Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland
stolen custody
APPROX.10 YEARS AGO I GAVE A FAMILY MY CHILD UNTIL I BECAME STABLE. THE FAMILY HAD THE CHILDS FATHER TO SIGN CUSTODY OVER TO THEM WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.THE FAMILY WENT ON THE RUN AND I COULD NOT FIND THEM FOR 5 OF THE 10 YEARS. SINCE I FOUND THEM I WANT MY CHILD BACK BUT A JUDGE SIGNED THE ORDER NOT KNOWING THE CHILD HAD NO CONTACT W/ THE BIO-DAD THAT GAVE THE OTHER COUPLE CUSTODY.....HELP!!!
1 Answer from Attorneys
You would have to file a petition to modify custody, and given the significant time interval this will be a very difficult task. You will probably have to do this in the state where the child has been living. You need to consult with an experienced family attorney in that state who can review your situation in more detail and more accurately assess your chances and what you will need to do. You may want to consider trying to get some visitation with the child initially, especially since if they child was very young when you relinquished custody he/she may not even know who you are at this point.