Know And Protect Your Child Custody Rights

Divorce impacts all parts of your life, from your assets to your insurance policies. Divorce proceedings can also have a major impact on any minor children involved. As the divorce becomes finalized, you and your former spouse will need to establish a child custody agreement. While some people easily decide on an arrangement, other couples need an experienced child custody attorney to help mediate the situation.

Fortunately, our team at Trevillian Law can help you reach a child custody agreement that benefits everyone involved. Our lawyers will sit down with you, learn about your needs and those of your child, and help you negotiate an agreement that works for your family. Our Maryland family law attorneys have deep ties to this area, and they are proud to serve families in and around the Severn community and the surrounding areas.

About Child Custody Law

Generally, child custody laws govern parents’ rights to their children. In the state of Maryland, the law gives both natural parents equal rights to their children without preference for the mother or father.

Under the law, if the parents can’t agree on who should have custody, then the courts and child custody lawyers may get involved. A court might grant custody to one or both parents, depending on the best interests of the child. In some situations, grandparents and other relatives may be able to seek custody.

Types Of Child Custody: A Review

Child custody arrangements can take several different forms. The court will account for the child’s lifestyle, their relationships with their parents and the wishes of both parents before coming to a decision. Depending on what best serves the interests of the child, the court will choose one of the arrangements below.

Sole Custody

Sole custody agreements grant complete custody to one parent. This parent has the right to make all major decisions with or without the other parent’s approval. The parent without custody may have visitation rights.

Joint Legal Custody

This arrangement allows both parents equal rights to make decisions about their child’s life, including schooling and medical care. However, one parent will retain physical custody of the child while the other maintains visitation rights.

Joint Physical Custody

Joint physical custody agreements state that both parents have the right to spend time with the child. Time may be split equally or unequally between parents. These arrangements are often flexible to avoid disrupting the child’s lifestyle.

Types Of Child Custody Cases Our Team Handles

At Trevillian Law, our lawyers will strive to be the family law advocates you look to whenever you have a concern about child custody, such as those listed below:

• Child support
• Visitation rights
• Grandparents’ rights
• Unmarried parents
• Paternity
• Modifications to current child custody arrangements

Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience, and they can handle an array of cases. If your situation involves one of the factors named above, then they will be glad to take a look and it and offer their evaluation.

Understanding Child Support And Its Enforcement

Our attorneys have often been called some of Severn’s best lawyers for child custody. This is encouraging to hear because of their commitment to helping our clients understand the ins and outs of child support.

Child support is a series of court-ordered payments that ensure that minor children are supported by both parents, even if one does not have custody.

The noncustodial parent is often required to make these payments, while the custodial parent is responsible for using these funds to pay for the child’s needs, including educational and medical expenses.

Willfully failing to make child support payments is illegal, and the custodial parent has the right to appeal to enforcement solutions if the noncustodial parent does not pay.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Custody

In this selection of commonly asked questions, our team recaps information explained elsewhere on this page and on other pages of this website, along with additional details.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for child custody proceedings?

The cost of hiring a child custody attorney will vary greatly depending on the experience level and individual rates of the lawyer you choose. While there will be a fee for hiring an attorney, the cost is worth it when you consider that you are fighting for your child’s best interests. A child custody order will have a lasting impact on your family. The right lawyer will work to help ensure that you will reach a fair outcome that is best for your children.

What is joint custody?

Joint custody is used to describe a situation in which parents share custody of the child. If parents share both physical and legal custody, then the children take turns living with each parent (physical custody), and the parents must also work together to make life decisions for a child, such as education, medical treatment, religion, etc. (legal custody). Joint custody arrangements are worked out in court, allowing the parents to come up with a custody schedule they are both happy with.

What is sole custody?

Sole custody describes a situation in which one parent has primary physical custody over the children, while the other parent often has visitation rights. It is possible for one parent to have sole physical custody of the children while having joint legal custody. This means that the noncustodial parent (in terms of physical custody) is still involved in decisions about the child’s life. Your lawyer will help you understand the custodial options and work to help you get a fair outcome.

Our team hopes for the opportunity to provide personalized responses to unique questions that you may have.

Get In Touch With Us Today

Deciding on a child custody agreement often brings up lots of emotions and complicated issues. While it is possible to come to an amicable decision, many divorced couples can benefit from an experienced attorney to guide them through the situation.

At Trevillian Law, our lawyers are dedicated to helping Severn-area residents navigate the challenges of child custody and arrive at agreements that work well for everyone involved. Our attorneys were born and raised in Glen Burnie, have close ties to the community and care greatly about their neighbors’ well-being.

Our lawyers know that you want the best for your child, and they are committed to supporting your family’s best interests. Call us today at 410-609-9987 or send an email inquiry to schedule a consultation.