You might be getting ready to divorce your partner and lead separate lives once again, but that’s difficult with co-parenting, especially if you’re unable to agree on anything that pertains to your children’s lives. Parents generally get awarded shared custody in Maryland courts because it is in the children’s best interests to be in contact with both their parents.

While it might be ideal to have both the parents in the picture when raising a child, sometimes, it might not be in their best interest. There may be any number of things that can cause the court to be wary of sole custody; here are some examples:

Abuse

A history of abuse, especially in recent times, may make the court give sole custody to the parent that is non-abusive. The abuse can pertain to either the child or to the other parent. With credible proof of abuse, the court orders sole legal custody as a definitive action unless the judge can specify the reason for awarding shared legal custody in writing.

Impaired by substance abuse or mental illness

If a parent is found to be abusing substances or mentally ill to the point of impaired judgment, the stable parent might be awarded sole custody. These parents are, however, provided with the opportunity to work through these problems and get awarded shared custody if they demonstrate a consistent effort to do so.

Lack of contact

If a parent hasn’t been in contact with their child for long periods of time before the court proceedings, or if they’ve never been in the picture, the court determines it to be too risky to give joint custody. The present parent is rewarded sole custody because they are more in tune with their child’s needs.

Strained communication between parents

The court might order sole legal custody in the case of two parents who can’t communicate effectively due to their strained relationship. They would first be encouraged to work on their issues or go to counseling together, but sole custody is the best option if the communication issues are sure to leave a negative impact on the child.

Get the help of an experienced child custody attorney in Baltimore County

If you or someone you love is going through a custody battle, an experienced child custody lawyer can help you gain full custody of your child.

Lincoln Law Group’s compassionate family lawyer in Silver Spring and Baltimore can also help you understand why your partner may have been granted full custody and how to contest it after a while. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call us. We also have experienced tax lawyers, immigration lawyers, criminal defense lawyers, and personal injury lawyers to help you with almost every type of legal work.

Going through a divorce is hard enough, but if you can’t decide on child custody together, the court must intervene. The ensuing custody battle is decided by the court about how to split up the children’s custody after the divorce is finalized.

Here’s all you need to know about the different types of court-ordered custody agreements:

Custody in Maryland law

According to Maryland law, both the parents of the child are considered as the natural custodians. Hence, neither the mother nor the father is favored over one another. The court looks at the child’s best interests to determine who gains custody, and either of the separated parents can petition for modifications for the custody of their child in Maryland’s court.

Emergency custody

A parent can request temporary relief under an emergency condition if they believe there is the looming risk of immediate and substantial harm to them or their minor child. This is a temporary order that can vary in different Circuit Courts, and the parent will need to continue with their case until there’s permanent relief.

Joint custody

Joint custody can be further broken down into three separate categories:

• Joint legal custody: means that both the parents have equal control over their children’s upbringing, even if they’re living in only one residence. Some hybrid versions may allow for a “tie-breaking” authority over certain areas.
• Shared physical custody: means that the children have two residences where they spend at least 35% of the time with each of their parents.
• Combination: is a combination of both, as seen fit by the court.

Sole custody

The court can award physical or legal custody, or both, to a single parent if they deem the other one unfit to take care of minor children. This may be because of a lack of financial means to support a dependent or a history of physical, emotional, or drug abuse.

Looking for an experienced child custody attorney in Baltimore County?

Different child custody agreements can be difficult to navigate, especially with the number of strict requirements and conditions attached. Hiring an experienced child custody lawyer can help you understand child custody and divorce laws.

Lincoln Law Group’s compassionate family lawyer in Silver Spring and Baltimore can help you create the best case for your children’s custody. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call us. We also have experienced tax lawyers, immigration lawyers, criminal defense lawyers, and personal injury lawyers to help you with almost every type of legal work.