Menu
Montgomery County Attorney for Child Custody and Visitation.
If you are divorcing or separating from your children's other parent in Maryland, the issue of custody is almost certainly one of your primary concerns. At the Law Offices of Dana K. Whitten, we understand how important your relationship with your children is to you, and like you, we are committed to doing what is best for them. We work to minimize the stress a custody matter may cause for both you and your children, and to achieve an outcome that is best for all of you.
There are two components to child custody: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to the parent with whom the child actually resides and to when the child spends time with each parent. Parents can have joint physical custody, with the child living with each of them part of the time. Joint physical custody, which is also called shared physical custody, can involve different types of schedules, depending on the circumstances of each family. In some cases, one parent can be awarded sole physical custody so that the children primarily reside with one parent and have access with the other parent according to a particular schedule.
Legal custody refers to the authority to make important life decisions on your children's behalf, including choices regarding their education, religion, medical treatment, and general health and welfare. Like physical custody, legal custody may be shared between parents, or one parent may have sole custody.
Understanding the Maryland Child Custody Process
In Maryland, parents may agree on a custody arrangement that meets the needs of their family. If parents are unable to reach agreement, the court will make a determination by entering a court order. Maryland courts make custody decisions based on what they believe is in the best interests of the child. The court considers a number of factors, including the parents' capacity to communicate and make shared decisions about the child's welfare.
At the Law Offices of Dana K. Whitten, we help you resolve all types of Maryland child custody disputes, including:
- Initial custody determinations during divorce
- Custody disputes between parents who have not been married to each other
- Modifying or enforcing existing custody orders
- Parental requests to relocate
We will negotiate on your behalf to reach the best possible custody arrangement for you and your children. Because custody is often such a hotly contested issue, however, it may not be possible to reach agreement with your child's other parent. If it is necessary to bring your custody case before a judge, you can rely on us to present the facts of your case in such a way that the court is inclined to do what is best for you and your family.
Caring, Skillful Legal Advocacy for Your Maryland Child Custody Matter
Attorney Dana Whitten represents family law clients in courts in most Maryland counties, including Montgomery County, where our Rockville office is conveniently located near the courthouse. We invite you to contact us at (301)637-6070 or using our online contact form to schedule a consultation. We look forward to working with you on your Maryland child custody matter.
