Lauri M. Moylan has worked with Maryland parents on custody matters for more than three decades, and she has also been appointed by the court to represent children in custody cases. That experience from both sides of the table shapes how we prepare your case and the parenting plan we help you build.
Legal custody and physical custody
Legal custody is the right to make major decisions for a child, such as schooling, medical care and religious upbringing. It can be held by one parent (sole legal custody) or shared (joint legal custody).
Physical custody is about where the child lives day to day. One parent may have primary physical custody, with the other parent having time with the child (often called access or visitation), or the parents may share physical custody.
A parenting plan that works in real life
A good parenting plan anticipates the questions that cause conflict later. It may address:
- The regular weekly schedule and how exchanges happen
- Holidays, birthdays, school breaks and summer vacation
- How decisions are made and how parents communicate
- Travel, relocation and notice requirements
- How extracurricular and uncovered medical costs are shared
When a co-parent does not follow a custody order, the court has ways to enforce it. When circumstances change, an order can be modified.
Common questions about custody in Maryland
How does a Maryland court decide custody?
The court looks at the best interests of the child, weighing factors such as each parent's fitness, the child's relationship with each parent, the parents' ability to communicate and cooperate, the child's needs and preferences where appropriate, and the stability of each home.
Can my co-parent move out of state with our child?
When a custody order is in place, a parent who plans to relocate generally must give the other parent and the court advance written notice, and the other parent can ask the court to review the move. Relocation cases are fact-specific, so it helps to talk with a lawyer as soon as a move is discussed.
Are holidays and vacations split evenly?
Often they alternate from year to year, and summer is commonly divided into longer blocks. There is no single required schedule; the plan should fit your family.
Can custody be changed later?
Yes. A parent can ask the court to modify custody by showing a material change in circumstances and that the change would serve the child's best interests.