Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
physical custody
(In Maryland) I am 21 and my girlfriend is 18. We had a baby, and after three months, we moved in with her parents. Everybody got along, including grandparents. Her father and me argued and now he has banned me from the property and will call police if I telephone. Since that incident, they have completely cut off communications with me and my parents. My parents live in another state (AZ) and have offered to let me bring the baby there. They have also offerd to let the babys mother move in also if she would like. Her mother is obsessed with the baby (now 5 months old) and the fact that the baby stay with them. I have been in daily contact with the baby through the Mother and have paid all incidental expenses not covered by WIC and Social services. I want to bring the baby to AZ with or without the consent of the Mother. What would happen if the next time I had the opportunity I would just whisk the baby away to AZ?
2 Answers from Attorneys
physical custody
Petiton the Court for joint legal custody. If you plan on moving out of State ask for shared custody. In either case the Court will award you visitation. Don't delay, the longer the mother has the child without your presence, the harder it will be to get shared custody. Hire a good domestic law lawyer, like myself, to assist you in this matter.
Re: physical custody
Unless you want an Amber Alert broadcasted on the child and the FBI hunting you down, I strongly advise against it. The proper course to take would be to ask the mother to move to Arizona with you. If she does not want to, your other option is to file for at least joint physical and legal custody.