Columbia Child Custody Lawyers

Experienced Custody Lawyers Representing Parents and Guardians in Columbia, Maryland

In a divorce or legal separation involving children, you will inevitably be confronted with the issue of custody. This can be a difficult problem to tackle even if you have an amicable relationship with your co-parent. An experienced Columbia child custody attorney can provide you with legal guidance and representation to help resolve the matter of child custody.

Whether you intend to settle outside of court or litigate your child custody case, Zide Law Group, LLC can help. With decades of shared experience, our team of attorneys will advocate for your parental rights and fight for your child's best interests to the fullest extent of the law.

The Types of Custody

Getting custody over your child is not an all-or-nothing affair. There are two different kinds of custody that can be shared between the parents, as follows:

• Physical Custody: This covers a parent's right to house their child and take of them on a daily basis, as well as the right to visitation.
• Legal Custody: This covers a parent's right to make decisions on behalf of their child, especially pertaining to education, healthcare, and religion.

Both parents can share legal and physical custody. The exact specifications for a custody agreement (like the schedule for parenting time or the allocation of decision-making authority) must be included in your parenting plan, a legal document that is submitted to a family law judge for approval. You can submit your parenting plan together with your co-parent or separately.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can help you draft a feasible parenting plan that takes your family's unique circumstances into account.

Can I Get Sole Custody Over My Child?

Maryland respects the rights of both parents to remain actively involved in the life of their child. This means that you cannot petition for sole custody without good reason, and only if it would serve the child's best interests. The courts may consider a petition for sole physical and/or legal custody if:

• Your co-parent is currently incarcerated
• Your co-parent is a registered sex offender
• Your co-parent has a history of domestic violence
• Your co-parent has previously walked out of your child's life
• Your co-parent has an issue with substance abuse
• Your co-parent is physically or mentally incapable of taking care of a child
• Your co-parent lives with someone who would pose a threat to the child's safety

This is not an exhaustive list of the grounds for sole custody. If you are worried about your child's welfare, our attorneys can help you take immediate legal action.

Modifications of Custody

Child custody orders are legally binding, but not set in stone. When a parent or child's circumstances change significantly, the courts may see fit to modify the order. For example, if one parent was denied custody rights due to a substance abuse issue, they could petition for a modification after becoming clean. In any case, the custody modification must be in the child's best interests.

Parental relocation is a common reason to modify custody. A relocation will usually involve modifying the schedule of physical custody and including additional provisions to make sure that the non-custodial parent can still play an active role in the child's life. If you feel that a custody modification is necessary to protect your child's well-being, our lawyers can provide you with aggressive representation in court.

Contact a Columbia, MD Custody Lawyer

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we offer comprehensive legal services for parents looking to enforce their rights to custody. Our Columbia, Maryland child custody attorneys can speak up for you in court, giving you a voice in the legal proceedings. Call us at 410-760-9433 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.