Maryland Child Custody Lawyer

Contact the Law Office of Neveen Kurtom to schedule a consultation regarding any of the following aspects of child support and child custody:

• Joint or sole legal custody

• Joint or sole physical custody

• Visitation by a non-custodial parent

• 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

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 16 factors in to decide child custody.  These factors include:

1. Stability and the foreseeable health and welfare of the child;

2. Frequent, regular, and continuing contact with parents who can act in the child’s best interest;

3. Whether and how parents who do not live together will share the rights and responsibilities of raising the child;

4. The child’s relationship with each parent, any siblings, other relatives, and individuals who are or may become important in the child’s life;

5. The child’s physical and emotional security and protection from exposure to conflict and violence;

6. The child’s developmental needs, including physical safety, emotional security, positive self-image, interpersonal skills, and intellectual and cognitive growth;

7. The day-to-day needs of the child, including education, socialization, culture and religion, food, shelter, clothing, and mental and physical health;

8. How to:

• Place the child’s needs above the parents’ needs;

• Protect the child from the negative effects of any conflict between the parents; and

• Maintain the child’s relationship with the parents, siblings, other relatives, or other individuals who have or likely may have a significant relationship with the child;

9. The age of the child;

10. Any military deployment of a parent and its effect, if any, on the parent-child relationship;

11. Any prior court orders or agreements;

12. Each parent’s role and tasks related to the child and how, if at all, those roles and tasks have changed;

13. The location of each parent’s home as it relates to the parent’s ability to coordinate parenting time, school, and activities;

14. The parents’ relationship with each other, including:

• How they communicate with each other;

• Whether they can co-parent without disrupting the child’s social and school life; and

• How the parents will resolve any disputes in the future without the need for court intervention

15. The child’s preference, if age-appropriate; and

16. Any other factor that the court considers appropriate in determining how best to serve the physical, developmental, and emotional needs of the child.

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 (301) 356-4423 so that we can discuss your case in detail and give you a reliable assessment of your case.

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