Towson, MD Child Custody Attorneys

Skilled Custody Attorneys Serving Clients in Towson, Maryland

As a parent, you may have serious concerns about your legal rights in child custody. A dispute over your rights to your child can turn bitter very quickly, and a judge's ruling can have a significant impact on your child's upbringing. A Towson custody lawyer can provide you with advocacy and counsel to help protect your rights as a parent.

Child custody issues should be handled with care. At Zide Law Group, LLC, we have the legal knowledge and experience to help you navigate family law issues with tact and empathy. We will make sure that your concerns are heard by the judge, lending comprehensive legal assistance to address your needs.

Physical Custody

Exercising your right to physical custody is important for remaining present in your child's life following a divorce or separation. With physical custody, you can assume responsibility for your child's everyday care or seek visitation on a regular basis.

Physical custody arrangements to account for the parents' availability and the child's best interests, whether the parents live five minutes apart or across the country from one another. When determining whether the child should live with one or both parents, the courts may consider where the child will go to school, the child's attachment to their community, and any other factors that might impact the child's day-to-day life.

Parental fitness is another significant factor in the allocation of physical custody. If one parent's residence is clearly unsafe for the child or otherwise puts them at risk of adverse outcomes, that parent might only be permitted limited visitation rights.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to a parent's right to make decisions on behalf of a child, often pertaining to schooling, healthcare, discipline, and other important life choices. Without legal custody, you may not have a say in critical issues, so it is important that you advocate for your parental rights in court.

Legal custody can be shared between the parents in different ways. The parents may split certain decisions between each other, or have equal input except when disagreements arise, wherein one parent will have the authority to break the tie.

Keep in mind that legal custody cannot be modified without demonstrating that there has been a significant change in circumstances. At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can represent you in disputes about legal custody, arguing for your child's best interests as well as your parental fitness. Our firm will not rest until we have made a compelling case on your behalf.

The Importance of a Parenting Plan

In Maryland, all parents going through a divorce are required to fill out a parenting plan. This is a legal document that details how custody will be allocated, factoring in all issues of physical and legal custody.

The court will only approve a parenting plan if it serves the child's best interests, taking into account their physical and mental health as well as their needs. A parenting plan should also address how disagreements will be resolved between you and your co-parent.

At Zide Law Group, LLC, we can help you draft a comprehensive parenting plan that addresses all of the issues raised by the court. We have decades of experience handling child custody cases, so we can give you an idea of what to expect before you present your plan to a judge.

Meet With a Towson Child Custody Attorney Today

Are you struggling to get through a parental dispute? At Zide Law Group, LLC, our Towson, MD child custody lawyers are here to stand up for your rights in a court of family law. To schedule an initial consultation with our firm, call us at 410-760-9433 or reach out to us online today.