Maryland Family Law Maryland family law opinions and commentary

CINA — Custody and guardianship — Godmother Father appeals the order of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City granting custody and guardianship of nine-year-old T.D. to her Godmother, A.W., with whom she has lived for the last six years. Read ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Exceptional circumstances This is an appeal from a judgment of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, sitting as the juvenile court, that granted the petition of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services ...

CINA — Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children — Relative placement This case is a consolidated appeal of two related cases: (1) a case regarding changing the child’s (“K.H.”) reunification with Mother, K.D. (“Appellant”), to the child being adopted ...

CINA — Testimony of social worker — Hearsay Ms. S. (“Mother”) had primary legal and physical custody of her three children, who all have different fathers. At the time of the appeal, the youngest child (“L.M.1”) was eleven months old, ...

CINA — Change in permanency plan — From reunification to adoption In July 2019, the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, sitting as a juvenile court, found five children to be children in need of assistance (“CINA”), after appellant, Ms. B ...

CINA — Permanency plan — Custody by relative in lieu of reunification In the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, a family law magistrate recommended a permanency plan of placement with a relative for custody and guardianship of L.B. Appellant ...

CINA — Visitation — Mediation Appellant, N.Y. (“Mother”), appeals from an order of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, sitting as a juvenile court, which denied her exception to a visitation order recommended by a family magistrate, granted custody and ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Ineffective assistance of counsel The Circuit Court for Montgomery County terminated a father’s parental rights. He appealed. In his appeal, the father does not directly challenge the circuit’s court’s factual findings or legal ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Right not to testify This case is before us on appeal from an order of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, sitting as a juvenile court, granting a petition to terminate the parental ...

CINA — Termination of parental rights — Mother’s absence from hearing M.S. appeals a judgment of the Circuit Court for Cecil County, sitting as the juvenile court, that terminated her parental rights relating to her four biological children: B.G., D.G., ...