Maryland Child Custody Laws Unmarried Montgomery Lawyer

Custody and Visitation Rights for Unmarried Fathers

The most favorable way of reaching an agreement between an unmarried couple about child custody and visitation is to sit together and come up with an arrangement that will suit both parents. This plan can be drawn up with the help of “child custody” lawyers that are representing both the father and the mother. After an agreement is set, the plan has to be reviewed by the court. If the judge approves, papers are signed and everything is set.
However, in some cases in Maryland, the mother and the father of the child are unable to reach an agreement. At this stage, the case is filed to the court for the judge to make the decision. Of course, the judge’s decision is based solely on the child’s best interest.
The state of Maryland is very fair to unmarried parents and does not lessen their rights as parents in any way. They are treated the same way divorced ( once married ) parents are and they also have to work hard to maintain the bond they have with their child even if they fail to gain child custody.

Child Support, Financial & Emotional in Maryland

As an unmarried parent, you should be able to provide emotional and financial support to your child. Being there for them always is very important, this can be done in the simplest of ways such as dropping them of at school, attending their football matches and going to their parent-teacher interviews. This in matter fact aids a parent when filing for child custody. The judge looks into the child’s best interest when deciding child custody and living with a parent who is so caring and attentive is an important factor. The parent also has to maintain a very well reputation between their neighbors and friends as this will also aid them when filing for child custody.
Until the child reaches the legal adult age, both the mother and the father have to participate in child support.

• Most people might think that the court is biased and always favors mothers for child custody. However, this is absolutely wrong, as fathers have the same equal rights at gaining child custody as mothers do.

In Maryland, for unmarried couples, paternity must be established before the case moves forward. There are several ways this can be determined, including a man being named the father on a child’s birth certificate, the man has declared himself – orally and in writing – to be the child’s father with no objection by the mother, or a genetic test has determined paternity.
Once paternity is established, there are many factors that the judge considers when looking at what the child’s best interests are, these are :

• The fitness of the parent, as in their mental, physical and emotional ability to meet the everyday needs of their child.
• If there is any history of violence or child abuse.
• Any prior abandonment or surrender of custody.
• The ability of the parent to maintain the child’s relationship with relatives from both sides.

If you need a Maryland child custody lawyer to help you with your child custody case in Maryland, call us at 888-437-7747. Our Maryland child custody attorneys can help you. C