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Baltimore County & Towson Child Custody Lawyer

Amar Weisman Recognized by Law & Practice Magazine as Top 10 in Family LawAmar Weisman Recognized by American Jurist as Top Baltimore Family Lawyer

100% Family Law Firm Located in Baltimore County 

 

WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER?

When family law judges and family law attorneys get divorced, they hire lawyers immediately. They know that Pro Se litigants (including judges and attorneys) lose their child custody cases by following their own instincts, preparing papers without objective feedback, deliberating, and thinking 10 steps ahead instead of being guided by feelings like some middle schooler who thinks the world cares about their feelings. It takes more than 10 years of practicing family to really know anything. As good as this website may be, it does not contain (nor does any other attorney’s website contain) publicize the treatises, commentaries, and annotated (summarized and understandable) statutes. The Court forms available online are not designed to tell your story—in a way that appeals to the Court—they are designed to simplify and pigeonhole your case so that it is NOT unique. People who represent themselves in court have difficulty serving legal documents. They rely upon the Sheriff to get around to it "in the usual course of things." Unfortunately, they have not been given a timeline for the completion of the service. At the scheduling conference, which is the first court event in all family law matters, self-represented parties do not know what services are standard, what can be requested, and how it will impact the next hearing date, and they say nothing helpful to the Court or themselves. When sending discovery, compliance with joint statements, and local customs—the layers of ignorance compound, the mistakes multiply, and the cost of cleaning up the mess will ultimately require more attorney hours. There is far more to say in response to this question, but the bottom line is that you should follow what judges and other lawyers do when they have a child custody matter and lawyer up. Do not be stupid enough—and stupid is the correct word—to believe in yourself, the goodness of the system, or that divine powers will ensure your contested child custody case will be resolved to protect the minor child's best interests. To avoid playing the part of the fool and to protect your parenting time, you should contact a family law firm to schedule an appointment with a child custody attorney.

Maryland Is Not a "Father State" OR a "Mother State" -- it is a State with Lots of Different Judges! 

It is shocking how many people believe Maryland is Pro-Mother or Pro-Father. These kinds of myths happen when two parents of the same gender who lose their respective custody disputes talk to one another and blame their personal failure to win on the entire system being rigged.

This analysis, if you want to call it that, fails miserably because there are literally hundreds of judges who are assigned to the family docket and they are all literally different. While some of the judges might favor one gender or another, this is the exception, no the rule.

A good family law attorney will pick up on cues that judges readily provide in Court to tailor a case to what that Judge thinks is important. The idea that every judge thinks the same way is so stupid that the Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman suggests people who think like this obtain other counsel.

As a client, it is important to believe that your case is winnable. The ultimate truth is that you are not going to win or lose your divorce or custody case because of your gender. You might lose for the wrong reason, but it will not be that reason. The truth is that most judges want you to settle your custody case, which is why the Court process builds in MANDATORY mediation and Settlement Conferences with experienced retired judges.

Except in cases where a parent is unfit, the Court will try to give the children access to both parents instead of regarding the children as a prize to be won through adversarial litigation. The way that the Court looks at custody cases requires building your case in a child-centered manner that focuses on what the law really says. 

Not All Child Custody Factors Are Equal 

As you may be aware, the Courts can consider many factors when making child custody decisions including parental fitness; the character/reputation of the parties in the community; the child's preferences; residents of parents and opportunities for visitation; agreements; prior abandonment or surrender of custody; material opportunities available in the respective households; it goes on and on.

The truth is that in 99% of custody cases, both parties are deemed to be fit and proper parents (even when one is obviously better); in 99% of custody cases, both parents are deemed to have fine character and reputation (including parents with criminal records); in 99% of custody cases, the material opportunities available in the respective households is not considered, even when one parent makes 3, 4 or 10X more money than the other parent.

Having practiced custody law for 17 years, Amar S. Weisman has learned ot build compelling custody cases by emphasizing the bond between the client and the children and demonstrating to the Court that she has a record of being a dedicated parent and whose testimony shows a deep psychological connection and comfort level between the parent and child. If the child is older, like 13 and above, the child's preferences come into play as well. Building a case by showing you are the parent who can deliver almost always works a lot better than showing the other parent is "bad." While building a custody case properly requires thinking beyond the custody factors, it is important to note all of the custody factors are framed around the child--not determining which parent is good and which parent is bad. Experienced lawyers, experienced judges, and experienced people appreciate and understand that both parents have something to offer and both parents probably had some role in the problem. 

Finally, the custody case needs to be practical in terms of identifying which parent can fulfill the mundane chores of parenting on a daily basis. While arguing that the other parent's work schedule is incompatible with them having 50-50 visitation might not be fun, it makes sense in a world where children have more sports, more activities, and more demands than ever before. 

As a family law attorney, Amar S. Weisman engages in a deep factual investigation to determine who has done what for the child in the past and who can deliver more for the child or children in the future. It is also essential to explore the motives of the other parent in terms of the timing of their claims and complaints. One mis-step people make is seeking primary custody or 50-50 custody to change child support. If you want more time to lower your child support obligation, the Court will probably see right through you. Amar S. Weisman works hard, when clients are seeking shared custody, to identify the real reasons for the change. Often it is to fix a problem in the child's life like failing grades, being left home alone, or not getting enough discipline to stay out of trouble.  

Child Custody Court Papers 

The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman prepares court papers for child custody matters, including:

  • Complaint For Custody 
  • Petitions to Modify Child Custody 
  • Petitions for Child Support
  • Answers & Counterclaims 
  • Requests for Emergency Hearing 

Baltimore & Harford County Child Custody Hearings 

Amar S. Weisman represents clients seeking child custody and visitation at the scheduling conference, settlement Conferences, merits trials, and contempt hearings. 

  • Scheduling Conference Post Covid-19, and thereafter, Scheduling Conferences occur via Zoom.
  • Typically, scheduling conferences often lead to parties being directed to attend parenting classes and engage in remote mediation. During the scheduling conference, the Circuit Court for Baltimore County conducts a preliminary screening of the case to ascertain the appropriate course of action. Depending on the needs and circumstances of the case, various services may be recommended. These services can encompass Alcohol Evaluation and Testing, Custody Evaluations, Home Studies, and the assignment of a Best Interest Attorney as deemed necessary.
  • Child Custody Merits Trial
  • Modification Hearing.
  • Contempt Hearings 

Best Interest Attorneys Assigned To Represent Children 

In accordance with Maryland Family Law §1-202, a Best Interest Attorney is appointed to advocate for the interests of minor child/children. The extent of their involvement depends on the child's capacity for considered judgment. In cases where the child can express preferences, the Best Interest Attorney actively represents and conveys these preferences to the Court.

It's important to note that attorneys for the minor children are entitled to compensation. Typically, this compensation is divided equally between the parents on a 50-50 basis. However, if there is a significant income disparity between the parents, the Court may assess the costs associated with the children's representation based on the proportional income of the parents.Private Custody Evaluations 

Baltimore County Family Lawyer Who Can Set Up Private Custody Evaluation

In the context of physical custody evaluations, the process involves comprehensive procedures, such as conducting interviews with parents, children, and relevant collateral witnesses. This also encompasses the review of email correspondence and text messages exchanged between the parents and the children.

As a Howard County Custody lawyer, Amar Weisman knows, psychological personality testing is administered, and a thorough examination of legal documents from one or more jurisdictions is conducted. Home observations of both parents and children are carried out, all in accordance with the American Psychological Association Guidelines. Alternatively, the Court has the option to order a more streamlined custody evaluation process, which culminates in an official written evaluation.

You Need A Family Law Child Custody Lawyer Who Will Do A Great Job Fighting For You 

As trial lawyers, our job is to present your case to the court p with the relevant evidence you need to achieve your goals. We proceed to do this by:

Baltimore County Custody Modification.

Your Baltimore & Towson Custody Lawyer can seek a Child Custody Modification provided there has been a material change in circumstances since the entry of the last custody order, and modification of the current order will be in the child's best interests.

 

Articles and Blog Posts By Amar S. Weisman 

Child Custody Blog Postings By Baltimore Family Lawyer Amar S. Weisman

Links For Baltimore County Residents Involved In Child Custody Disputes:

Call 410-321-4994 To Meet With Baltimore County Family Lawyer Amar S. Weisman.

Please call 410-321-4994 during business hours to schedule a free consultation to discuss whether you would like to retain Amar S. Weisman's legal services. Please note that our firm does not accept pro bono clients at this time. To secure legal services and receive advice, a retainer fee is required, and you can refer to our Policy on Fees/Costs for more details.

Our law firm is conveniently located in the heart of Towson, close to prominent landmarks such as The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Towson Town Center, Goucher College, and Towson University. You can find us at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road (MD-146), Second Floor, Towson, MD 21204

We proudly serve clients throughout the Baltimore area, including Aberdeen, Abingdon, Baldwin, Bel Air, Bowleys Quarters, Brooklandville, Carney, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Edgewood, Essex, Garrison, Glen Arm, Greenspring Valley, Homeland, Hunt Valley, Hydes, the Joppa Road Corridor, Kingsville, Long Green, Lutherville, Middle River, Nottingham, Owings Mills, Parkville, Pikesville, Perry Hall, Reisterstown, Riderwood, Rodgers Forge, Rosedale, Ruxton, Sparks, Sparrows Point, Stoneleigh, Timonium, Towson, West Towson, White Hall, White Marsh, and the York Road corridor.

We have also provided legal representation to out-of-state clients. However, please be aware that our law firm does not guarantee specific outcomes in any legal matter.