Essex, MD Child Custody Attorneys

Compassionate Custody Attorneys Representing Clients in Essex, Maryland

Parenting is not an easy job, especially when legal concerns about child custody arise. As a parent, you may have some valid fears about protecting and enforcing your rights to take care of your child. If you need help navigating a family law case involving your children, an Essex, MD child custody lawyer can come to your aid, providing you with aggressive representation and valuable legal advice.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we stand as champions for the rights of parents across the state of Maryland. Our team of lawyers is here to serve you, offering personalized legal services to help you address any custody concerns you may have.

How Are Custody Disputes Resolved in Maryland?

In order to determine who should get custody in a divorce or separation between the parents, the courts in Maryland will put the child's best interests first. A judge may consider multiple factors when allocating custody, such as:

• Whether one parent has acted as the child's main caregiver
• The parents' willingness to cooperate with each other for the child's sake
• Each parent's financial resources
• The child's stated wishes
• Each parent's ability to take care of the child
• The child's age
• The child's unique health needs

Understanding your child's best interests is critical for navigating a custody dispute. The courts will not make concessions for a parent's wants if it conflicts with the child's best interests.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we have handled countless custody cases over the years. We can help you advocate for your parental fitness and make a case for a fair arrangement of custody.

How Does Domestic Violence Affect Child Custody?

Domestic violence can play a significant role in how custody is divided in Maryland. In some cases, it may even be grounds for sole custody, wherein one parent is given exclusive rights to legal and physical custody.

If one parent is found to have a history of domestic violence, it may be used as evidence against their parental fitness, even if the abuse was not committed against the child. Additionally, a parent who has been awarded physical custody could lose the right to take care of the child if they are found to have endangered the child through abuse.

If your child has been subject to any kind of abuse by your co-parent, our team of lawyers can aggressively argue for a modification of custody to prevent further harm. We can help you gather evidence of abuse to present to the court and represent you in any hearings regarding custody.

Parental Relocation

Making a decision to move with your child can complicate an existing custody agreement. Before you can proceed with a relocation, you must give a minimum of 90 days' notice to your co-parent of your intent to move to a new address.

If your co-parent does not agree to the move, they can decide to contest it in court. There, a hearing will be held to determine whether or not the relocation should be permitted. As with any other custody hearing, the judge's primary concern will revolve around the child's best interests. The judge will consider how the child's relationship with the other parent will be impacted, as well as the opportunities available to the child at the new location.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can represent you in a hearing for parental relocation no matter where you stand on the issue. We can help you present a compelling argument to the court, leveraging our deep knowledge of the law to your benefit.

Meet With an Essex Child Custody Attorney Today

At Zide Law Group, LLC, our Essex, MD custody lawyers are here to stand up for your rights. Call us at 410-760-9433 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.