Odenton, MD Child Custody Lawyers

Respected Family Law Attorneys Helping Address Child Custody Issues in Odenton

As a parent, you want what is best for your children. The heightened emotions you are likely experiencing during divorce can complicate your decisions regarding child custody, especially if you and your spouse disagree. You need the support and advice of an experienced child custody lawyer to put things into proper perspective and focus on your children's best interests. The same also holds true if you are an unmarried parent who is separating.

At Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett, we have over 50 years of combined experience guiding Maryland families through the tough choices they need to make during and after divorce and child custody cases. We will spend more time with you than most attorneys to better understand your family's unique circumstances, because your child custody arrangements need to reflect them. Our compassion and thoroughness will benefit you and your children. Contact us today to arrange your complimentary case review.

Odenton, Maryland Child Custody Issues

When parents are together, they share the various responsibilities of raising their children, from feeding and clothing them to making choices about their healthcare and education. Even if one parent takes on more responsibilities than the other, they have equal rights. In a separation or divorce, you and the other parent will likely have two separate households, with your children spending time with each of you. You must create a parenting plan to present to the courts that defines things like:

• Who has legal custody of your children, meaning decision-making authority. This authority can be sole or joint.
• Who has physical custody and responsibility for the children's daily care and supervision. This type of custody can also be joint or sole.
• Parenting time or visitation schedules.
• Methods to resolve conflicts between parents regarding your children.
• Issues with the children that need to be discussed between you and the other parent, including the appropriate communication methods.

At one time, it was common for the mother to have physical custody of the children almost all the time, with the father seeing them on some weekends. Now, there are multiple different types of plans that may be used. However, the plan that will work best for your family is one you devise yourself with your attorney's input and assistance.

Factors Affecting Odenton Child Custody

If the courts decide on the child custody arrangements that will be put in place, they will make their choices based on your children's best interests. A judge may ask various questions to help make their rulings, such as:

• Does either parent have financial, mental, or physical limitations that make them unable to care for the children properly?
• Do the children have special requirements, such as health conditions?
• What will each parent's living situation be, and where will they be located in proximity to each other?
• Do the children have closer relationships with one parent than the other?
• Are there any reasons the children should not spend time with one of the parents?

If your children are old and mature enough, the courts may consider your children's wishes as to which parent they want to live with.

While both parents will usually have the right to share custody and have reasonable amounts of time with the children, there are some situations where a parent's legal or physical custody may be restricted. Factors that might make a parent unfit include:

• Criminal behaviors
• Abandonment
• Mental or physical health problems
• Substance abuse
• Child endangerment or abuse
• Domestic violence

It is in your and your children's best interests to agree to a parenting plan without involving the courts, because this will encourage ongoing cooperation as you work together as co-parents. Your lawyer from Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett will help you draft a comprehensive plan that protects your parental rights and your children's well-being.

Contact Our Odenton, Maryland Child Custody Attorneys

You deserve to have a child custody lawyer who will listen to you carefully and focus on protecting your children's best interests. When you partner with Law Office of Kari H. Fawcett, your family becomes ours, and you can rely on us to provide the effective legal representation you need. Call us at 301-262-5500 or contact us online and set up a free case evaluation to learn more about how we can help,