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Maryland Child Custody Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: How do I go about getting a custody order that was given in Georgia back in 2017 enforceable in Maryland?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on May 7, 2023

In order to enforce an out-of-state judgment or order in Maryland (or in any other state) you need to first obtain an “exemplified” or “triple seal” copy of the order/judgment from the state that issued it. This is different from a regular certified copy. It requires three signatures... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: My son's father owes over $12,000 in child support and refuse to pay. He closed all his bank accounts and quit his jobs.

He started working under the table, moved so I cannot find his address, and has Virginia license tags. He has social media showing that he is working and stated in text messages that he is working his own business under the table. He gets him during the summer, and I get to see him during my... Read more »

Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese
answered on Apr 27, 2023

You need to file contempt. Deliberate failure to follow a court order could cause a judge to hold him in contempt. Contempt is to secure future compliance with an order -- so yes, the court can actually make him follow it. Or face severe consequences up to and including jail.

For...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: What legal actions can I take against my children’s father for neglect and abandonment in Maryland?

I am currently Homeless I have two small toddlers, and I am currently pregnant. The father of my children refuses to provide any help and does not pick the children up one days he said he supposed to. He does not send financial help, and he is verbally, and sometimes physically abusive to me. What... Read more »

Cedulie Renee Laumann
Cedulie Renee Laumann
answered on Apr 17, 2023

First, if you are homeless with children the immediate need would seem to be to secure housing for your family. A variety of government and non-government agencies are available to help. The local Department of Social Services may be a good place to start, or you may want to reach out to an... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: If the mother has full custody and she chose no child support, could she still put me on child support at a later date?

I gave away all my rights so the mother has full sole custody. In the paperwork she chose to not put me on child support at the time. If she ever wanted to could she put me on child support even though I’m not responsible for the child at all?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Apr 5, 2023

Yes. Both parents ALWAYS remain legally responsble to support their minor children. That legal obligation cannot be waived and "contracted" away, except through legal adoption (where another person adopts your child and you relinquish your parental rights). Absent a legal adoption, if... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Does my baby mother have the right to know my precise location when I have our child if she knows the street address?

I told her the street address where I was staying and showed her around the house and even let her talk to the owner of the apartment but I don’t feel comfortable telling her the door number. I am living with my uncle to get financially stable and he said she cannot come over. At first she agreed... Read more »

Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese
answered on Feb 15, 2023

Yes she has the right to know the precise location. If there is an emergency she needs to know exactly where the child is. Playing games about addresses never goes over well if this gets to court. Being more forthcoming and being willing to work with the other parent by giving information... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Child Support and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Can my dad win my custody of me even tho he owes some child support money from previous years?

He has a debt because he had an injury and stop working, that formed into a debt. My mom is trying everything she can to not let me see him and now has an arrest warrant towards him. Since we live in different states if he were to travel to see me he will get arrested. I don’t want to live with... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 27, 2023

If you are a minor child, so you are limited in what you can do. Your father's child support arrearage is not a bar to his having primary residential custody. Judges will start to take into consideration the wishes of the minor child at around age 12, and by 15 or 16, the child's... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: Can videos taken by the security camera at the marital house be used legally as evidence in court?

I and my spouse separated. I moved out and my spouse stayed with the marital house. One day when picking up my child from that house for a doctor appointment I noticed that someone else was in that house.

Then I realized that I still had access to the front door security camera. By checking... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 19, 2023

Possibly, since your spouse presumably knew when the videos were created that the video surveillance system was in place and operational, so that she cannot claim she was videotaped without her knowledge or consent, even if she forgot she was being recorded. But further legal research should be... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: what does "Maryland annotated code, courts and judicial proceedings 6-202..." mean in a custody case?
Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jan 16, 2023

That section simply sets forth the appropriate court venue (the county or City of Baltimore) where a suit may be filed for various types of actions. In the case of a custody matter, that Section states, "[T]the following actions may be brought in the indicated county: ... (5) Action relating... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Juvenile Law for Maryland on
Q: How can I petition terminating guardianship of a minor who was previously a foster child with DSS?

The child was a former foster child and we were granted guardianship of the child. However the child has become extremely unsafe, has several mental health challenges and it's become way more than what we can offer to support them. Where would we go to petition the court, the juvenile court... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 17, 2022

You file in the Circuit Court for the county (or City of Baltimore) where you and the child currently resides. However, if the child is no longer under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court because he has reached the age of majority (18-21 years old) and has not otherwise been declared mentally... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody, Criminal Law and Employment Law for Maryland on
Q: If person charged is an educator will this be on criminal record to impact employment or custody if no previous charges?
Scott Scherr
Scott Scherr
answered on Aug 20, 2022

Any criminal charges will show up on a background check and Maryland Judiciary Case Search. It certainly could affect your employment if you are convicted depending on the charge. You should speak with a lawyer.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody for Maryland on
Q: I have joint physical and legal custody of my 15year old! My child’s father moved out of the state

He changed his phone number and I have not heard from him in 18days! Our custody agreement states he is to provide a notice 90 days prior to moving! Just curious if I have grounds for emergency custody

Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese
answered on Jul 30, 2022

Emergency custody is if the child is in danger as in out of the country or actual blood on the floor. If the child is with the father, then you can file contempt if the child is not returned at the appropriate time. If the child is with you, then you can file to modify since the father seems to... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: I recently discovered I have a son. I would like to establish a relationship and be on the birth certificate.

I recently discovered through a DNA test that I have a son. His mother was married at the time to a real jerk of a man but was afraid to get a divorce. She told me she got an abortion and we broke things off. I lived the last 14 years not knowing she went ahead with the birth. My son was born in... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jul 2, 2022

You can file a petition to establish paternity. You say you're doing this for your son, but are you are really doing this for yourself? Your son has no idea that you exist or that the man he knows as his father is not his biological father. Have you considered the potential harm and... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody, Education Law and Internet Law for Maryland on
Q: Can I seek financial retribution from child academy for forwarding emails to other parent in custody battle situation?

The other parent and I were recently in a custody battle. While my child was at this daycare/center academy, the facility forwarded my emails asking about my child's progress and wellbeing to the other parent. They then used those emails as evidence against me in court (nothing negative was... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 18, 2022

Unless you had sole legal custody at the time your child was in daycare and the emails were sent, or there was some contractual agreement covering confidentiality of communications, both parents would have access to their child's records at daycare. Even then, that would not prohibit an... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: My ex took away my son from me years ago. We never had an agreement set up on child support. Now she is finally giving

Me visitation so I have agreed to start paying again. If she takes away my visitation and doesn’t let me have him a couple days week and I take her to court, can she get me for back child support?

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Jun 15, 2022

The court can only order back child support dating back to (1) the date a petition for child support was filed in the court; or (2) in the case of an existing child support order entered in the past, back to the date child support was not paid during any eriod that the existing child support order... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Family Law for Maryland on
Q: How do I find out what type of custody my grandmother has of my child?

So let's start off with I was at 18-19 at the time. I didn't have a house nor a job unfortunately I was working but then I lost my job due to not being fast enough in a fast food restaurant. Lol "jokes on me" but anyways my grandmother called child protective services on me the... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Mar 24, 2022

A non-biological parent cannot have enforceable legal custody without a court order awarding it. Therefore, look for a court case in your grandmother's name awarding custody to her. Such a court order would have to be issued only by the circuit court in the county where the child resided (or... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Adoption and Child Custody for Maryland on
Q: Hi I am from Louisiana but recently moved to Maryland I have questions.

I received full custody of my son in 2019 after his dad was arrested for choking him and other things, my son's dad went back to prison in September 2019 for attempted murder on police and has been in there since, sentenced to 14 years. His father has a long record of violent offenses and... Read more »

Elizabeth Pugliese
Elizabeth Pugliese
answered on Feb 23, 2022

Yes you will need his signature. believe it or not, you will have to consent to your boyfriend adopting your son too. There is a process to go though. A good lawyer can guide you through this process.

1 Answer | Asked in Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Do I need a lawyer now that my child’s father is suing for sole legal and physical custody?

We have a currently child support case open this custody case opened after.

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Dec 24, 2021

Considering the consequences if you lose and he is awarded sole custody, I think you may wish to consider hiring a lawyer to insure that does not happen. Waiting until after you lose at trial is too late.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Child Support for Maryland on
Q: Where can I get a lawyer for a low income family?
Scott Scherr
Scott Scherr
answered on Dec 1, 2021

Contact Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Services, Legal Aid, or your local bar association.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Child Custody for Maryland on
Q: My ex girlfriend and I live together with our two kids.It’s my house in my name. What rights does she have?

I want her to move out. I pay everything and the kids have my last name. What are my rights

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Nov 26, 2021

You have two issues: a landlord/tenant issue, and a custody/child support issue. If there's domestic violence going on, that is a potential third issue, or one which could arise based on how she reacts to whatever it is you do about the first two issues. The good news is (for you), you are... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Child Custody for Maryland on
Q: Do I need permission from my ex-wife to get my kids covid tested.

I have 50/50 joint custody and my ex is anti-vax and anti covid-19 testing. I want to take my kids to a convention this weekend that requires testing and so I ran it by the kids first, with the intent to ask her after I talked to them. One of the kids told her before I had a chance and now... Read more »

Mark Oakley
Mark Oakley
answered on Oct 19, 2021

Is there a court order or judgment in place awarding one of you sole residential custody, or sole or final say in major medical decisions, or do you have shared custody or to you share those decisions equally? Is there a custody agreement in place that addresses the issue? You need to review your... Read more »

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