Severna Park, MD Child Custody Lawyer

Compassionate Child Custody Attorney for Parents in Severna Park, Maryland

The legal proceedings involved with determining child custody can be quite intense, and it is important that you seek out a strong legal representative to protect your rights as a parent. A Severna Park, MD child custody lawyer can advise you throughout your case and advocate for a solution that serves your needs as well as your child's best interests.

If you are looking for a seasoned lawyer to handle your child custody case, consider working with DM Family Law. Attorney David Marquardt has over two decades of relevant legal experience devoted to the practice of family law. As a solo practitioner, Attorney Marquardt will give you his undivided attention to make sure that your parental rights are protected.

What Is Physical Custody?

In child custody proceedings, the term "physical custody" is used to describe the responsibility of a parent housing and taking care of their child. In many cases, parents are able to share joint physical custody, transporting the child between houses or facilitating regular visits.

You must also decide how exactly you want to split up parenting time. You could choose to split time between households equally, switching off every week. Other physical custody arrangements may involve one parent taking the child on certain weekends of the month. The variations are practically endless, but in any case, the schedule should be consistent to avoid disruption to the child's life.

At DM Family Law, we can inform you of your rights while you discuss physical custody with your co-parent. If necessary, we are prepared to represent you in aggressive litigation to protect your child's best interests.

What Is Legal Custody?

In disputes between parents, legal custody is sometimes overlooked, but it is no less important than physical custody. If you are granted legal custody over your child, it means you have the authority to make decisions on their behalf. Most discussions about legal custody tend to center around these issues:

• What religions or traditions the child should participate in
• What school the child should go to and what accommodations they might need for their education, like tutoring
• What extracurricular activities or clubs the child should join
• Which parent should have the authority to sign off on important medical decisions

Like physical custody, legal custody can be split between the parents. Each parent may be responsible for separate issues, or they may have the same input on all issues, with a method in place for dispute resolution.

When Is Sole Custody Awarded in Maryland Divorces?

In Maryland, the decision to give one parent exclusive physical and legal custody over the child is not taken lightly by the courts. The courts recognize the rights of parents to be present in the lives of their children, but in the end, they will always prioritize the needs of the child.

The courts may award sole custody to one parent if the other parent has a demonstrated history of neglect or family violence. A judge might also award sole custody if the other parent is not equipped to take care of the child and cannot provide the child with a stable home environment.

At DM Family Law, we represent parents on either side of a sole custody dispute. We will help you do what is best for your child while also advocating for your parental rights.

Meet With a Severna Park, MD Child Custody Attorney

Child custody disputes can be emotionally exhausting to resolve, often fraught with logistical questions. Our firm can represent you in complicated custody matters, using our knowledge of the law to support your case. Call DM Family Law at 443-545-8100 or contact our Severna Park child custody lawyer to arrange a free consultation today.