Child Custody and Support
Issues resolving children are often the most complex and emotioanally taxing aspects of the dissolution of a marriage. We will help you obtain an appropriate resolution of the following issues:
- Child Support: Child support in Maryland is calculated according to a legally mandated formula also known as “child support guidelines”. We will assist clients in obtaining child support that is consistent with state guidelines, or modifications to existing child support orders that are no longer within guidelines.
- Paternity: Establishing paternity is financially important and establishes parental rights as well as contributing to a child's sense of identity. My firm has access to the resources to help establish paternity or to set the record straight when paternity has been incorrectly asserted.
- Child Custody: Children are often the unintended victims of divorce. Parents seldom plan for that to be the case. When deciding where the children should live and defining the roles that each parent will play in making important decisions in the children’s lives, you should have a family lawyer with knowledge of the legal considerations relied on by the Courts, and who is sensitive to the concerns of both parents and children. Taking the needs of the children into account is paramount--what is best for teenagers may not suitable for toddlers. We work with clients to develop workable physical child custody and visitation proposals during a separation or divorce. Maryland child custody law allows for a wide variety of physical custody and visitation arrangements. The goal is always to devise a plan that maximizes children's time with each parent while minimizing the disruption to the child’s daily life.
- Visitation/Access: Developing an access schedule that works for parents and children often requires the skills of a knowledgeable attorney who can advise about the options available. The goal of any access schedule should be to maximize the opportunities for the parents to be involved in the lives of the children in a positive way.
- Grandparent's rights: After a divorce, grandparents sometimes find it difficult to remain in the lives of their grandchildren. We help grandparents overcome obstacles to maintaining and nurturing their relationships with their grandchildren.