Looking Out For Your Relationship With Your Child After Divorce
For parents, few things are as important as their child’s well-being and happiness. If your family is going through a major change, you are likely worried about how that change will affect your child, as well as your relationship with your child. At the Law Offices of Dawn S. Veltman, LLC, our dedicated and compassionate attorneys understand what you are going through and how important the issue of child custody is to your entire family.
When Do Courts Look At Child Custody?
Child custody issues often arise during divorce, but can also come up in other family law contexts. We assist with child custody in all situations including:
- Separation – Whether you are married or with a long-time partner, if you separate with children, you will need a custody agreement.
- Divorce – Every divorce involving children requires the parents to have a custody and parenting plan. We can help you develop a plan that takes your children’s best interests into account and meets the court’s requirements.
- Paternity actions – People seek to establish paternity for a variety of reasons, whether to invoke financial support for a child, pursue custody and visitation with a child or prove that an individual is not the child’s father. We understand the process in Maryland and can help.
- Modification of an existing order – Courts understand that families change over time and a custody order that worked on the day the court finalized your divorce may no longer work for your family for a variety of reasons. We can help you request a modification of custody or child support payments.
- Visitation for grandparents and other relatives – In some situations, the court will consider allowing visitation or custody arrangements for the child’s relatives, such as grandparents.
Whatever the reason for your custody action, we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process. We can help you recognize the court’s perspective on your child’s best interest and how to protect your interests, as well.
Working Together For The Kids
Studies have shown that when parents work together to create their parenting plan, they tend to work better for the children and the family generally has more success following the plan than one created for them by the court. Studies also show that the more amicable the divorce, the better the emotional outcome for the kids.
For these reasons, among others, you should at least consider trying to work together with your former partner to create your parenting plan. Mediation is particularly effective for this purpose. It can also provide a model for how to resolve custody and visitation issues after your divorce. If you are looking for a mediator, attorney Dawn S. Veltman has over 10 years of experience. If you cannot find a solution through mediation, you can always return to the litigation process.
Contact Us Today
To get started on your custody and parenting plan, schedule an appointment with either our office in Bel Air or our office in Upper Marlboro. You can call 443-457-8973 or fill out our online contact form.