Baltimore Child Custody and Visitation Attorneys

Lawyers Addressing Legal and Physical Custody of Children in Baltimore, MD

Child custody issues can arise as part of a divorce proceeding or as an independent child custody proceeding. Child custody is often one of the most contested issues that can arise in the context of divorce or in other types of family law cases.

In addition to the emotions attached to child custody matters, there are often complicating factors such as substance abuse, domestic violence, interpersonal violence, mental health concerns, and the outside influence of others. At Silverman Thompson, our team has extensive experience negotiating and litigating child custody disputes, whether we are representing parents or third parties.

For over a decade, Monica Scherer has been frequently appointed by Circuit Courts across Maryland to serve as a Best Interest Attorney, advocating for children in custody cases. She and her dedicated team work relentlessly to secure custody arrangements that prioritize children's best interests while safeguarding our clients' parental rights.

This unique role equips our team with valuable insights into navigating complex and emotionally charged custody matters, such as:

Physical Custody and Parenting Time/Visitation

Physical custody and parenting time determine where a child resides. A parenting plan will provide a schedule governing when a child will spend time with each parent. There are several creative ways to craft a parenting time schedule, and our family law team will work with you to establish a physical custody and parenting time arrangement that meets the unique needs of your family.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions about your child's life for topics such as medical decisions, education, religion, and other major decisions impacting a child.

Custody Modification

A child custody order can be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the prior custody order that has affected the best interests of a child. A parent relocating to a new residence, changes in a parent's work schedule, or concerns about a child's health or safety are just a few examples of changes in circumstances that may warrant seeking a modification of a custody order.

Our family law team can evaluate your situation, help you determine whether to seek a modification of custody, and guide you through the process of seeking or defending against a custody modification proceeding.

Third-Party Custody and Visitation Disputes

The Supreme Court of the United States has recognized that parents have a fundamental right to oversee the care, custody, and control of their children. Because of this fundamental right, Maryland law strongly favors legal parents (i.e., biological and/or adoptive parents) and provides that there is a rebuttable presumption that decisions parents make for their children serve the best interests of their children.

However, a third party can overcome this presumption by demonstrating that parents are unfit or by proving exceptional circumstances. This is also true for grandparents seeking visitation with their grandchildren. Although Maryland law allows a grandparent to seek visitation with their grandchild, if the legal parents of the child object to the request, the court will defer to the parents' decision unless the grandparent can prove that the parents are unfit or that exceptional circumstances exist.

Third-party custody disputes and grandparent visitation requests involve a very fact-specific analysis. Our family law team at Silverman Thompson has successfully represented clients in third-party custody matters and grandparent visitation disputes.

Interstate Custody Disputes

Maryland has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The UCCJEA is a uniform statutory scheme addressing jurisdictional issues in child custody matters. The UCCJEA has been adopted by 49 states, Washington, D.C., and multiple U.S. territories. The family law team at Silverman Thompson is experienced with the UCCJEA and other statutes governing interstate custody issues.

Contact Our Baltimore, Maryland Child Custody Lawyers

The team at Silverman Thompson can help parents or others who are involved in children's lives address issues related to child custody and visitation. With our extensive experience litigating these matters, we can advocate for our clients' rights and make sure children's best interests are protected.

Our lawyers provide representation for clients throughout Maryland as they address child-related issues in family law cases. Contact our Baltimore child custody and parenting time attorneys at 410-385-2225 to schedule a consultation.