Child Custody

Maryland child custody lawyer

Children are often unintended victims of divorce. Parents seldom plan for that to be the case. At my Maryland law firm, The Weisbaum Law Firm, I help clients develop custody arrangements, also known as Parenting Plans, that work for them and meet the needs of their children. Each party should have an attorney who knows about Maryland state standards and is sensitive to the needs of both parents and children. I also make it my practice to employ child specialists to counsel divorcing couples, and their children when appropriate, to develop Parenting Plans that meet the needs of the family in the face of the trauma of divorce.  Contact me to discuss your child custody situation during a free initial consultation.

Parenting plans

The details of a couple’s custody and access arrangements with children should ideally be set out in a comprehensive parenting plan.  A well-drafted parenting plan will spell out the parents’ rights and responsibilities in connection with co-parenting the children following separation or divorce.  Parenting plans need not be limited to issues associated with physical custody, but also address issues associated with decision making on behalf of the children.  A parenting plan may address topics such as: parenting time (physical custody), decision making (legal custody), transportation and exchanges, school breaks, annual vacations, child support, a pre-approved process for resolving disputes, physical and mental health care, foreign travel, relocation by a parent, and how the parties will communicate and make decisions together going forward, to name just a few.

Physical custody

Maryland law allows for a variety of physical child custody and visitation arrangements. While it is natural for divorcing parents to grieve the unavoidable loss of time with their children in the wake of a separation, too often parents concern themselves with who will have more time with the children.  An effective and comprehensive custody and access schedule will balance the goals of maximizing time with each parent while minimizing the disruption to the children’s daily routines. Taking the needs of the children into account is paramount - what is best for teenagers may not suitable for toddlers. I work with clients to develop workable physical child custody and visitation proposals during a separation or divorce.

Legal custody

Custody determinations also involve establishing legal custody. Legal custody addresses how, and by whom, decisions are made regarding the health, welfare, and education of the child. In developing plans for both physical and legal custody, I always recommend collaborative law or mediation for developing the best arrangements possible.

Modifications

Circumstances change. Parents get new jobs, remarry, or move away from the area. In such situations, court custody orders can be changed, or modified. My law firm provides the documentation needed to develop a petition for modification of a custody order, keeping in mind that the court will grant the modification only if it serves the best interest of the child or children. Contact an attorney dedicated to developing child custody arrangements that facilitate a smooth transition through the divorce process and that meet the needs of the parties and their children. Call me, Steven M. Weisbaum, Esq., at my Rockville, Maryland law firm, The Weisbaum Law Firm. I serve Maryland communities such as Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Bethesda, Potomac, Wheaton, Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, Laurel and Frederick.

Back to Top