Child Custody
Child Custody
When children are involved in divorce, it is important to ensure that they receive the love, care, and connection that they require. This is a life-changing situation, and you want the best for them. Wobber Law Group child custody lawyers are dedicated to assisting you in achieving your goals and ensuring that your children receive the best possible outcome.
Types of Child Custody in Maryland
In the state of Maryland, there are two basic types of child custody.
Child custody in Maryland can be either one of the following:
- Legal Custody
- Physical Custody
Legal custody gives a parent the authority to make major life decisions for their child, such as decisions relating to religion, education, and medical care. Legal custody is divided into three categories: sole custody, joint custody, and joint custody with a tie-breaker. Sole legal custody is when one parent makes the long-term decisions. Joint legal custody is when the parents will need to reach a consensus together to make decisions for a child. Joint legal custody with a tie-breaker is the same as joint legal custody except that one parent has the ability to break ties if the parents come to an impasse on a decision.
Physical custody, also known as residential custody, is the right to make day-to-day decisions when the child is with a parent. When a child lives with a parent, they have physical custody. Physical custody can be primary or shared. Primary physical custody is when the child lives with one parent. Typically, the other parent has visitation time with the child; it is common practice for visitation to occur every other weekend. Conversely, shared physical custody is when the child spends a substantial number of overnights with both parents, instead of living with just one parent most of the time. Physical custody has a big impact on child support calculations as well.
Various permutations of legal and physical custody are possible. In one case, you might see one parent with primary physical and sole legal custody, while in another you might have shared physical and joint legal custody. It is important to have an experienced attorney to help you navigate these options.
Contact Wobber Law Group LLC
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