Maryland Family Law Maryland family law opinions and commentary

CINA — Decision to close case — Parent’s understanding of child’s condition In February 2019, the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, sitting as a juvenile court, declared S.M. a child in need of assistance (“CINA”) due to medical neglect ...

CINA — Custody transfer from mother to father — Sufficiency of evidence At the conclusion of an April 26, 2021 combined adjudicatory and disposition hearing on a child in need of assistance (CINA) petition, the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Mental health evaluation The Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as a juvenile court, granted a petition to terminate the parental rights of D.Y.G. (“Mother”) and D.S.D. (“Father”), simultaneously awarding the Montgomery County ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Consent Appellant D.L. (“Father”) appeals from an order of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, sitting as a juvenile court, which vacated with prejudice his objection to the petition of the Baltimore County ...

CINA — Change in permanency plan — From reunification to custody by grandparents In these appeals, brought by the father, B.B., and the mother, J.P., we are asked to determine whether the juvenile court judge, the Honorable Cynthia Callahan, of ...

CINA — Sufficiency of evidence — Transfer of custody from mother to father In October 2020, the Howard County Department of Social Services filed a petition in the Circuit Court for Howard County, alleging that T.K. was a child in ...

CINA — Supervised visitation — Reduction in father’s visits L.M. (“Father”) appeals from an order of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as a juvenile court, which reaffirmed the permanency plan of reunification for L.M. (born 3/17) and Z.M. ...

CINA — Award of custody to grandmother — Best interest of child On March 1, 2019, the Baltimore County Department of Social Services (“the Department”) filed a petition, accompanied by a request for shelter care, alleging that then five-year-old A.W. ...

CINA — Change in permanency plan — From reunification to adoption by non-relative In 2019, the Circuit Court for Cecil County, sitting as a juvenile court, modified the permanency plans for D.J. (born January 2006), H.J. (November 2007), and P.J. ...

CINA — Paternity testing — Child’s best interest These consolidated appeals arise from decisions of the Circuit Court for Queen Anne’s County, sitting as a juvenile court, addressing competing claims of paternity in a CINA proceeding involving the child, W.W. ...