When a marriage is over, each member of the family is going to experience different changes in his or her life. As a parent, you understand that these changes could have a negative impact on your children, and one of your goals will be to minimize the emotional and mental duress they could experience. It is important to create a custody and visitation schedule that is reasonable and sustainable.
There are several factors that could impact the terms of your custody and visitation schedule, whether you are negotiating terms with the other Maryland parent or going to court. It is helpful to understand these factors and be clear on the steps you need to take to ensure that you have the insight necessary to make the best possible decisions. As a parent, you have the right to seek a custody order that will benefit your kids and to fight for your parental rights.
Specific issues that could affect your family
As a parent, you likely have concerns about how your choice to divorce could impact your children now and in the future. You likely also want to spend as much time as possible with them, securing parenting time that allows you to maintain strong relationships with your kids. However, when the courts are considering custody decisions or reviewing the terms of a custody order, it will consider the following factors:
- The level of attachment between the child and his or her school, schedule and lifestyle
- Ability of each parent to provide a nurturing and safe environment for the child
- Living conditions of each home, proximity of each home to the child’s school and more
- Any confirmed evidence of abuse, neglect or other issues of concern
- Mental health and physical health of both the parent and the children
- Ages of the children, their mental state and their preferences
When you are making decisions that could impact your future, you will benefit from considering the needs of your children over your own temporary feelings. It is normal to have strong emotions regarding custody and visitation, but this does not always lead to beneficial and practical decisions. It may be helpful to seek guidance regarding how you can move forward and pursue terms that are truly in the best interests of your kids.
