Child custody disputes are often stressful experiences for all parties involved including parents and children. In these situations, an experienced child custody attorney can help ease the tension and advocate aggressively on your behalf.

Severna Park-based Blackford & Flohr is an established law firm, specializing in Maryland child custody cases. Our experienced team of family lawyers offers personalized attention in a variety of custody cases, including:

• Custody Disputes
• Sole or Joint Custody Cases
• Visitation Rights
• Child Support Payments
• Grandparent and Third-Party Custody  

Child Custody Disputes

Child custody cases are often unexpected, but their outcomes have long-lasting consequences for all parties. Most frequently, custody cases involve negotiations for sole or joint custody, or visitation rights. These cases can be negotiated out-of-court, or, in some cases, may require the decision to be made by a family court judge.

The following are some common causes for child custody disputes:

• Divorce or separation of parents
• Parental disagreement on child-rearing practices, such as religion, education, or medical treatment
• Domestic violence or abuse by one or both parents
• Substance abuse or addiction by one or both parents
• Relocation of one parent that would impact the child’s living arrangements or school attendance
• Non-custodial parent’s dissatisfaction with custody or visitation arrangements
• Parental alienation, where one parent attempts to turn the child against the other parent
• Incarceration of one or both parents
• Mental health issues of one or both parents that could impact the child’s well-being
• Neglect or abuse of the child by one or both parents
• Grandparents or other family members seeking custody or visitation rights

These are just a few common causes for child custody disputes, and there may be other factors that contribute to these disputes as well.

How are Child Custody Rights Determined? 

Although each case is different, the main concern of the courts is the child’s “best interest.” This is difficult to determine, and it’s dependent on a variety of factors, including the emotional states of the guardians, family history, financial background, and more. During discovery, your attorney will gather information about your case to determine the best course of action for negotiations.

In Maryland, child custody laws are complex, and they were recently updated in 2010. The child custody lawyers at Blackford & Flohr have specialized knowledge and experience working with Maryland custody law. We’ve successfully represented clients in a number of unique custody situations, and our experience can make a world of difference in your case.    

Child Support Payments

Maryland has its own unique way of calculating child support payments, called the Child Support Guidelines. A number of factors are used to calculate these payments, including actual monthly income and adjusted annual income of each parent, as well as health insurance expenses, among other factors. An Blackford & Flohr attorney can help you in a number of areas, including:

• Determining child support obligation
• Child support modifications
• Ensuring  child support compliance
• Child support enforcement

At Blackford & Flohr, our goal is to advocate aggressively for our clients during child support proceedings and help them reach a favorable outcome. 

If you’re going through child custody or child support negotiations, you need a child custody attorney in your corner that will protect your parental rights. Blackford & Flohr can help you. Contact us today to discuss your case free of charge and to learn more about your legal options: (410) 647-6677

We provide litigation for clients in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Annapolis and the surrounding areas.