Maryland Custody
Custody
General information
What is custody?
Custody is generally the physical care and supervision of a child under 18 years of age and the legal responsibility of the child’s long-term needs. When the court issues a custody order, it will address these two parts of custody:
Physical custody is the physical care and supervision of a child. In other words, it addresses who the child will live with on a day-to-day basis and who will make decisions that come up during that time.1
Legal custody addresses which parent has the right to make long-range plans and decisions for the child’s education, religious training, discipline, non-emergency medical care and other matters of major significance to the child’s welfare.2
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-101; Taylor v. Taylor, 508 A.2d 964, 967 (Md. 1986)
2 The People’s Law Library of Maryland; Taylor v. Taylor, 508 A.2d 964, 967 (Md. 1986)
What are the different types of custody arrangements that can be issued?
According to the The People’s Law Library of Maryland, the following forms of custody exist in Maryland:
Sole custody is when both legal and physical custody are given to one parent. The child has only one primary residence.
Split custody is easiest to describe in a situation where there are two children and each parent obtains full physical custody over one child. Some of the considerations that may cause this type of custody arrangement are the age of the children and each child’s preference.
Joint custody is actually broken down into three categories:
- Joint legal custody is where the parents share care and control of the upbringing of the child, but the child has only one primary residence;
- In shared physical custody the child has two residences, spending at least 35% of his/her time with one other parent and the rest of the time with the other;
- Additionally, a person can make his/her own joint custody agreement that is any combination of shared physical and joint legal custody. One example of this is when there is one residence for the child and the parents rotate living there with the child.1
Note: In Maryland, judges deciding custody do not automatically give preference to either the mother or the father.2
1 See The People’s Law Library of Maryland website
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 5-203(d)(2)
What is visitation?
Visitation usually involves timed visits with the child that are either supervised or unsupervised. Supervised visitation is when the parent is only allowed to visit with the child in the company of another person. Supervised visitation often calls for a restriction of visitation to a particular location and time. Visitation does not give decision-making responsibility or long-term care of the child. A parent that does not have custody often has some form of visitation.1 Guidelines for visitation are often included in the official custody order issued by the judge.
1 The People’s Law Library of Maryland website; MD Law Encyclopedia, Parent and Child § 17
Should I start a court case to ask for supervised visitation?
If you are not comfortable with the abuser being alone with your child, you might be thinking about asking the judge to order that visits with your child be supervised. If you are already in court because the abuser filed for visitation or custody, you may not have much to lose by asking that the visits be supervised if you can present a valid reason for your request although this may depend on your situation.
However, if there is no current court case, please get legal advice before you start a court case to ask for supervised visits. We strongly recommend that you talk to an attorney who specializes in custody matters to find out what you would have to prove to get the visits supervised and how long supervised visits would last, based on the facts of your case.
In the majority of cases, supervised visits are only a temporary measure. Although the exact visitation order will vary by state, county, or judge, the judge might order a professional to observe the other parent on a certain amount of visits or the visits might be supervised by a relative for a certain amount of time – and if there are no obvious problems, the visits may likely become unsupervised. Oftentimes, at the end of a case, the other parent ends up with more frequent and/ or longer visits than s/he had before you went into court or even some form of custody.
In some cases, to protect your child from immediate danger by the abuser, starting a case to ask for custody and supervised visits is appropriate. To find out what may be best in your situation, please go to MD Finding a Lawyer to seek out legal advice.
What is mediation? Is it ordered for victims of abuse?
Mediation is a process where both parents work with a qualified neutral person (a mediator) who, without providing legal advice, assists the parents in reaching an agreement regarding custody and or/ visitation. A mediator may identify issues and options, assist the parties or their attorneys in exploring what they want/need from a custody order, and, upon request, the mediator can write down terms that the parties agree upon.1
If a judge orders mediation, s/he will choose the mediator. However, the parties can file a request to change the court-designated mediator to another mediator who has the proper qualifications by filing with the court a “Request to Substitute Mediator” within 15 days after service of the order of referral to mediation.2 The judge can order the parents to attend a maximum of four hours in one or two mediation sessions. Upon the recommendation of the mediator, the court may order up to four additional hours if the judge believes there is good cause to do so. If the parties agree, they can extend the mediation beyond these hours.3
If you can show the court that you or your child has been abused or there is coercive control in your relationship, and that mediation would be inappropriate because of this, the court may not order mediation.4
1 MD Rule §§ 9-205; 17-102(g)
2 MD Rule § 9-205(d)
3 MD Rule § 9-205(h)
4 MD Rule § 9-205(b)(2)
Who pays for mediation?
The judge can decide how the costs and fees for mediation should be divided between the parents, and the judge can order the parents to pay. However, the judge may also waive payment all together, which means that no one has to pay.1
1 MD Rule § 9-205(l)(2)
Who might get custody or visitation
Can a parent who committed child abuse or neglect get custody or visitation?
If a judge in a custody or visitation case believes that a parent has abused or neglected his/her child, then the judge has to decide if s/he believes that this is likely to happen again if the parent is given custody or visitation. The judge must specifically determine that there is no likelihood of further child abuse or neglect in order to give custody or unsupervised visitation to the abusive parent. However, even if the judge doesn’t grant custody or unsupervised visitation, the judge may grant supervised visitation if the safety and emotional well-being of the child can be protected during the visits.1 If you have evidence of abuse to you and/or your child, you (or your lawyer) may show this to the judge at the custody hearing.1
See also Can a parent who committed domestic violence get custody or visitation? for more information about how violence against any child in the household will be treated by the judge.
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law, § 9-101
Can a parent who committed domestic violence get custody or visitation?
When making a decision about custody or visitation, a judge will look at evidence of abuse (as defined by the law)1 by either parent against:
- the other parent of the child;
- the parent’s spouse; or
- any child living with the parent, including a child other than the child who is the subject of the custody or visitation proceeding.
If the judge believes that a parent has abused any of these people, the judge should decide the custody/visitation order in a way that best protects the child in the custody case and the adult who was abused.2
A parent who has been found guilty of murdering the child’s other parent, another child of the parent, or any family member living with either parent or the child is generally not allowed to have custody or visitation of the child although there may possibly be some exceptions. However, if the judge thinks it is in the best interest of the child, s/he can order supervised visitation that protects the safety and emotional well-being of the child.3
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 9-101.1(a); § 4-501(b)(1)
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-101.1(b), (c)
3 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-101.2
I am the child's grandparent. Can I get visitation?
Grandparents may be able to ask a judge for “reasonable visitation.” If the judge believes it is in the child’s best interest, s/he may grant visitation rights.1 However, if the child’s parent doesn’t want the grandparent to get visitation, the grandparent may have to prove that the parent(s) denying him/her the visitation is unfit or that the child will be harmed in some way if the visitation is denied in order to get visitation.2
The People’s Law Library of Maryland website has additional information on grandparent visitation that you can read here. For specific advice, please talk to a lawyer. Go to our MD Finding a Lawyer page for legal referrals.
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-102
2Koshko v. Haining, 398 Md. 404, 921 A.2d 171 (Ct. of Appeals 2007)
The custody process
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of getting a custody order?
There are many reasons people choose not to file for custody. Some people decide not to get a custody order because they don’t want to get the courts involved. Some parents make an informal agreement that works well for them. Some parents think going to court will provoke the other parent, or they are worried that if a custody case is started, the other parent will suddenly fight for and get more custody or visitation rights than they are comfortable with.
However, getting a custody order from a court can give you certain legal rights. Getting a custody order can give you:
- the right to make major decisions about your child and/or
- the right to have your child live with you (residency).
However, if you file for custody, the other parent may also request these rights and it may be up to the judge to decide if the parents can’t come to an agreement.
We strongly recommend talking to a lawyer who can help you think through if filing for custody would be best for you, depending on the facts of your situation. You can find referrals for legal help by clicking on the MD Finding a Lawyer page.
Some people think they should file for custody so they can get child support. While custody and child support are related, you do not necessarily need a custody order to get child support. A custody order will not automatically give you child support. For information on filing for child support, you can contact your local courthouse by going to our MD Courthouse Locations page or talk to a lawyer.
What are the steps for filing for custody?
Before filing in court for custody, you may want to consider drawing up an out-of-court agreement with the other parent. Usually, parents will have to be flexible when it comes to custody and visitation for the benefit of the child. Often times, parents who fight for sole custody will litigate in court for months or even years and end up with some sort of joint custody agreement after settlement or trial. However, sometimes fighting for sole custody is necessary because you can’t agree with the other parent, the other parent is not allowing contact, or your fear for your child’s well-being. Especially with domestic violence, many abusers will try to keep power and control over the victim-survivor through the child, so joint custody isn’t recommended due to the power difference in the relationship.
If you decide to file in court for custody, the process usually looks similar to this:
1. File for custody. You may file in the family court or a court of a different name that hears custody cases. Generally, you will file in the county where the child lives and, depending on the circumstances, you may be able to request an emergency or temporary order as part of your petition. The exact petition you file may depend on whether you are married or not:
- If you are a married parent who is also filing for divorce, you can usually include the custody petition within the divorce process.
- If you are a married parent who is not filing for divorce, you can file for custody on its own in the county where the child has been living for at least six months.
- If you are an unmarried parent, you can also seek custody in court. However, if paternity hasn’t been established, which means that the father hasn’t been legally recognized, then this process will likely have to happen first or as part of the custody process.
2. Prepare for the custody process
The court custody process is usually very long and can be emotionally and financially draining. If you are representing yourself in court, you can learn about the court process and how to present evidence on our Preparing for Court – By Yourself section. If you are able to hire an attorney, you can use this list of questions as your guide when deciding who to hire.
During the court process, you will try to prove why you should have your child’s custody. When preparing for court, you can gather evidence that helps make your case as to why you should have custody of the child. This process should be directed by the factors the law says a judge should consider when deciding custody. You can see How will a judge make a decision about custody? for more information. It’s important to consider that the judge will be focused on what is in the best interest of your child and many states consider that this is to have a relationship with both parents.
3. Prepare for trial
There will be one or more hearings, including a trial, if the parties cannot reach an agreement by themselves or as part of a mediation process. During trial, you or your attorney will be able to present evidence and to cross-examine the other party to help the judge make a decision.
If you are a victim of domestic violence, you can plan for your safety while in court and you should ask the judge to include some protections in the custody order. For example, you can ask for some of the following terms:
- communications between the parents can only be in writing;
- all communications can only be related to the child; and
- a neutral third party should be present at the exchange of the child or should be the one to drop off and pick up the child.
You should also try to be as specific as possible in terms of the decision-making powers of each parent, who has the child on holidays, birthdays, etc., and the time and place for pick-ups and drop-offs of the child as to avoid future conflicts.
4. Options if you lose the custody case
There could be a couple of options that are filed immediately after the judge makes the custody order:
- A motion for reconsideration asks the judge to decide differently based on the law or new evidence.
- An appeal moves the case to a higher court and asks that court to review the lower court’s decision due a judge’s error.
A petition to change (modify) the order is an option that would not be filed right away. You could ask for a modification if, later on, a substantial change of circumstances happens. A few examples could be if the other parent gets sent to jail, gets charged with child abuse or neglect, or moves to another state. If you are already divorced, a petition for a change in custody can be filed in the county where the divorce was issued.
To find out more about how the process works in your area, please contact a lawyer. Please visit our MD Finding a Lawyer page to find legal help in your area. You can also watch our Custody, Visitation, and Child Support videos where we explain the process. The videos include information about the different types of custody and visitation and related legal concepts that a judge will consider, child support, and moving out of state with your child.
How will the judge make a decision about custody?
When deciding who will have custody, a judge will try to make an arrangement that s/he thinks is in the best interest of your child. The court will base its decision on many factors. Some of the things a judge will consider are:
- the fitness (parenting ability) of the parents;
- the character and reputation of the parents;
- the wishes of the parents, and any agreements between them;
- the potential for keeping “natural family relations;”
- the preference of the child, when the child is old and mature enough to reasonably give an opinion;
- material opportunities affecting the future life of the child;
- the age, health, and sex of the child;
- where the parents live and the opportunity for visitation;
- the length of the separation of the parents; and
- whether either parent willingly gave up of custody of the child.1
1 See MD Law Encyclopedia, Parent and Child § 10; Best v. Best, 93 Md. App. 644, 613 A.2d 1043 (1992)
Where can I file for child custody? (Which state has jurisdiction?)
You can only file for custody in court if that court has the legal ability to take the case. This is called “jurisdiction.” Maryland follows a law called the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which determines what state has jurisdiction over custody cases, meaning where you can file for custody.
Under the UCCJEA, you can generally only file for custody in the “home state” of the child1 but there are exceptions to this. See Are there exceptions to the “home state rule?” for more information.
The “home state” is generally the state where the child has lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least the past six consecutive months. In the case of a child less than six months old, the “home state” is the state where the child has lived since s/he was born. Leaving the state for a short time then coming back does not change anything.2
If you and your child recently moved to a new state, generally you cannot file for custody in that new state until you have lived there for at least 6 months. Until then, the other parent may be able to start a custody case in the state that your children most recently lived in for at least 6 months.2 However, there are some exceptions to this. Please speak to a lawyer regarding the specifics of your case to find out where to file.
Here are some basic examples:
- My children lived in Alabama their whole lives. We just moved to Maryland a few weeks ago. In my case, Alabama is my children’s “home state.” If I want to file for custody right now, I will probably need to file in Alabama.
- My children lived in Alabama until we moved to Maryland six months ago. Because the children have lived in Maryland for six months, and there were no prior custody cases in Alabama, Maryland is their “home state.” I will likely need to file for custody in Maryland.
- My children lived in Maryland until they left to live with the other parent in Alabama two months ago. Because they haven’t lived in Alabama for six months yet, their home state is still Maryland. If I want to file for custody, I can most likely file in Maryland.
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-201
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-101(h)
3 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-201(a)(1)
Are there exceptions to the "home state rule?"
There are two main exceptions to the home state rule. Please note that this can be complicated, and we strongly suggest you talk to a lawyer before filing anything – if there are two states involved, you may want to get advice from a lawyer in each. Go to our MD Finding a Lawyer page for legal referrals. You can also select the other state from the drop-down menu to find legal referrals in that state.
First, if there is no home state or if the home state has agreed to let another state have jurisdiction, you may be able to file for custody in another state if:
- The child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have significant connections with the state; and
- There is important evidence in the state about the child’s care, protection, training, and personal relationships.1
Second, you may also be able to file for temporary emergency custody in a state other than the home state, if the child is present in the state where you want to file and at least one of the following is true:
- The child has been abandoned; or
- Emergency custody is necessary to protect the child because the child, a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse.2
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-201(a)(2); see § 9.5-207 through 9.5-208
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.5-204(a)
Do I need a lawyer?
You do not need a lawyer to file for custody. However, it may be difficult for you to file a proper petition and to represent yourself in court without the help of a lawyer. As with all custody issues, it is strongly suggested that you try to get a lawyer to help you, especially if the other parent has a lawyer. For a list of legal resources, some of which may be able to help for free or low cost, please see our MD Finding a Lawyer page.
If you are going to be in court without a lawyer, our Preparing for Court – By Yourself section may be useful to you.
After an order is in place
If a custody order is already in place, how can I get it changed?
A judge may change a custody order under certain circumstances.1 When one parent wants to change an existing custody order, it is his/her burden to show the court why it should be changed.2
The law in Maryland favors keeping the living situation of the child stable, so a judge might not change your custody order unless you can show that something in the current environment is harmful or that your home will be better.2 To do this, you must show:
- a change in circumstance that may affect the welfare of a child has taken place in your home or the other parent’s home; and
- a new custody or visitation arrangement is in the child’s “best interest.”3
1 See Md. Code, Fam. Law § 1-201(b)(4)
2 Levitt v. Levitt, 556 A.2d 1162 (Md. 1989), The People’s Law Library of Maryland
3 Wagner v. Wagner, 674 A.2d 1 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1996)
At what age can a child ask the court to change the custody order?
If the child is 16 years or older, s/he can file a petition to ask the judge to change the custody order. The child does not need a parent or guardian to file the petition. The judge will hold a hearing and may decide to place the child with the parent s/he requests but does not have to.1
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-103
Can I change the state where the case is being heard?
This may depend on many factors. See our Changing a final custody order section for more information.
Do I have to notify the court if I want to relocate with my child?
In any custody or visitation case, the judge may include a requirement that either party provide advance written notice of at least 90 days to the court, the other party, or both, when the permanent residence of either the parent or the child is going to be relocated within the state or to another state.1 However, if you can show that this type of written notice would expose the child or either party to abuse (as defined by law) or that there is another good reason not to give the notice, the judge can do away with the notice requirement.1
If the judge orders you to give written notice to the other party, it means that the notice has to be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the other party.3 Note: If you cannot give the full 90 days’ notice because relocation was necessary due to financial or other extenuating circumstances, the other parent may bring you to court for failing to follow the notice procedures. However, if you gave the required notice within a reasonable time after learning of the need to relocate, the judge may consider this if the other parent brings you to court for not giving him/her the full 90 days’ notice.4
The judge must schedule a hearing quickly (on an “expedited basis”) if:
- either party files a petition regarding the proposed relocation within 20 days of the written notice; or
- the proposed relocation would significantly interfere with the other parent’s ability to maintain the current parenting time schedule. 5
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-106(a)(1)
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-106(b)
3 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-106(a)(3)
4 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-106(c)
5 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-106(a)(4)
Can a parent who does not have custody have access to the child's records?
Parents without custody may access the child’s medical, dental and educational records unless a judge orders otherwise.1 If you have a good reason to ask that access be denied, you may consider raising this issue in the custody proceeding.
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9-104
Abduction prevention
If I fear the other parent may abduct my child, what can I do?
A judge on his or her own can include abduction prevention measures in a child custody proceeding if s/he believes that there is a risk of abduction of your child. Additionally, you can file a petition in court that specifically asks for abduction prevention measures.1 In the petition, you must specify the risk factors for abduction that apply to your situation.2 These factors may include if the other parent:
- has previously abducted, attempted to abduct, or threatened to abduct your child;
- has recently done actions that may indicate a planned abduction, including:
- abandoning employment;
- selling a primary residence;
- terminating a lease;
- closing a bank or other financial account, liquidating assets, hiding or destroying financial documents, or conducting any unusual financial activities;
- applying for a passport, visa, or other travel documents for him/herself, a family member, or your child;
- attempting to get your child’s birth certificate or school or medical records;
- has engaged in domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, or child neglect;
- has refused to follow a child custody order;
- lacks strong familial, financial, emotional, or cultural ties to Maryland or the United States;
- has strong familial, financial, emotional, or cultural ties to another state or country;
- is likely to take the child to a country that:
- is not a party to the Hague Convention and does not provide for the extradition of an abducting parent or for the return of an abducted child; or
- is a party to the Hague Convention but:
- the Hague Convention is not in force between the United States and that country;
- the country is noncompliant according to the most recent compliance report issued by the United States Department of State; or
- the country lacks legal mechanisms for immediately and effectively enforcing a return order under the Hague Convention;
- poses a risk that the child’s physical or emotional health or safety would be endangered in the other country because of specific circumstances relating to the child or because of human rights violations committed against children in that country;
- has laws or practices that would:
- allow the respondent to prevent you from contacting the child;
- restrict you from freely traveling to or exiting from the other country because of your gender, nationality, marital status, or religion; or
- restrict the child’s ability legally to leave the other country after your child becomes an adult because of the child’s gender, nationality, or religion;
- is included by the United States Department of State on a current list of state sponsors of terrorism;
- does not have an official United States diplomatic presence in the country; or
- is engaged in active military action or war, including a civil war, to which the child may be exposed;
- is undergoing a change in immigration or citizenship status that would negatively affect the other parent’s ability to remain in the United States legally;
- has had an application for United States citizenship denied;
- has forged or presented misleading or false evidence on government forms or supporting documents to obtain or attempt to obtain a passport, a visa, travel documents, a Social Security card, a driver’s license, or any other government-issued identification card, or has made a misrepresentation to the United States government;
- has used multiple names to attempt to mislead or defraud; or
- has engaged in any other conduct the judge considers relevant to the risk of abduction.3
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-104(a), (b)
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-106(a)(2)
3 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-107(a)
If the judge agrees that there is a risk my child will be abducted, what will the judge do?
After holding a hearing in which the judge will consider evidence of the abduction risk factors, the judge can decide to issue an abduction prevention order.1 An abduction prevention order can include one or more of the following:
- travel restrictions that require that the other parent to give you the following documents:
- a travel itinerary of the child;
- a list of physical addresses and telephone numbers at which the child can be reached at specific times; and
- copies of all travel documents;
- a restriction that the other parent cannot do any of the following directly or through another person:
- remove the child from the State, the United States, or another geographic area without permission of the court or your written consent;
- remove or keep the child in violation of the custody order;
- remove the child from school, daycare, or a similar facility; or
- approach the child at any location other than a site designated for supervised visitation;
- a requirement that a parent register the abduction prevention order in another state before the child is allowed to travel to that state;
- with regard to the child’s passport:
- a requirement that you place your child’s name in the United States Department of State’s Child Passport Issuance Alert Program;
- a requirement that the other parent surrender to the court or to your attorney any United States or foreign passport issued in the child’s name, including a passport issued in the name of both the parent and the child; and
- a prohibition against the other parent from applying on behalf of the child for a new or replacement passport or visa;
- before exercising custody or visitation, a requirement that the other parent:
- give an authenticated copy of the order detailing passport and travel restrictions for the child to the United States Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues and the relevant foreign consulate or embassy, and provide proof that this was done to the court;
- provide an acknowledgment to the court from the relevant foreign consulate or embassy that no passport application has been made, or passport issued, on behalf of the child;
- give you proof of registration with the United States Embassy or other United States diplomatic presence in the other country and with the Central Authority for the Hague Convention, if the Convention is in effect between the United States and the other country; and
- provide to you and the court a written waiver under the federal Privacy Act with respect to any document, application, or other information pertaining to the child that allows the information to be given (disclosed);
- if you request it, a requirement that the other parent get an order from the other country that has identical terms to the child custody order that was issued in the United States;2
- a limit on visitation or a requirement that visitation is supervised and paid for by the other parent;
- a requirement to post a bond or provide other security in an amount sufficient to serve as a financial deterrent to abduction; then, if there is an abduction, that money would be used to pay for the reasonable expenses to get your child back and your attorney’s fees; and
- a requirement that the other parent get educated on the potentially harmful effects to the child from an abduction.3
If the judge believes an abduction is about to happen (is “imminent”), the judge can:
- issue a warrant to take physical custody of the child;
- direct law enforcement to take any action reasonably necessary to locate and get the child or enforce the custody order; or
- grant any other relief allowed by law.4
1 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-108(b)(1)
2 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-108(c)
3 Md. Code, Fam. Law § 9.7-108(d)
4 Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 9.7-108(e); 9.7-109(a)