As the holiday season approaches, many parents can feel the pressure of dealing with the challenges of their holiday visitation schedule. Whether this is the first holiday season that you have to adhere to a visitation schedule with your ex, or perhaps you are dealing with a new change in the holiday schedule this year, there are steps you can take now to minimize the holiday stress with your ex.

Every co-parent should review their parenting plan or existing custody order prior to the holidays. If everything is still ok and no changes or accommodations need to be made, then a simple confirmation with your co-parent should suffice. If there are issues with your current schedule and need to change it, you should first communicate your request to your co-parent and see if any accommodation can be made. Both parents should be flexible and compromise to avoid unproductive communication. Some co-parents may consult and use the services of a mediator if they cannot reach an expeditious agreement among themselves.  Mediation can be an effective tool that may resolve the issue(s) without having to litigate in court. 

Renegotiating with your ex to change the holiday schedule, either on a temporary or permanent basis, can be challenging. If speaking with your co-parent is not fruitful and mediation does not work, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney to discuss your options. Some of the options available may be filing a court modification or enforcement. If you have any questions about your upcoming holiday access schedule, feel free to contact our firm and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your legal options. 

With the start of the school year underway, the changes in your children’s schedule may spark renewed discussions with you and your ex regarding changing your custody schedule. Maybe your child is starting kindergarten, or perhaps your child’s after school activities are more time consuming and you have to figure out a new pick up schedule… many new changes may have parents needing to address an existing custody arrangement or perhaps even modify it.

Below are some helpful tips to consider as you handle these changes:

1. Be respectful and be a good listener. The conversation and concerns will go much smoother if you approach concerns with a positive attitude.

2. Put your child’s needs and priorities first. If there needs to be an adjustment due to schedule or a new change and it is in your child’s best interest to do so, you should give it some serious consideration.

3. If you and your ex cannot come to an agreement, consider other options like mediation before resorting going to court. Litigation is the most expensive option to go through and there are other avenues to explore.

4. Consistency is important as it pertains to a child’s schedule. If you do come to an agreement and make some adjustments, stick to them as best as you can as to avoid constant disruption in your child’s life.

Change can be stressful but it is also manageable. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your options.

One of the most difficult circumstances that people can encounter in family law matters is mental illness and how it affects a person’s life and family. If kept hidden, it can have devastating effects on relationships and custody matters. Depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and addiction are some of the conditions that are classified by the courts as mental illness.

When determining custody, the court takes into consideration many factors before issuing a custody order. In Maryland, the court will determine custody by deciding on what is in the best interest of the minor child. That being said, having a mental illness does not mean that you are unfit to have custody of your child. The court will consider factors like one’s psychological diagnosis, treatment plans, willingness to seek help, whether there are frequent hospitalizations, and whether there are violent outbursts in making their decision. The court will evaluate, among other things, whether there is a history of safety concerns to the child at anytime. Depending on the case, expert witnesses may need to provide documents and testimony to the court. Ultimately, the court wants to keep both parents in their children’s lives and will weigh how a parent’s mental illness affects the child’s best interests.

Mental health concerns and the impact on child custody matters are complex when you are going through a custody battle. If you have any questions or concerns about how mental health can impact your divorce or custody matter, please call us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to answer all of your questions.