Maryland Family Law Maryland family law opinions and commentary

CINA — Psychiatric evaluations — Separate hearings The Circuit Court for Howard County, sitting as a juvenile court, adjudicated C.J. and CL.J. to be children in need of assistance (“CINA”) and committed them to the Howard County Department of Social ...

CINA — Supervised visitation — Abuse of discretion In this child in need of assistance (“CINA”) case, K.B. (“Mother”), the appellant, challenges an order entered by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as a juvenile court, that decreased the ...

CINA — Request for postponement — Abuse of discretion R.C., the minor child of C.C. (“Mother”) and Ri.C. (“Father”), was found, by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as the juvenile court, to be a Child in Need of ...

Custody — In camera interview — Best-interest attorney This appeal originates from a modification of custody award for the parties’ two minor children. Read the opinion

Guardianship — Permanency plan — Non-relative This case arises from a decision by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Division of Juvenile Causes (“the juvenile court” or “the court”), to change the permanency plans for four of the children of ...

Custody — Postponement — Exclusion of expert testimony In these consolidated appeals, appellant Kimberly Bartenfelder (“Mother”) challenges the order of the Circuit Court for Harford County awarding Thomas Bartenfelder (“Father”) sole physical custody of the parties’ four children. These parties ...

Children — Guardianship — Parental rights I.Q. was born in October 2018 to Ms. H. (“Mother”), appellee, and Mr. Q. (“Father”). I.Q. first entered the care of the Department of Social Services for Baltimore City (the “Department”) on January 10, ...

Custody — Third-party intervention — Emergency guardianship This appeal arises from a March 24, 2023 order issued by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County denying Monica Dudley, appellant, third-party intervenor status in a child custody dispute involving the minor children ...

Custody — Conflict of interest — Inadequate representation Appellant Charles William Crump (“Father”) and appellee Tiffany Olivia Crump (“Mother”) filed competing motions to modify a custody agreement relating to their two children. Read the opinion

Custody — Best interest of child — Legal fees When a child’s parents engage in litigation over custody of their child and find themselves unable to resolve the dispute themselves, it falls to the circuit court to determine the arrangements ...