is final, can creditors place liens or judgments against real estate owned jointly by the divorced couple due to the debts of one of the former spouses?
In short, the answer is yes. Tenancy by the entirety is a very protective status of title available only to married people. When a married couple owns property as tenants by the entirety, the law considers the real estate to be owned by the marital union, not the individuals. This means that the separate creditors of each of the married individuals are not able to reach through that special title and gain access to the real estate in order to satisfy a debt. However, the instant the divorce is final, tenancy by the entirety is dissolved. In that instant, when the judgment of divorce is entered, former spouses co-own that property as tenants in common – a status of title that provides much less protection against creditors. For more information, check out this blog.

Fred “Chip” Coover is a principled Howard County attorney who is well versed in the area of divorce law. Intelligence and integrity are attributes that best describe him. He is an ethical and truthful attorney who provides good counsel and has the uncanny ability to anticipate actions of opposing attorneys. When new situations warrant, he is willing and eager to educate himself so that he is able to best represent his clients. Chip Coover is a true gentleman in an arena where straightforward behavior is often absent.
Joel S. Brunson

Maryland Residential Real Estate Law

Maryland Commercial Real Estate Law

Commercial Real Estate Litigation

We are Here to Help

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