
Glen Burnie Child Custody Lawyers
Trusted Lawyers Providing Assistance With Child Custody and Visitation Issues in Glen Burnie, Maryland
When you have children, your obligations to them do not end when your relationship with the other parent does. You need to develop visitation and child custody plans that reflect your children's best interests and your family's unique dynamic. Sometimes, major life events may make it necessary to modify these plans. As you address these concerns, you need an experienced lawyer to guide you through the process and help you make sound choices.
Families throughout Maryland have trusted Henley & Henley, Attorneys at Law for decades to provide the exceptional legal counsel we are known for. Our legal solutions will address your children's best interests, which is necessary to obtain the court's approval. We will work hard to mold your child custody plan to suit your wishes and your children's needs, explaining your options and advocating for you at every step.
Legal and Physical Custody in Glen Burnie, Maryland
In your parenting plan, determinations need to be made regarding both physical and legal custody of your children. Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions for your children, such as religious or spiritual choices, educational matters, and healthcare. There are three types of legal custody:
- Joint legal custody
- Joint legal custody with one parent having the right to make decisions when the parents cannot agree
- Sole custody
Physical custody addresses the times when children are physically with a parent. Most physical custody agreements are either shared, which allows children to spend a significant amount of time with both parents, or primary, in which the children live primarily with one parent but may have visitation with the other. The parent who has physical custody of the children at a given time can make everyday decisions for them; if an emergency arises, and the other parent is unreachable, that parent can also make major decisions.
Glen Burnie Visitation Matters
In most cases, maintaining a relationship with both parents is in children's best interests. However, children of divorced parents also need stability. Constantly shuffling children back and forth between households can be frustrating for everyone involved. Your parenting time schedule needs to address several potential concerns, such as:
- Work schedules for parents and teenage children
- When and how to communicate with the other parent regarding the visitation schedule
- Who is responsible for picking up or dropping off the children, along with the transfer locations
- Supervised visitation
- Military transfers or deployment
- Incarceration
School breaks, holidays, birthdays, and other special events need to be addressed as well. Thoughtful consideration can make scheduling plans easier while reducing unnecessary tension.
Modifying Maryland Child Custody and Visitation Orders
When your divorce or family law case is finalized, your visitation and child custody plans will become court orders. Violating these orders can bring penalties. Still, life events may make existing orders outdated. If there is a significant change in circumstances, whether for parents or children, you can request an official modification of your orders. Although it might be tempting to avoid going to court, you could be found in violation of a court order if the documents are not legally amended. Henley & Henley, Attorneys at Law can help simplify the process while ensuring that the updated terms are still in your children's best interests.
FAQs About Child Custody
Child custody and visitation agreements become legally binding court orders after a judge approves them, making the terms enforceable. Your lawyer can help with the enforcement of orders through the court to protect your rights and your children's best interests. If necessary we can advocate for modified orders to address violations that have occurred and meet the needs of your family.
When a couple is married, a mother's husband will be her child's presumed biological parent, and he will have the same parental rights as the mother. For unwed parents, the father must establish legal paternity to gain parental rights. If this situation applies to you, our attorneys stand ready to help.
Call Our Glen Burnie, MD Child Custody Lawyers
Whatever child custody issues you are facing, you need an experienced lawyer on your side. Speak to one of the attorneys at Henley & Henley, Attorneys at Law by calling 410-280-0530 or contacting us online. Your initial case evaluation is free of charge.