What You Need to Know About Child Custody in Maryland

If you are a divorcing parent, you are most likely primarily concerned about who is going to raise your child. Child custody is often the most hotly-contested family law issue, which is why you cannot afford to go it alone. Please continue reading and reach out to our experienced Maryland family law attorneys to learn more about child custody and how our firm can help you through every step of the legal process ahead. Here are some of the questions you may have:

What are the different types of child custody in Maryland?

The two primary types of child custody in Maryland are physical and legal custody. Generally, physical custody refers to where a child lives, and legal custody refers to a parent's authority to make various critical life decisions on behalf of that child, such as where the child goes to school, the religion he or she practices, the medical care he or she can receive, and more. Generally, as long as it is in the best interests of the child, courts would prefer to give both parents joint legal and physical custody, meaning the child lives with both parents for relatively the same amount of time each week, and that both parents can work together and make important life decisions for the child.

How do courts in Maryland determine child custody?

As mentioned before, Maryland courts decide on child custody based on what is in the child's best interests. However, there are various other factors that may influence a court's decision, including some of the following:

• Which parent primarily cares for the child.
• The relationship each parent has with the child.
• Whether the child has any special needs.
• Whether the child is enrolled in any extra-curricular activities, such as sports.
• Each parent's daily life.
• Both parent's moral character and whether they have good intentions for the child.
• Whether the child has ever been exposed to substance abuse problems or domestic violence.
• The geographic proximity of both parents.
• The quality of life in each parent's home.
• Whether both parents demonstrate parental fitness.
• If the child is old or mature enough, whether he or she has a preference.

Contact our experienced Maryland firm

Here at the Ruben Law Firm, we understand how much your legal situation means to you. That is why we pledge to provide you with the personalized attention you deserve, every step of the way. Our firm is more than happy to assist you through matters of personal injury law, bankruptcy, family law, criminal defense, and estate planning. Attorney Ruben has helped clients achieve favorable results in a wide array of legal matters for years, and he is ready to do the same for you. Simply contact the Ruben Law Firm today.