The Matter of Child Custody in Divorce Cases

When two parents decide to divorce, one of the major areas of concern is determining who will receive custody of their child or children. When working out the terms of a child custody case, parents must always have their children’s best interests in mind. This should include information such as where your child will live, where they will spend time, and who will be responsible for parenting decisions. If you’re looking for “divorce lawyers near me”, ZM Law Group can help you to identify custody options during divorce proceedings.

Physical Vs. Legal Custody

There are two child custody types – physical and legal. Physical custody is the right to have your child live with you regularly. Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about your children, such as decisions related to their education, health care, and religion. A good divorce lawyer will help to provide all of the relevant factors that the court will then use to decide the terms of the custody agreement.

Custody Decisions and the Importance of Divorce Mediation Services

One of the most important factors in a child custody case is determining what is in the child’s best interest. The court will generally decide this by analyzing specific factors, include but are not limited to the following:

• The parents’ age, health, and mental condition
• The child or children’s physical and emotional needs
• Who the court believes to be more capable of providing a stable home environment to meet those needs

The best interest standard used by courts can be broad and include many considerations. Additional considerations may include whether each parent has been an active participant in their children’s lives or if any past criminal convictions would affect how they could serve as an adequate caretaker for their kids. Because there are so many considerations to take into account during a child custody case, it’s important to hire a divorce attorney to help navigate the entire process.

Divorce Lawyers Near Me

If you live in Baltimore, Maryland, and you or someone you know is going through a divorce and you’re searching for “custody lawyers near me”, please contact ZM Law Group today. Our divorce lawyers will look at your case and provide the best possible legal advice for your situation. If you need to alter the existing arrangement for a finalized divorce, call now to see what we can do for you.