LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, labor and employment issues are at the forefront of the minds of business owners. Understanding how these laws could impact your business and your obligations to your employees is critical.
As you review them, please consider the impact that some of these may have on existing relationships and employment documentation used by you, including your employment handbook policies, recruiting and training.
REAL ESTATE
Despite a shortened legislative session this year, a number of bills related to real estate were passed, many of which reflect a greater emphasis on consumer protection. Read the full legislative update to learn about four passed bills specifically related to Ground Lease.
ESTATES, TRUSTS, AND GUARDIANSHIP
The areas of estate and tax planning, probate, and trust administration saw a handful of changes for the 2020 year.
There were seven estate planning and related bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2020 Session that were allowed to become law by Governor Hogan. Five of these of these bills constituted fine-tuning existing laws, and two represented an enhanced interest in protecting vulnerable adults and elderly persons from exploitation or injury.
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Four new bills will be introduced in October in regards to
Maryland cooperatives, condominiums and homeowner associations. One specifically addresses Cooperative Housing Corporations, Condominiums and Homeowners Associations in Prince George's County, w
hile the remaining bills pertain to all of Maryland.
FAMILY LAW
In the realm of family law, two of the three bills that passed directly relate to Child Support and Shared Custody. As mentioned in our COVID-19 updates, Governor Hogan temporarily waived requirements for in-person notarization on March 30th. Beginning October 1st, Senate Bill 678
authorizes the remote notarization of documents moving forward, irrespective of the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
