When crafting a custody order, a Maryland judge must do what is in the child’s best interest. To meet this standard, a judge will likely want or need to take your finances into account. Although a large bank account isn’t a prerequisite for custody, financial stability may make it easier to ensure that your child’s needs are met at all times.
Homes cost money
These days, it isn’t unheard of for apartment rent to be $2,000 or more per month. If you make minimum wage or are unemployed, it may be impossible to rent a place to live in by yourself. Therefore, you may expose your children to roommates who could potentially place your children in jeopardy. It’s also possible that you won’t be able to rent or buy a place large enough to accommodate your child or to maintain any home that you are able to purchase.
Food and clothes aren’t free
A lack of funds may make it difficult to ensure that your child has food, water and other basic necessities on an ongoing basis. It may also call into question whether you can put gas into your car’s tank or even afford a car at all. Absent reliable transportation, you may not be able to help your child in an emergency situation. Therefore, you may run the risk of not obtaining custody rights to your child in a final divorce settlement.
Obtaining a new job, reducing your debt or other financial moves may help you obtain maximum parental rights to your children. This is because securing your financial future may allow you to live in a safer part of town or take other steps to be there for your kids and convince a judge that granting custody is in their best interest.