Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

Mother has hidded child from father and family

The baby (7yo) was removed from a loving environment. She left on Jan.21, 2000. Up until July 3, she was allowing us to keep him. None of us have seen or heard from the baby since July 3. We have no way on even knowing he is in danger . She will not even allow a phone call. I would like to know our recouse to get custody of this baby His teacher at school (1stgrade) thought she was his stpmother.What can be done. She is from a dysfuntional family. Now she has hidden the baby and moved from her previous address. Her foul mouth and treatment of him.We are afraid she has told him we do not want him anymore. On July 3, when my daughter just showed up and took him home he told her they were moving far away and he was very upset. Pleas give me some guidabce. Can we get a court order to get him until they can go to trial? Can we take the police and make her tell us where he is,if he is even safe and not brainwashed yet? Once we get the baby, if we find him, would it be legal for us to keep him until a trial dats. Help, five generations are agonizing over this. We are good parents, we have had good parents. Thank you, a very distraught great-grandmother. She is 22 yo and my grandson is 27 yo, HELP Thank you.


Asked on 7/20/00, 4:08 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Carolyn Press Chung & Press. P.C.

Re: Mother has hidded child from father and family

If the child's mother has taken the child and kept him from the child's father without a court order granting her sole custody, the father needs to file a claim for custody in the Circuit Court. It will be nearly impossible to do this successfully without a competent lawyer who practices in the area of family law. The father will need to show that he is more fit to have custody than the mother. In any event he will at least be granted visitation, which the mother will have to permit or be in contempt of court. Grandparents and great-grandparents can be very helpful in supporting the claim, but you will have little chance of getting custody for a grandparent if there is a fit parent available to care for the child. If you have reason to believe that the child is being neglected or abused, you can report your concerns to the Department of Social Services, and if they investigate and find that your fears are well founded, they will become involved and may be very helpful to you. If they find, however, that the child is being well-cared for, the parent's claim to custody of the child will be upheld.

Read more
Answered on 9/12/00, 2:48 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in Maryland