When it comes to divorce, the most pressing matter for couples who have children is the child custody in Maryland. Breaking up with your spouse is difficult, but thinking about child custody is almost unbearable. Even though you are not a husband or a wife anymore, you have the right to still be a parent. So how is the custody determined? What does the MD divorce law state when it comes to children and their parents?

The Best Interest Of The Child

In the case of a divorce, the Maryland law is focused on determining the best interest of the child. Several factors are relevant in this equation, and the best divorce lawyer in Annapolis knows how to explain them to you clearly so that you should prepare your strategy.

The fitness of the parents is one of the factors that influence child custody. This means that you need to be prepared to prove you are fit to be a parent from the psychological and physical point of view. Also, your character and reputation will play a significant role in this because the court will also take into consideration your ability to set an example for your child. Thirdly, if you have reached an agreement with your spouse, the desire of the parents is important to a court, but it will not be the only factor taken into consideration. As a child needs both his parents to thrive, the potential for maintaining natural family relations is very important to a court of law. This means that it's preferable you and your spouse are civil about this divorce and committed to making the transition as easy as it can be for your children. If the child is old enough, he or she will be asked about their preference and their answer will become a factor in the custody process. The material means will also be a substantial element as a court will try to assess how the child will be provided for. Other factors may include the age, sex, and health of the child, where the parents live and what are the opportunities for visiting, the length of the separation between you and your spouse and if there was a prior voluntary abandonment.

How Can You Win Custody?

Firstly, let us establish that there is no best divorce lawyer for men or best divorce lawyer for women in Maryland. This is a myth. The best divorce lawyer is the one that offers you all the information, doesn't make promises and does their best to provide you with a strategy according to your needs. This being said, fighting for child custody, in case you and your spouse haven't reached an agreement, is very tough. It is your right to fight for your child, but you should be prepared in advance and know that it is not going to be pretty. What you need to do is give us a call and let us assess your situation for free. We will tell you exactly where you stand and what the next steps are.

There are many types of child custody, but we will discuss them in a future article. In the meantime, rest assured that the best family lawyer in MD is here for you and you can call us anytime to tell us about your case.

Contact us at (443) 569-3950 or chris@annapolisaccidentattorney.com.