Legal Custody

When two parents are not together, their ability to work together in the best interest of their children can have a major impact on the lives of their children, for better or worse. Legal custody refers to which parents to make decisions about how the child will live, such as what school they will attend, what community they will live in, religious affiliations, and medical decisions.

Unless one parent has demonstrated that they are not fit to have legal custody, such as through suspected child abuse or drug addiction, both parents are commonly granted legal custody even if the children live with one parent full time.

When parents share legal custody and cannot come to an agreement about how the child should be raised, they may face a mediation process to come to a legal compromise. If one parent tries to withhold their co-partner’s legal custody rights, he or she may be held in contempt of court. In these situations, it may be beneficial to consult with a Maryland child custody attorney about your options.