Best Child Custody Lawyers in Bowie, MD

How is Child Custody Determined in Maryland? In Maryland, child custody isn’t just about where the child lives or who they spend time with; it encompasses a broad range of responsibilities and rights that parents hold regarding their child’s upbringing. Child custody is divided into two main categories: Legal Custody: This pertains to the authority to make pivotal decisions in a child’s life. Parents with legal custody have the right to weigh in on significant matters such as the child’s healthcare, schooling, religious upbringing, and other essential life choices. This doesn’t mean day-to-day decisions but rather larger decisions that shape the child’s future. Physical Custody: This addresses the child’s living arrangements. The parent with whom the child primarily resides has physical custody. However, physical custody can be shared, where the child lives with each parent for a substantial amount of time, or it can be sole, where the child lives predominantly with one parent and might have visitation with the other. In many cases, parents might share legal custody, ensuring both have a say in their child’s significant life decisions, while physical custody might be more weighted towards one parent due to practical reasons.