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answered on Dec 31, 2023
In Maryland, if you have been caring for a child for seven years without legal paperwork, you may consider filing for legal guardianship or custody. This is especially pertinent if you have been the primary caregiver and the biological parents are not involved or unable to care for the child.... View More 
The court order states that I need to let the courts and their father know about a move 3 months in advance. Their father lives here in town and has the boys 3 weekends a month. We have been divorced since September 2020. The boys are 8 and 6. I do have passports for the boys. I am concerned that... View More
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answered on Dec 29, 2023
As the custodial parent with sole physical and legal custody of your sons, you generally have the right to make decisions regarding their residence. However, if your court order specifies a notification requirement for a move, it is crucial to adhere to those terms. Before marrying and considering... View More
Father pled to child abuse. Mother cleared and given supervised visits after having full custody for 3 years. Father gets released, sees his daughter, the (victim) and dss tries to remove her from mom for letting child mother see her..even though mother didn't deviate from custody... View More
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answered on Oct 15, 2023
While DSS should not retaliate against the mother, it's important to ensure that all actions and decisions are made in accordance with the law and in the child's best interests. Consulting with an attorney who specializes in family law or child custody matters can provide the mother with... View More
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answered on Aug 16, 2023
In situations like this, it's important to consider the best interests of both you and your baby. While laws vary by jurisdiction, generally speaking, being pregnant at 16 does not automatically affect your legal custody of your child. However, your situation might be influenced by factors... View More
I’m the defendant. The plaintiff was granted motion to compel documents from me. They also requested sanction, asking that I pay his attorney fees. If I turn the documents in the time the they request (5 days), can I still be sanctioned?
answered on Aug 4, 2023
I see you're in Prince George's County. Although I'm a [Baltimore County child custody lawyer](https://www.ostendorflaw.com/practice_areas/maryland-child-custody-lawyer.php), the same principles would apply in your jurisdiction as we are discussing Maryland law generally.... View More
I was compelled to meet in a zoom meeting for mediation for child support in CA. But I already initiated a complaint for divorce, child support and custody in Maryland. Do I have to attend it? what is going to happen with the action in Maryland?
answered on Jul 12, 2023
You need a lawyer to review the jurisdictional issues. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act has been codified in both CA and MD (and every other state, I believe) and there must be a hearing first to determine which state court will hear the case and exercise jurisdiction... View More
He lives in MD, I live in CA. I'm passing for his airfare to come out per the agreement. She's expecting me to travel with him to take him back. I'll need that money for food and other expenses during his visit. The agreement was processed through a Maryland court so I'm sure it... View More
answered on Jul 2, 2023
If your child support order does not already include a waiver of child support while your child is with you exclusively for a month or whatever period of time you have him, then no, you cannot unilaterally withhold child support or take it to defray your costs. Only another court order modifying... View More
It has already been appealed but the majority of the evidence found after the fact.
answered on Jul 1, 2023
An appeal from the circuit court goes first to the Appellate Court of Maryland (formerly called Court of Special Appeals). Although the Supreme Court of Maryland (formerly the Court of Appeals) has the discretion to take jurisdiction over an appeal pending before the Appellate Court, it rarely does... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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?
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
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... View More
The biological parents have not had contact with the child in over 1 year and he has not been in their custody for almost 2
Parent 1 and Parent 2 had a Pendente Lite custody order in place that stated shared legal custody for children. The final court order has since occurred and maintained the shared legal custody framework. It is now 2 years since the Pendente Lite Custody was initially put in place. It was recently... View More
answered on Jul 15, 2024
Given that no harm or injury was done to the child or to either parent, it is unlikely there is any legal penalty for the grandmother's action.
My ex has sole legal custody and primary physical custody while I have visitation overnight once a week. She has done shady things behind my back before. I just need to know if she is allowed to give consent for that without having to consult me.
My kids have lived with me for a year since their dad died. We did our custody order through Maryland since at the time he lived there and I gave him primary physical custody and we had joint legal custody. Awhile later he moved to WV and passed away. I’ve lived in PA for 6 years and my kids have... View More
answered on Jul 13, 2023
No, you already had joint legal custody to begin with--the equal to your ex. Now, you are the sole legal guardian of your children.
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