Maryland Child Custody Attorney

Child custody can be an extremely touchy subject for any parent. It is one of the many legal issues that must be decided upon when two people divorce or are unmarried and have a child together. When a parent fails to fight for custody of their child, then they be awarded limited time with their child or could even be stripped of their parental rights completely.

When a judge awards custody, they will first look at what would be in the best interest of the child both emotionally and financially. If both parents are able to provide a safe and secure home then typically they will be awarded joint custody, also known as shared custody.  This would mean that both parents are considered to be the custodial parent of the child by the family law courts.

In addition to joint custody, one or both parents may be awarded physical and legal custody. Physical custody determines where the child resides most of their time and this may be equally shared if joint custody is awarded. If only one parent is awarded physical custody, then the other parent would be considered the non-custodial parent. Legal custody allows for a parent to make important decisions for the child such as education, medical care and religion. This too may be equally shared.

If a parent cannot financially or emotionally provide for a child then only one parent may be awarded physical and/or legal custody. In many instances, if it is proven that a parent is unfit and has mental problems, drug/alcohol dependency or any other serious issues that could be detrimental to the well-being of the child, then they may only be awarded supervised visitation and the fit parent would be awarded sole custody. However, if the unfit parent’s situation is too harmful for the well-being of the child then they can also be stripped of their parental rights completely.

Maryland Child Custody Lawyer

If you are involved in a child custody dispute, or just need to come to a resolution with the other parent regarding a custody arrangement, an attorney from the Law Office of Nicholas T. Exarhakis can help you. A Maryland child custody attorney from our firm will be fully aware of your parental rights and will fight to obtain the outcome that you desire. Please contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Annapolis child custody lawyer immediately.

Need a Maryland child custody attorney? Contact us today!