Rockville Child Custody Attorneys

Child Custody Attorney Resolving Parental Disputes in Rockville, MD

When parents divorce or separate, they will need to address a variety of legal issues related to their children. While parents will often be able to share child custody, determining the specific arrangements that will be followed can be a difficult process due to ongoing conflict or disagreements about how certain issues should be handled. In Maryland family law cases, the best interests of the child are prioritized, and courts will seek to find solutions that will provide a child with a stable and supportive environment. The attorneys of Salvado Law Offices can help parents address and resolve these issues successfully and establish parenting agreements that will preserve important family relationships while providing for children's ongoing needs.

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody

Child custody cases will typically address two separate but related issues. Legal custody generally involves making decisions about various issues involved in raising children, including their education, medical care, and extracurricular activities. Physical custody pertains to where the child will live and when they will spend time with each parent. In most cases, parents will be able to share joint custody, meaning that they will work together to make decisions about raising their children, and children will spend reasonable amounts of time with each parent. Sole custody may be appropriate in some situations, although even if one parent will be primarily responsible for their children, the other parent will usually be able to have visitation time with the children.

Issues Related to Child Custody in Divorce and Family Law Cases

When parents divorce or separate, several critical issues related to child custody must be addressed, including:

• Custody arrangements: Parents will need to understand how they will share responsibility for making child-related decisions. A parenting agreement will detail how they will work together to address issues related to their children, how conflicts will be resolved, and any other relevant issues
• Visitation schedules: A parenting agreement will provide a schedule for when children will live or spend time with each parent.
• Child support: Parents are required to provide financial support to ensure that their children's needs are met. The obligations that apply to each parent are calculated based on the income of both parents.
• Parental relocation: When a parent plans to move, child custody and visitation orders may need to be adjusted accordingly. Parents may need to receive approval from the court before moving with their children, and they may need to resolve disputes about how their parenting agreements will be modified.

Factors Considered in Child Custody Cases

If there are any disagreements about how child custody issues will be handled, parents may need to go to court and have a judge make decisions about legal and physical custody. In these situations, a judge will consider what arrangements will provide for the best interests of the child, and they may look at issues such as:

• Parental fitness: Each parent's ability to care for and nurture the child may be evaluated. Parents' physical and mental health may be considered to ensure that they will be able to provide a safe, healthy environment.
• Child's preferences: A judge may consider what the child wants, especially if the child is old and mature enough to express their preferences. Maryland law also allows children over the age of 16 to file petitions to modify child custody arrangements.
• Parental involvement: Each parent's level of involvement in their child's life may be assessed, including their participation in education, extracurricular activities, medical care, and regular day-to-day child care.
• Stability and continuity: Arrangements that avoid disruption to children's lives are typically preferred. A judge may try to put solutions in place that will maintain consistent routines and ensure that the child can continue living in the same community and attend the same school.
• Cooperation between parents: Since parents will need to be able to work together to address child-related issues, a judge may look at how well they are able to communicate and cooperate as they make decisions. If necessary, arrangements may be put in place that will prevent children from being exposed to conflict or other issues that could affect their well-being.
• History of abuse or neglect: A judge will take into account any history of domestic violence or other concerns that could affect children's safety and well-being.

Contact Our Rockville Child Custody Attorneys

Decisions about child custody can affect the lives of parents and children for years to come. To make sure the proper arrangements can be put in place that will preserve strong parent/child relationships while providing for children's ongoing needs, it is crucial to work with a skilled child custody lawyer. At Salvado Law Offices, we provide compassionate legal help in these situations, and we advocate for solutions that will help parents and children maintain stability and address their ongoing concerns. Contact us and schedule a consultation by calling 301-933-1814. We provide representation in child custody cases in the communities in and around Rockville, Maryland and Falls Church, Virginia.