Pikesville, MD Child Custody Attorneys

Supportive Custody Lawyers Representing Clients in Pikesville, Maryland

Dealing with disagreements about child custody can be complicated, especially when the dispute goes to court. Disputes often center around the most critical parts of a child's upbringing like which parent they will live with or who can make decisions on the child's behalf. If you are going through a legal battle involving your child, a Pikesville custody lawyer can advocate for your rights and work to protect your child's best interest.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we recognize just how important it is for a parent to remain present in a child's life. When you work with our firm, we will make a case for your child's welfare as well as your rights as a parent.

How Are Custody Disputes Handled?

When children are caught between a divorce or separation between parents, long-term arrangements for custody must be made. Depending on the family's circumstances, the allotment of custody can be handled in different ways.

In many cases, a judge will order divorcing parents to go through mediation to figure out child custody. Mediation is an out-of-court method of dispute resolution that prioritizes healthy communication and compromise between the parties, accomplished with the help of a certified mediator. This is often a good way to keep tensions from rising too high in a custody dispute, pursuing a peaceful outcome for the sake of the children.

However, mediation is only effective if both parties are willing to work together. If your spouse is abusive or dangerous, it may be best to petition for sole custody rights. At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can explore your options to resolve a custody dispute based on your situation.

Child Support

If you take care of your child for most of the year, your co-parent may be ordered by the judge to pay child support. These funds are intended to be put toward essentials like food, housing, clothing, and school materials.

Unless you and your spouse agree to cover college expenses, child support usually ends when a child turns 18 or graduates from high school. However, it could also be extended into adulthood if a child has special needs that stand in the way of their ability to become self-supporting.

You may experience financial strain if your co-parent refuses to pay child support. You can take action to collect late or missed payments by petitioning the court to enforce the order by garnishing wages or holding your co-parent in contempt of court. At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can help you get the child support you are owed, presenting a case to the judge for an enforcement action.

Third-Party Custody

In Maryland, parents have first rights to custody. In order for any other party to petition for custody rights, they must prove that the parents are unfit or that there are exceptional circumstances that warrant third-party custody. Proving that a parent is unfit requires a high standard of evidence pointing to unconscionable abuse or neglect.

A third party may also be able to petition for custody rights if they have served as a de factoparent, meaning that they have acted as a sort of "substitute" parent with the parents' blessing. If you are seeking third-party custody over a child, our attorneys can argue that you have acted as a de factoparent and that the arrangement would be in the child's best interests.

Meet With a Pikesville Child Custody Attorney Today

Do you need legal assistance with a child custody issue? Our firm can help. At Zide Law Group, LLC, our Pikesville, MD custody lawyers have a deep understanding of family law issues, and we can guide you through a dispute. Call us at 410-760-9433 or contact us online to set up an initial consultation.