Experienced in Child Custody and Child Support Matters
Experienced Guidance for Maryland Families
Few legal matters are more important than those involving children. Whether parents are separating, divorcing, seeking to modify an existing custody arrangement, or addressing child support concerns, the outcome can have a lasting impact on a child's daily life and future well-being.
Attorney Neveen Kurtom represents parents throughout Maryland in child custody, visitation, and child support matters. From negotiated parenting agreements to highly contested custody litigation, Mrs. Kurtom helps clients navigate difficult family transitions while keeping the focus where it belongs—on the best interests of the child.
Understanding Child Custody in Maryland
In Maryland, custody is generally divided into two categories: legal custody and physical custody.
Legal Custody
Legal custody refers to the authority to make major decisions affecting a child's life, including decisions regarding:
Education
Medical care
Mental health treatment
Religious upbringing
Significant extracurricular activities
Legal custody may be shared by both parents or awarded solely to one parent depending on the circumstances of the case.
Physical Custody
Physical custody refers to where a child resides and how parenting time is shared between parents. Physical custody arrangements can vary significantly from family to family. Some parents share custody equally, while others have a primary residence with one parent and scheduled parenting time with the other.
Because every family is different, Maryland courts do not rely on a standard schedule. Instead, judges focus on creating arrangements that promote stability, consistency, and the overall welfare of the child.
How Maryland Courts Decide Custody Cases
Many parents enter a custody dispute believing the court is searching for a "winner" and a "loser." In reality, Maryland courts are focused on determining what arrangement serves the child's best interests.
When evaluating custody, courts consider numerous factors, including:
The child's emotional and physical needs
The fitness of each parent
The child's relationship with each parent
The ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate
The child's educational and developmental needs
The child's relationship with siblings and extended family
The stability of each proposed living arrangement
Any history of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
The child's preference when appropriate
No single factor determines the outcome of a custody case. Instead, judges examine the totality of the circumstances and evaluate how each proposed arrangement will affect the child moving forward.
What Judges Often Focus On in Custody Cases
After handling custody matters throughout Maryland, Attorney Neveen Kurtom has observed that courts frequently focus on practical parenting issues rather than personal disputes between parents.
Judges often want answers to questions such as:
Which parent is more likely to support the child's relationship with the other parent?
Which parent has demonstrated an ability to place the child's needs above the conflict?
Can the parents effectively communicate regarding important decisions?
Which parenting arrangement provides consistency and stability?
How have the parties historically shared parenting responsibilities?
Parents are often surprised to learn that a custody case is not necessarily about proving the other parent is imperfect. Instead, courts are generally focused on identifying the arrangement that best supports the child's long-term well-being.
Common Custody Issues Handled by the Firm
Initial Custody Determinations
Whether parents are married, divorced, or were never married, establishing a clear custody arrangement can provide important structure and predictability for children.
Parenting plans often address:
Weekly parenting schedules
Holiday schedules
Summer vacation schedules
Transportation responsibilities
School-related issues
Medical decision-making
Communication between parents
Custody Modifications
Children's needs change over time. A parenting arrangement that worked when a child was five years old may no longer be appropriate when that child becomes a teenager.
Maryland courts may modify custody when there has been a material change in circumstances and a modification is in the child's best interests.
Examples may include:
Relocation
Significant educational changes
Ongoing co-parenting conflicts
Changes in a parent's availability
Concerns affecting the child's welfare
Emergency Custody Matters
Certain situations require immediate court intervention. Cases involving allegations of abuse, neglect, substance abuse, parental instability, or serious safety concerns may warrant emergency relief. Attorney Neveen Kurtom assists parents in seeking prompt action when circumstances place a child's well-being at risk.
Relocation Cases
A parent's decision to move can significantly affect an existing custody arrangement. Relocation cases often involve complex questions regarding parenting schedules, transportation, schooling, and maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents. These cases require careful planning and strategic advocacy to protect both parental rights and the child's interests.
Child Support in Maryland
Maryland law requires both parents to contribute financially to the support of their children. Child support is generally calculated using Maryland's Child Support Guidelines, which consider factors such as:
The number of children
Health insurance expenses
Work-related childcare costs
Extraordinary medical expenses
The parenting schedule
While guideline calculations may appear straightforward, disputes often arise when parents are self-employed, receive bonuses or commissions, own businesses, or disagree regarding income and expenses. Attorney Neveen Kurtom regularly assists clients with both straightforward and complex child support matters.
Does 50/50 Custody Eliminate Child Support?
One of the most common misconceptions in family law is that equal parenting time automatically means no child support will be paid. In reality, child support and custody are separate issues.
Even when parents share physical custody equally, child support may still be appropriate depending upon:
Each parent's income
Childcare costs
Health insurance expenses
Other child-related costs
The court's focus remains on ensuring that children receive appropriate financial support from both parents.
Enforcement of Custody and Child Support Orders
When a parent refuses to comply with a court order, legal remedies may be available.
Common enforcement issues include:
Denial of court-ordered parenting time
Failure to comply with decision-making provisions
Nonpayment of child support
Failure to reimburse agreed-upon expenses
Depending on the circumstances, the court may impose sanctions, modify existing orders, award attorney's fees, or hold a party in contempt.
Why Families Choose Neveen Kurtom
Child custody disputes are often among the most emotional and stressful experiences a parent will face.
Attorney Neveen Kurtom combines compassionate client service with strong courtroom advocacy. She understands that no two families are alike and that successful outcomes require more than simply knowing the law. They require understanding family dynamics, anticipating challenges, and developing practical solutions that work in the real world.
Whether a case involves a negotiated parenting agreement, a contested custody trial, a relocation dispute, or a modification action, clients receive personalized representation focused on protecting both their parental rights and their children's future.