Maryland Child Custody Lawyer
Contact the Law Office of Neveen H. Kurtom to schedule a consultation regarding any of the following aspects of child support and child custody:
Joint custody
Primary and secondary custody
Visitation by a non-custodial parent
Joint or sole legal custody
Joint or sole physical custody
Grandparent and 3rd party custody
Grandparent and 3rd party access
Military custody issues
Child custody modifications
Child support modifications
Application of the Maryland Child Support Guidelines
Exceptions to the Maryland Child Support Guidelines
Experienced in Child Custody and Child Support Matters
CHILD CUSTODY FACTORS
In Maryland, the trial court must decide both “legal custody” referring to which parent has the responsibility of making major decisions on behalf of the minor child, and “physical custody” referring to the child’s legal residence and visitation schedule with each parent. The court relies on the factors in Taylor v. Taylor, 306 Md. 290 (1986) to determine whether joint custody is appropriate. These factors include:
Capacity of Parents to Communicate and to Reach Shared Decisions Affecting the Child’s Welfare
Willingness of Parents to Share Custody
Fitness of Parents
Relationship Established Between the Child and Each Parent
Preference of the Child
Potential Disruption of Child’s Social and School Life
Geographic Proximity of Parental Homes
Demands of Parental Employment
Age and Number of Children
Sincerity of Parents’ Request
Financial Status of the Parents
Benefit to Parents
CHILD SUPPORT IN MARYLAND
Whether your case involves a divorce or paternity matter, you face difficult decisions regarding child support. The Maryland Child Support Guidelines govern child support cases. The guidelines include a schedule of basic child support obligations that shows the total amount of support both parents must pay based on their combined “adjusted actual incomes” and the number of children they have together. A percentage of the total support obligation is assigned to each parent based on that parent’s income percentage. Our firm handles:
Child support modifications
Child support defense
Deviation from child support guidelines cases
Above guidelines child support cases
Our attorneys treat you with respect and evaluate all of your options. We can explore if you are eligible for a modification of the court-ordered child support obligation. You want an experienced lawyer with a thorough knowledge of child support laws to protect your rights.
CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act sets the standard for when a court can make a custody decision and when they must send the case to another court. Below is the criteria for which a state has jurisdiction to make a decision about the child:
The state is the child's home state. This is where the child has resided for the previous six months or was residing prior to a parent taking the child to another state.
The child has significant connections with people, such as grandparents, teachers and doctors in a state, and there is enough evidence concerning the child's care, personal relationship, protection and training there.
The child is in the state and has either been abandoned or is in danger of being neglected if sent back to another state.
No other state can meet the above criteria or another state can meet one but has declined to make a custody decision.
Each case is unique and there is not a one size fits all approach by the court. Protecting access to your child is important. We are zealous advocates and ensure all your bases are covered. Child custody disputes are complex and an experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal system. Feel free to call us at (443) 741-2567 so that we can discuss your case in detail and give you a reliable assessment of your case.