Looking Out For Your Children's Best Interests
During divorce proceedings, many legal agreements are written. One of the most important is your child custody agreement. Maryland's courts use a best interest standard toward child custody. That means that the court looks at many factors that can affect your children's overall fundamental needs.
At the Bowie Law Office of Kari Fawcett, I have focused my practice on legal advice that benefits you and your children. I have more than 20 years of experience in Bowie as a family law attorney. I can discuss your child custody concerns clearly, without using confusing, unnecessary legal buzzwords.
Family Dynamics
When looking at child custody, the court often considers family dynamics. The court wants your children to be able to maintain important family relationships. For instance, if grandparents or other relatives have strong bonds with your children, those relationships may influence custody arrangements.
The courts look at all significant bonding issues. Your family dynamics might include stepparents and other relationships that may affect custody agreements.
Fitness Evaluations
Your physical and psychological fitness can impact custody as well as your character and reputation. Basically, any condition or situation that can affect your relationship with your children or your ability to raise them can be evaluated. Such conditions may include:
- Mental health issues
- Drug addictions
- Criminal records
- Domestic violence allegations or convictions
- Child abuse convictions
- Prior abandonment or surrender of custody
Other Factors
In addition to those already mentioned, other factors are considered when filing child custody agreements. These may include:
- Your child's preference, depending on their age.
- Financial resources of both parents
- Your child's age, health and gender
- Your residences
- Opportunities for visitation
- Your religious views, and how they may affect your child
Modifications to Custody
Provisions regarding your child custody agreement generally stay in place until your child has reached 18 years of age (or until they graduate from high school), but may still be effective concerning issues such as college tuition or health insurance. You can have your agreement modified before then, so long as a significant material change of circumstances has occurred, or if you and the other parent have mutually agreed to change it.
The court system tries not to re-litigate custody based on one parent's unhappiness or any petty conflict. As your lawyer, I can gather the appropriate support to show that your child's custody situation is not in their best interest. I can help protect your child's best interests.
Free Consultation
To discuss your child custody concerns with a free initial phone consultation, please call me at 301-850-1679 or send me an e-mail.
My office is located in Bowie, Maryland, at the corner of Route 197 and Route 450, just behind the McDonalds.
