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Towson Child Custody Lawyer | Custody Hearings.

Excellence In Baltimore County Custody Litigation 

Expertise Names Amar Weisman Top Baltimore Custody Lawyer 2022

Distinguished Child Custody Litigator 

Amar S. Weisman appreciates and understands that protecting parental time, parental rights, and parental integrity impacts the lives of parents and children. As a Family Law Firm in Towson, the Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman has handled more than 675 unique custody cases and built a depth of knowledge that only comes from experience. The mothers and fathers he represents begin each case by clarifying realistic custody goals and focusing on the substance of the c to achieve results, not excuses, during the settlement or trial process. He c be more effective by focusing the practice exclusively on family law and primarily in the County Courts Building at 401 Bosley Avenue. Even though the Covid-19 Pandemic has many clients and Mr. Weisman w remotely at times, he sacrifices nothing when it comes to developing relationships with clients and communications based on developing the facts of each case based on an approach that places substance over perception and results over appearances. In child custody litigation, integrity is everything. 

The Child Custody Litigation Process Is Challenging

The Child Custody process is complicated, and in Baltimore County and nearby jurisdictions, each case is driven by track assignments. A c that l just beneath the surface. N court events of increasing varieties following the transformation of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the courts. It includes hearings (scheduling conferences, settlement conferences, second settlement conferences, status conferences, contempt hearings, and pre-contempt hearings in an order determined by three unique track assignments set forth, partially, in the Differentiated Case Management Plans. In addition to the parties, lawyers, judges, and magistrates, the process also depends on custody evaluators, best interest attorneys, home study evaluators, and, unfortunately, investigations by the Department of Social Services & Child Protective Services, along with witnesses, the Family Services Division, public mediators, private mediators, and numerous others. Developing a proper legal strategy depends on knowing all the moving parts and c a p for each case designed to maximize opportunities for a successful outcome. Even though explaining the process is complex, Mr. Weisman helps clients know what is happening at each stage and never stop the factual investigation until there is an ultimate resolution. 

Issues in Child Custody Litigation 

Child custody litigation involves every aspect of the child's life and many aspects of the parent's life, and the Court has a lot of discretion to do what it deems best. Cw boils down to the fact that judges have a lot of power, but, then again, so do parents. The facts of the case also s power. Here are some issues that increasingly arise during child custody litigation:

  • Allegations of Abuse/Neglect
  • Parental Access Investigations 
  • Relocation from Maryland to another state (increasingly Texas and North Carolina but still many to neighboring Virginia and Pennsylvania)
  • Breakdown of communications. 
  • Ting children from parents with substance abuse problems. 
  • I have child support accurately in an age of digital currency, paid unemployment, and a growing number of independent contractors. 
  • Dealing with stubborn parents seeking 50-50 Custody to avoid paying child support (those seeking custody to avoid paying support are respectfully requested to seek counsel from other law firms 
  • Empowering children to succeed under parental arrangements provide the best opportunities, for the children, in an age when not all schools o excellent educations. 
  • W with children who try to take control o the custody process, sometimes under the undue influence of one parent seeking to undermine the other. 
  • Holiday visitation disputes concerning Christmas, Eid-1, Eid-2, Passover, and other f  occasions, like the birthdays of the children and the parents. In a diverse world, reconciling the interests of different parents wanting to celebrate v holidays is a trend in Baltimore County. 

How Amar Weisman Helps Clients In Child Custody Litigation 

  • Preparing Complaints for Custody, Custody Modification, and Contempt. 
  • Representation at all s court conferences and events. 
  • Preparation for public/private mediation 
  • Communicating with the Court, including Civil Assignment, Central Assignment, and the Family Services Division. 
  • Preparing, Obtaining, and Responding to Discovery. 
  • Corresponding and Negotiating with Opposing Counsel 
  • Identifying relevant evidence from schools, health care providers, daycare providers, and witnesses and getting the evidence from the origin in arm under the Maryland Rules of Evidence. 
  • Joint Statements Regarding Decision Making Authority and Parenting Time along and Maryland Child Custody Tools that are effective and provide the Court with what it needs, nothing more and nothing less. 
  • Helps each client respond to positions and actions taken by the other parent in a manner that protects the purity of the record. 
  • Harvesting Electronically Stored Information. 
  • Preparing the Client for Court.
  • I am calibrating realistic goals that can be pursued in a businesslike manner.  

The Children As Witnesses in Custody Litigation 

C upon to provide answers or testimony in custody litigation at an increasing rate. Children are testifying in chambers, talking to custody evaluators, calling the police, and speaking to social workers. When children testify o camera, they t to the judge, and their statements are summarized to the judge. Ensuring the right questions are asked is delicate and requires consideration. The role of children in custody litigation makes sense because it is essential to ensure the strategy for each custody case anticipates what the children will do, how they are doing socially and developmentally, and, last but not least, what is on their phones. 

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County has a p protocol for managing holiday visitation disputes between November 16, 2020, and December 18, 2020, meaning the c must be h somewhat before certain holidays. The protocol requires attorneys to submit information to the family law case manager f the holiday visitation to be heard by one of the judges assigned to the family law docket. H visitation dispute in Baltimore County, puch with the law firm immediately to protect parental access to your children during the holiday season. J, the resolution of a holiday visitation dispute depends on whether there is an existing court order with the force of law governing the holiday season. P o in existence to employ the narrowly tailored holiday dispute system. The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, the Circuit Court for Harford County, and the Circuit Court for Howard County have unique rules and case management plans that differ from Baltimore County. 

Scheduling Conferences Impacted By Covid-19 

Due to Covid-19, most settlement conferences in custody matters take place remotely using Zoom or traditional telephony. Conducting the m online means the process is truncated, more subtle, and requires additional &  attention to detail. P at the law firm office when the situation demands it. C p tax returns, W, and 1099 forms to counsel b the scheduling conference. Clients need to hire an attorney they trust and let go of any illusions that the process can be controlled or understood by the clients. It is not a science; it is an art. The following points are worthy of consideration: 

  • The settlement conference is not a trial.
  • P bring witnesses to a settlement conference. 
  • Do not expect to testify at a Baltimore County settlement conference, but know you might very well testify at a settlement conference in Anne Arundel County or Harford County. 
  • If you want to set up temporary child custody or temporary child support, it is possible to place an agreement on the record in front of the magistrate.
  • Seek temporary visitation child support. If appropriate, we will come prepared with SASI Worksheet conforming to MD Code, Family Law §12-202.
  • Strategically low which issues will and will not be contested. It is e a tew or too few contested m.
  • Help the client complete the Social Services screening accurately and in a manner that c flags whatever services would help the case development.
  • Request appropriate court services, such as a custody e, which is defined as a study and analysis of the needs and development of a child who is the subject of an action or proceeding under this Chapter and of the abilities of the parties to care for the child and meet the child's needs."
  • In The Circuit Court for Harford County, the Court may hold an initial hearing with evidence to establish a temporary visitation if one parent has no access to the minor child.

Baltimore County Requires Mediation in Most Child Custody Matters.

In cases where the matter is not settled in front of the family division m at the settlement conference, the Circuit Court for Baltimore County will generally require the parties to attend child custody mediation unless there is a reason not to attend mediation, such as domestic violence u MD Rule §9-205. Although the mediation may take place at the time of the Settlement Conference, this is rare and will usually be set up a few weeks after the Settlement Conference (this may depend on whether the case is set for the Family Law Expedited, Family Law Normal or Family Law Complex Track). H where mediation does not produce an agreement, it can be b for understanding the opposing party's positions and the arguments raised in the future.

The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman p clients for mediation by developing concrete positions and proposals to be used during the mediation. We find it best to enter mediation with a c understanding of what you want and why. This increases the chance of success. We review e terms with the client, including the main elements of legal and residential custody, and discuss how to approach the Child Access Schedule. One of the most important things is helping the client realize how inserting certain words o phrases into a parenting plan can impact the child in real-life.

 

Pendente Lite Hearings in Baltimore County.

The purpose of the Pendente Lite Hearing is to set up temporary child support and temporary alimony numbers that allow the dependent spouse to maintain the status quo living while the Litigation is pending. The strategy for the Pendente Lite hearing varies greatly depending on which side we represent. At a minimum, the preparation will involve preparing the client for direct examination, cn, developing questions for the opposing party, and exhibits c being mindful of the Hearsay Rule and the Best Evidence Rule.

Baltimore County Settlement Court.

Before the Settlement Conference, where the lawyers will speak with the retired judge (generally while the clients wait), your Towson Family Lawyer will work with you to simplify your case and emphasize the best evidence for the brief presentation to the retired judge. Your Baltimore Divorce Lawyer & Baltimore Custody Lawyer will use t Negotiation Skill Set to reach a compromise (if the client's goal is to g an s).

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County Child Custody Merits Trial.

The merits trial resolves all outstanding disputes and differences that have not been resolved by and between the parties. The t includes the presentation of the following:

  • Opening arguments by the attorneys for each party. If t is t Best Interest Attorney, s/he may provide an opening statement.
  • Fact witnesses I the parents, family members, personal friends, friends of the family, ministers, police officers, and social workers. C custody evaluators, domestic violence advocates, and colleagues. T and child counselors.
  • Expert witnesses, including any private child custody evaluators who make. R after interviewing the parties, the children, t collateral witnesses, school records, and medical records, these witnesses can identify relevant patterns like parental alienation syndrome.
  • Best Interest Attorney questions and findings, and any final recommendations.
  • P by the attorneys include photographs, previous court orders, custody evaluator reports, prescription medication records, neuropsychological evaluations, academic progress reports, and report cards.
  • Closing arguments by the Plaintiff's Counsel and Defendant's Counsel.

In child custody cases, the judge is afforded significant judicial discretion to t minor child's best interest.

Emergency Hearings

The vast majority of requests for emergency hearings are denied. The standard for obtaining an emergency hearing in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County is very high, and it is set forth in the Differentiated Case Management Plan. To qualify as an emergency, a dispute has to be more than the grounds for your complaint or your petition for contempt. Here is what probably does NOT qualify as an emergency: 

  • Failing to Follow the Custody Schedule 
  • Being Late for Visitations
  • Communicating Rudely/Profanely 
  • Threatening to Lie in Court or to Win in Court
  • Not Paying Child Support 
  • Parental Alienation 
  • Not Setting Up a Sensible Visitation Schedule 

What does qualify as an emergency, then? Generally, to prevail in a Motion for Emergency Hearing (the vehicle for any form of Emergency hearings in Baltimore County), there has to be the somewhat likely threat of bodily harm:

  • The other parent has a history of substance abuse and is exhibiting signs of substance abuse as of now 
  • The other parent obtained a passport without your knowledge and is following through with threats to relocate with the child to another country that is outside of the Hague Convention. 
  • The other parent has been charged with a violent felony, such as child molestation, murder, or aggravated assault, and has a history of committing violence against you or the Minor Child. 
  • Child Protective Services has issued a FINDING of ABUSE or NEGLECT (not just being "called" but the report with a negative finding either being likely or having been produced and delivered to you. 
  • The Minor Child reports serious and provable child physical abuse. This would not include having hygiene neglected. If there is verbal abuse that has led to psychiatric care or a tangible physical manifestation documented by an expert preferably more than the pediatrician but a child abuse center. 

or, possibly, an imminent far-away unauthorized relocation. 

Call For a Consultation With Towson Divorce & Custody Lawyer Amar S. Weisman.

Please Call (410) 321-4994 during business hours to schedule a free consultation t whether you want to retain Amar S. Weisman. The firm does not accept pro bono clients at this time. To h legal services and advice, you must pay a retainer, See Policy on Fees/Costs. The law firm is located in the heart of Towson near The Circuit Court For Baltimore County, Towson Town Center, Goucher College, and Towson University, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road (MD-146), Second Floor Towson, MD 21204. We represent 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 represented s out-of-state clients. The law firm does not guarantee the results in any matter.