» Children

November 17, 2021, and its Breona C. v. Rodney D. decision from the Court of Special Appeals, may mark the end of contempt as a meaningful tool for seeking compliance with child custody orders. The case involved a constructive civil contempt action f… Read More

Since writing my series on Maryland Third Party Custody, and in particular in Consent, De Facto Parents & Multi-Parent Families, a major development occurred in July 2021. The Court of Appeals, Maryland’s highest Court, issued EN v. TR, reviewi… Read More

How are parents’ constitutionally protected beliefs and behaviors weighed against children’s best interests in child custody decisions? The Fourteenth Amendment of the United States’ Constitution protects against the state’s t… Read More

When it comes to where a child of separated parents lives, the child’s schedule for spending time with each parent, and decision-making about a child, the guiding principle is the child’s best interests. In settlement, this means the pare… Read More

On January 10, the Maryland General Assembly begins its 2018 legislative session. The Maryland State Bar Association’s (MSBA) Family and Juvenile Law Section Council’s (FJLSC) Legislative Committee actively monitors family law and related… Read More

A December 11, 2017 Washington Post article, “More than 20 states in 2017 considered laws to promote shared custody of children after divorce”, states: “Now lawmakers are accelerating this trend toward co-parenting, with legislature… Read More

What is a Right of First Refusal for Parenting Time? It is the other parent’s right to spend time with the children if you are unavailable to be with them during your scheduled time. It obligates you to offer that time to the other parent befor… Read More

Parents divorce; children don’t divorce their parents. When it comes to holidays, co-parenting goes beyond keeping to the holiday schedule. Children rely on parents for help. Holidays are no different. Cooperative co-parents help children enjoy… Read More