Legal Question in Business Law in Maryland

I am not licensed in Maryland, therefore I can only speak in general terms.

There may be an implied contract for services even though there wasn't a written agreement. If the child and parents were told that this wasn't performed as a pro bono case, then I think you may have a case to recover. It may be a case where you can recover pro tanto to the amount of the loss or the whole amount.

Good luck.

Patrick is correct. Generally there are only a handful of contracts that must be in writing. Putting it in writing makes it easier to prove later on but in your situation you can argue there was a contract or an implied in fact contract based on the conduct of the parents. Unless you were doing pro bono then you can still take them to court.