Abney At Law, P.C.

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Abney At Law, P.C.
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Offering You The Family Law Help You Deserve

Child Custody Attorney in Rockville

I am Greg Abney, a Maryland family law and divorce lawyer. I founded my firm, Abney at Law, P.C., in Rockville to provide personalized legal services to clients throughout Montgomery County and the surrounding communities.

Maryland family law judges strive to ensure that the child’s best interests are always taken into full account when making custody and parenting decisions. If you are facing a custody dispute in your pending divorce or if you are divorced and need to address concerns about your current custody arrangements, I am ready to put my experience to work for you and advocate on your behalf.

A Personal Understanding Of The Stakes For Your Family

As a father of three children myself, I understand that if you are in the midst of a custody or parenting time dispute, your biggest priority is to protect your child’s welfare. I provide legal guidance on all legal matters related to your child’s welfare, including:

For most people in divorce or paternity disputes, after resolving the tough issues about custody and parenting time, financial matters such as property division and support seem to work themselves out.

Child Custody: Answers To Common Questions

Navigating any issue in divorce can be difficult. If you have a minor child, the future of your parent-child relationship is likely one of your top concerns. Parents often have a lot of questions about how child custody determinations are made in Maryland courts. Here, I have compiled a short list of common questions parents have about child custody and parenting time determinations. If you have questions about your specific case, I am available by appointment for one-on-one initial consultations.

What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody?

Maryland law recognizes two types of child custody – legal and physical. Legal custody refers to who will make important decisions about raising the child, such as those pertaining to school, religion, disciplinary matters, medical care in nonemergency situations and other substantial issues that involve the well-being of the child. Physical custody refers to the parenting plan involving when each parent will spend time with the child.

What is the difference between joint custody and sole custody?

In a joint custody arrangement, both parents share the relevant parental rights. In a sole custody arrangement, one parent serves as the primary decision-maker. Courts will generally provide a noncustodial parent with visitation rights when awarding sole physical custody to the other parent.

Can children choose which parent they will live with?

In general, children cannot choose which parent should have custody. The court may consider:

  • The child’s preference
  • Age
  • Maturity
  • The reasons underlying the custody preference

However, the final determination of what is in the best interests of the child is based on evaluating a range of factors. Children who are 16 or 17 years old may petition the court to modify a custody arrangement. Even in these situations, the court will weigh the overall evidence to determine whether or not to amend a child custody arrangement.

Can parenting time be denied to a parent for failing to pay child support?

No. Child support is intended for the child, not as a payment system to obtain visitation rights and parenting time with the child. The parenting plan outlined in the physical custody order of the court is not dependent upon child support obligations. However, a parent may seek to enforce a child support order in court.

Can an existing child custody order be changed?

Yes, if there is a material change in circumstances that justifies a child custody or support modification. If a change in circumstances has rendered an existing order unworkable, the court will evaluate the circumstances and determine if a modification is in the best interests of the child.

Call An Experienced Rockville Child Custody Lawyer

For straightforward answers to your individual questions – tailored to your family dynamics – please call to arrange an initial consultation. My office hours for consultations are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. I provide one-on-one personal service at affordable rates. Call 301-450-0786 or use the convenient email form to arrange a consultation.

My office is located near the Rockville metro station, just steps from the Circuit Courthouse. I do everything I can to keep my office overhead low, so I can pass lower attorneys’ fees on to my clients. I accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express for your convenience.