Child Custody in Maryland

Child Custody in Maryland

Child custody in Maryland disputes can be contentious, frustrating, and can take an emotional toll. Fortunately, the child custody process does not have to be a long, drawn-out conflict. A skilled family law attorney could work tirelessly to protect your parental rights while avoiding unnecessary conflict.

If you are in dispute over the custody of your child, it is important that you seek out the guidance of legal counsel right away. These disputes can have long-term ramifications on your relationship with your children. A Bethesda child custody lawyer could help you secure that relationship and protect your rights as a parent.

The Different Types of Custody

Child custody comes in different forms. Not only that, but parents can share each type of custody in different ways. Every custody determination involves two specific aspects: the legal and physical custody of the child. With each of these determinations, the court could award joint custody to both parents or sole custody to only one party. A child custody lawyer in Bethesda could provide insight into the important differences between each type of custody.

Legal Custody

This form of custody involves the parental rights to make important decisions regarding a child’s life, health, and wellbeing. Legal custody can be sole or joint. In fact, joint legal custody is common even when physical custody is not shared.

Legal custody covers many different parental rights. These include the right to choose how a child is educated and make important healthcare decisions on their behalf. Legal custody also involves the right to make decisions regarding religious upbringing.

Physical Custody

The term physical custody relates to the actual, day-to-day care for a minor child. Specifically, physical custody gives a parent the right to have a child live with them. Sole physical custody means a child remains in the same household year-round. Joint physical custody involves some form of shared time between the households of both parents. Typically, one parent has custody of the children during school nights, while the other parent often sees them during weekends, holidays, and certain evenings.

Who Gets Custody?

Ultimately, the court determines how legal and physical custody of a child will be divided. While judges have significant discretion, they are bound by law to act in the child’s best interest. A child custody lawyer in Bethesda could make the case that it is in the child’s best interest to be primarily in the care of their client.

There is no formula for estimating which parent will get custody. Despite the common misconception, the law does not grant mothers more rights as fathers when it comes to making this determination.

There are many different factors that determine a child’s best interests. The first factor the court will consider is the fitness of each parent. While parents have certain rights, their unfitness could result in a loss of access to their children. Other important factors include the age of the child, the possibility for maintaining relationships among family, and where both parents live.

Talk to a Bethesda Child Custody Attorney Right Away

If you are fighting for custody of your child, you do not have to do so on your own. Your attorney can serve as your advocate and help you protect your rights throughout the process. We are ready to help you fight your case Contact a Bethesda child custody lawyer right away.