Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things you can ever do, and one of the most difficult parts of a divorce is deciding who should receive custody of the children. The only thing that can make this even more difficult is trying to win custody alone, you’re much better off working with a Columbia, MD child custody lawyer.
How do the Courts Determine Custody?
The court system in Columbia, Maryland takes into consideration many factors when determining who gets custody and what type of custody they get. Some of the things they look at are:
- Which parent is the primary caregiver
- Whether or not a custody agreement is already in place
- The child’s age and gender
- The child’s physical and mental health
- The physical and mental health of the child’s parents
- The child’s preference regarding custody
- Which parent has the financial resources to properly care for and provide for the child
Even if you believe you are the parent who should have custody of your child, it doesn’t mean you are the one who the court will find properly capable of the responsibility. This is why it’s important to work with a professional child custody lawyer in Columbia, MD and get the legal guidance you need to ensure the best outcome from your custody case.
What Kinds of Custody Agreements Are There?
There are four main types of custody you can fight for in order to best protect your child. Temporary custody, or Pendente Lite custody, is an agreement made to grant one parent custody of the child before litigation has begun to reach a more permanent agreement.
Joint custody has three classes: 1) Joint legal custody, where parents share responsibility for caring for the child, 2) shared physical custody, where the child spends at least 35% of his or her time at each parent’s home, and 3) a combination of both joint legal and shared physical custody.
Sole custody is where one parent gets sole legal custody of the child, full physical custody of the child, or both. Finally, split custody is when there are multiple children involved and care for some of the children is one parent’s responsibility, and care for the remaining children is the other parent’s responsibility.
Where Do I Start with Negotiating a Custody Agreement in Columbia, MD?
Like other legal issues that are involved with divorce, it’s important to find a professional attorney who specializes in divorce and family law when you have children and are dissolving your marriage. The expert lawyers at Albers & Associates are here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to get your free legal consultation.
