Gaithersburg, MD Custody Lawyers
Gaithersburg, MD Custody Lawyers
There are few experiences in the life of a parent that cause more stress than deciding child custody. You likely have anxieties about the child custody process, what it means for your relationship with your child, and whether you will be allowed to keep your meaningful presence in their life. When you work with the dedicated Gaithersburg custody lawyers of Z Family Law, you can put your fears to rest!
At Z Family Law, we understand that you want to do what’s best for your child above all else. We also believe that you know your child better than anyone, so your voice should be heard when it comes to making legal decisions that will affect your family’s future.
Z Family Law is dedicated to the welfare of your and your children. Not only do we help you create legal strategies customized to fit your needs and advocate for you throughout the legal process, we also continue our service outside the courtroom. Our dedicated Client Concierge service can help you with nonlegal aspects thanks to the local vendors we have already vetted, so you know where to turn for assistance with issues such as financial planning, home maintenance, pet care, or even reinventing your personal style post-divorce.
Reach out to schedule a free confidential case evaluation with our team and learn more about how we can offer our legal experience when it comes to making sure your family gets the best possible care.
A Brief Introduction To Child Custody In Maryland
Our Gaithersburg custody lawyers can help you with all aspects of your custody journey. We work with you closely to get to know your goals, deliver tailored legal solutions, and ensure you have all the information you need to be empowered in your decisions.
Before you get started, there are some common custody terms and arrangements that you should recognize, which include:
- Legal custody: When a parent has legal custody of their child, they are able to make decisions on issues such as where the child lives, goes to school, what kind of healthcare they receive, and so on. Either or both parents might have legal custody of their child. When divorced parents share legal custody, a judge will often give one parent “tie breaking” authority in order to avoid stalemates when it comes to parenting issues.
- Physical custody: When a parent has physical custody of the child, they are the parent who has the child in their physical care for all or part of the time.
- Sole custody: Parents with sole custody have exclusive legal and physical custody of their child.
- Joint custody: Parents who share joint custody each have some level of legal and/or physical custody of their children. Joint custody can mean that each parent gets an equal amount of time with their child and has an equal amount of decision-making power, or one person might have a greater level of legal or physical custody than the other.
How Our Gaithersburg Custody Lawyers Can Guide You
Not all custody cases have to go to court - if you and your spouse can work together in mediation, or negotiate with attorneys to avoid litigation, then you can make the decisions about what works best for your children together. This often sets you up for a more productive co-parenting relationship down the road!
However, sometimes litigation is necessary. When arranging child custody in court, the best interest of the child is the deciding factor for almost every decision (and “best” is up to the interpretation of the court). Generally, it is in the best interest of the child to have access to both parents, except in certain exceptional circumstances, such as if there is evidence that a parent might be a danger to the child.
If you fear that abuse or a debilitating issue like addiction might risk your child’s safety, our lawyers and the courtroom judges take this issue very seriously. We will help you gather evidence to demonstrate that your preferred custody arrangement is the one that will serve the best interest of your child. We will help guide you through other factors that are of interest to the courtroom including things like which parent has been the primary caregiver, what situation helps the child retain the most stability, and the child’s preference.
Our Gaithersburg custody lawyers want to empower you with a voice, no matter what your case is like.
Z Family Law Is On Your Side
When you work with Z Family Law, you are entering more than just a client-attorney relationship. You are entering a partnership. We care about helping you get what you need from your legal experience, and we will work with you closely to help you succeed; your relationship with your child matters deeply to us! Reach out for a free confidential case evaluation and let us help you take the first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to court to arrange child custody?
You and your spouse do not have to go to court for a child custody arrangement if you are able to mutually decide on a parenting plan. A judge will still have to approve your plan, but it is generally preferred that parents make decisions out of court in order to be aligned on the choices that will best serve their kids. We highly recommend working with our attorneys even if you want to keep your divorce out of court, to make sure that you know what you are signing and that it is truly in your best interests!
Does my child get a say in who they want to live with?
If your child is old enough, a judge may take their preference into account, though it will not be the single deciding factor in how custody is ultimately arranged.
What if I need to change the custody arrangement?
If there is a significant change in circumstances, such as if you lost your job, or moved, or remarried (or if the other parent did), then you can seek a modification. However, updating your custody plan can be complicated. Our Columbia custody lawyers can assist you!