Annapolis Child Custody Attorney

Skilled Custody Attorneys Representing Parents in Annapolis, Maryland

When children are caught in a divorce, it is the parents' shared responsibility to work out a stable living arrangement for them. Depending on the level of conflict between the parents, this can turn into a heated debate that may have to be resolved in court. If you need help negotiating for child custody, an Annapolis, MD family law attorney can provide you with representation and counsel to suit your needs.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we understand how important a child custody arrangement can be for your child's future. Our lawyers can advocate for a solution in the best interests of your family, safeguarding your interests as well as your child's.

How Is Child Custody Determined in Maryland?

Maryland does not bestow any special rights to mothers or fathers in a divorce with children. Instead, all decisions are guided by what the court considers to be the child's "best interests." The court may consider several factors when making this decision, such as the child's unique needs, the fitness of each parent, and the child's own preference.

Every child custody case is evaluated on an individual basis, and the court may appoint an attorney to determine what is best for them. If the court finds that one parent has a history of family violence or any other behavior that puts the child at risk, that parent could have their right to custody restricted.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can make a case for your child's best interests and argue for an appropriate resolution. In many cases, we can help you resolve a custody dispute outside of court, but if necessary, we are ready to go to trial on your behalf.

Physical Custody

Physical custody refers to how parenting time is allocated, whether it means moving the child between each parent's residence or a regular schedule of visitation. A parent with rights to physical custody can provide for the child's needs and is entitled to a reasonable amount of time with the child.

There is no one "right way" to allocate physical custody. If you and your co-parent live far apart, it might make more sense for the child to spend most of the year at one parent's house, while the other has custody during holiday visits or summers. In other cases, the child might switch between residences on a weekly schedule, or see the other parent on a certain number of weekends per month.

Legal Custody

Legal custody comes with a separate set of responsibilities from physical custody. It is not uncommon for both parents to share physical custody while only one parent has legal custody, for instance.

Legal custody governs who gets to make important decisions on a child's behalf. Typically, this includes the right to make choices about your child's school, religious upbringing, extracurricular activities, and more. Legal custody can also be shared between the parents, allocating different choices to each parent or giving one parent tiebreaking authority on certain issues.

If you and your co-parent cannot see eye-to-eye on certain legal custody issues, our lawyers can step in on your behalf. We will advocate for your parental rights while also looking out for your child's best interests.

Speak With an Annapolis Child Custody Lawyer Today

A dispute over child custody should be handled with care. At Zide Law Group, LLC, our Annapolis family law attorneys can speak up for you in court, giving voice to your concerns. We can help with every aspect of a custody battle, whether you need to come up with a parenting time schedule or allocate parental responsibilities. Call us at 410-760-9433 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation today.