Montgomery County Mother’s Rights Lawyer
One of the toughest family issues to deal with if a marriage or a relationship ends if there is no parental plan is how to structure parenting responsibilities and schedules for the parties’ minor children. It may be difficult to determine what rights you have as a mother.
When facing the family law system, it is vital to have a Montgomery County mother’s rights lawyer at your side. Your attorney can help you develop a better understanding of your rights and work to negotiate on your behalf. Speaking to a family law attorney can offer some peace of mind and ensure that you have a strong strategy for obtaining an outcome that protects you and your children.
Determining Legal Custody in Montgomery County
One of the decisions that a judge must make when determining the best situation for the minor child in a divorce is who should make the important decisions. Legal custody refers to the parent who can decide questions related to medical care, education, and other important matters for children of a divorce.
Frequently, the court will prefer to have both parents make decisions jointly. Joint decision making is not always feasible when the parties have strong and conflicting feelings about these matters. If the parents cannot reach agreements, then the judge will determine which parent is best suited to make decisions in a child’s best interests, or the court may still award joint legal custody.
While one parent might have sole legal custody, a judge may also allow certain decision-making areas to one parent while having the parents decide other matters jointly. For instance, the mother might retain medical decision making authority while both parents make education related decisions together. An attorney can help a mother understand her rights and possibilities related to decision making.
Physical Custody Decisions in Montgomery County
When courts decide physical custody, they look at multiple factors regarding the best interest of the child or children. Many situations will end with parents sharing physical custody and the children moving between the two residences. Judges no longer typically favor a mother based on stereotypes and gender roles.
In deciding physical custody, courts consider a variety of factors. Parents who live farther away from one another will not have the same flexibility in the schedule as those who live near to each other. If one parent is a primary caregiver, that person could have more time than the other parent, but this is only one of many things at which the court will look.
A Montgomery County mothers rights attorney can help mothers negotiate for a plan that benefits the children. The judge will look at the collective information, and the parties’ lawyers will present evidence that supports their clients’ wishes. While it is impossible to predict an outcome in any legal matter, hiring an attorney means someone is advocating on your behalf and working to negotiate a favorable outcome.
Child Support and Divorce in Montgomery County
Courts award child support as a way for parents to provide for their children. Determining which parent pays support and which parent receives support will depend on the children’s physical access schedule, the gross income of the parties, and other factors such as the cost of health insurance and extraordinary medical expenses. Child support calculations follow certain legal guidelines, but there are scenarios where the court will deviate for a good reason.
Maryland takes child support obligations seriously, and a party who fails to abide by the support order can face consequences. Divorcing parents should ensure that a Montgomery County lawyer is helping them understand the documents that they sign.
Hiring a Montgomery County Mother’s Rights Attorney
Going through a divorce can be painful for everyone involved. Mothers will want to know how they can protect their children in this process.
Hiring an experienced Montgomery County mother’s rights lawyer will provide you with a professional who can stand up for you and your parental rights. An attorney can also reduce some of the stress created by the process by handling the case’s complicated legal aspects, answering your questions, and advocating on your behalf.
