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Maryland Child Custody and Support AttorneysYou want to be there for your children. You may be going through a divorce or be unmarried, but you can still be a wonderful single parent. It all starts by creating a child custody and support plan that is in the best interests of your children. At the La Plata law offices of Devine & Fanning, we help people throughout Southern Maryland find a way to be there for their children. Never Losing Track of Your Goals
Contact Devine & Fanning Today ♦ 301-753-4316Child support and custody issues arise in both marital and nonmarital situations. While your custody arrangement will affect your support payments, the two are separate issues. Visitation, which is an important part of any custody agreement, is also separate, as access to a child cannot be restricted based on whether or not support payments have been made. Because there are many complicated matters to be decided in these matters, you need an attorney who understands how the process works and can work with you to protect your interests each step of the way. Child CustodyUltimately, the court wants to come up with a plan that is in the best interest of the children involved. We can help you explore your options for both types of child custody: - Legal custody: This determines decision making power regarding medical, religious, and educational concerns.
- Physical custody: This determines where your children will live. If each parent has 35% or more of overnights, then it is considered a shared custody arrangement, which means less support payments must be made.
Every child custody plan also includes a visitation schedule. Similar to custody, the court will consider all options in order to determine what is best for the child. Child SupportMaryland has strict child support guidelines, with different worksheets based on sole or joint custody agreements. You may also seek a deviation from the amount suggested by the guidelines. They are not easy to obtain, but the court recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances for many people. Whatever plan you decide is best for you and your family, we will also make sure the court grants you the right to claim your child on your taxes for federal income tax purposes. Related Custody and Support MattersEvery family is different, and there are other family law matters that also involve child custody and support issues. We can help you with the following: - Paternity actions
- Adoption
- Third party custody
Contact UsFrom our offices in La Plata, our lawyers are ready to help you create a plan that works for your family. Located near the Charles County Courthouse, we are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Evening and weekend hours are available by appointment. Contact us today for more information.  
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