Southern Maryland Child Custody Attorneys in Waldorf and Lexington Park
We bring decades of experience to representing Southern Maryland parents in child custody matters.
At Southern Maryland Law, we are passionate about helping parents resolve child custody matters. We believe firmly in the importance of preserving the bond between parents and their children, and we take pride in using our legal knowledge and experience to help our clients secure the custody or visitation rights they desire.
Are you preparing to go through a divorce or separation? Do you need to modify your existing custody or visitation rights due to a change in circumstances? Do you need to enforce your custody or visitation rights against your former spouse or partner?
Our Waldorf visitation rights lawyers regularly assist clients in each of these scenarios. If you need help, we invite you to schedule an initial consultation with a proven Waldorf child custody lawyer at Southern Maryland Law.
Get Free Legal Advice About Child Custody in Waldorf, MD – Due to the complexity of Maryland’s child custody laws, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the basics before you try to make any decisions. Our lawyers have simplified what you need to know in our free online resource, the Maryland Child Custody & Child Support Guide.
Testimonials
Clients Trust Southern Maryland Law
Over 2000+ Satisfied Clients
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Anna C, Google
We used this firm for our Chapter 13. Mr. Gormley was very knowledgeable and compassionate throughout the whole process. He definitely went above and beyond to take care of us. After the bankruptcy was complete we were invited to a seminar about bouncing back. That invitation and…Read MoreACAnna C.
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Anna J, Google
I can not say enough about working with this team. Dave Gormley is one of the nicest most knowledgeable, but still down to earth lawyers that I have ever had the privilege of doing business with. He goes above and beyond to help anyone that I have referred to him. Not only is thi…Read MoreAJAnna J.
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Judith K, Google
I want to thank Tucker Clagett of Andrews Bongar Gormley & Clagett for taking my case when other law firms told me I “didn’t have a chance of winning”; well, we did win because Mr. Clagett displays something more than having a JD and experience. He also has a determined…Read MoreJKJudith K.
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Kenya H, Google
I used the firm for filing my Chapter 7. Mr. Gormely was courteous, professional, knowledgeable and responsive to my inquiries. He took time to explain the process to me and answer all of my questions during the first consultation which was free. The entire staff at Gormley &…Read MoreKHKenya H.
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Janery R, Google
Very professional and helpful. Atty. Clagett is very nice person and willingly to help you as much as he can. I love his staff especially Ms. Amanda. She is always there when I have questiones to ask. My case was new for me and I have no clue or idea how to deal with it but she i…Read MoreJRJanery R.
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Michael G, Google
I was involved in a motorcycle collision in 2013, it required a year of physical therapy, and 38 days in the hospital. Tucker Clagett worked with my wife and I while managing all legal affairs for us. I had to only focus on my recover while he and his staff handled all other aspe…Read MoreMGMichael G.
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Shelah P, Google
My husband and I are extremely satisfied with the legal assistance we have received from Dave Gormley. He has been helpful and always answered our questions throughout the process. A long time ago I worked for a law firm in Dallas and the hardest thing would be attorney availabil…Read MoreSPShelah P.
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Wanda B, Google
While caring for our increasing sick Mother, one of the most difficult experiences my sister and I struggle to manage, Dave Gormley and his staff continued to go over and above what was expected. Our Mom was very ill and had not formalized her final wishes. She was too weak to go…Read MoreWBWanda B.
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Delphine B, Google
From the first time that when I met with Attorney Gormley he was attentive and showed concerned about my situation. He was very strategic about his approach to my situation. The staff is very professional and proficient. He is an expert in what he do, and I very grateful and appr…Read MoreDBDelphine B.
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Heather B, Google
Mr. Gormley has been my attorney for years due to an extremely turbulent divorce, which lead to a financial breaking point a few years ago. He’s been nothing short of stellar during the entire debacle, consistently providing courses of action when the situation seemed hopeless….Read MoreHBHeather B.
Trust Your Child Custody Matter to a Local Family Law Firm – Unlike other law firms that are located in big cities and advertise their services to Southern Maryland residents, we are truly a Southern Maryland law firm. Our offices are located in Waldorf and Lexington Park, and we have been exclusively serving Southern Maryland residents for more than 55 years.
Discuss Your Options with an Experienced Lawyer in Confidence – When you schedule an initial consultation at Southern Maryland Law, you will speak with our experienced Waldorf child custody attorney one-on-one. They will answer all of your questions, and you will leave the consultation knowing exactly what you can expect going forward.
Secure Custody or Visitation Rights That Protect Your Children’s “Best Interests” – As we discuss in greater detail below, Maryland law requires all child custody determinations to be based upon the “best interests” of the children involved. Our Southern Maryland visitation rights attorneys can use their in-depth knowledge of this standard to seek the custody or visitation rights you desire.
If you need help with your a child custody order or visitation rights, contact our child custody lawyers in Waldorf today.
Maryland Child Custody Guide
Maryland Child Custody Guide
Family legal matters are scary and emotional. Do you know your options? Do you have a lot of legal questions?
You need answers and you need them now. When you have answers and know your options you can make informed, intelligent decisions.
We are experienced child custody lawyers in Waldorf, and we wrote this free legal guide so you can quickly & easily discover the answers to your legal questions. Know your options and be informed before you make big decisions about your family law case – like hiring a lawyer.
You can learn a lot in just 15 minutes by reading this Free Legal Guide now.
Who Will Handle My Case?
When you hire our law firm for your legal case, you don’t just hire a single lawyer. You hire a team. Each practice area has at least two attorneys who handle that area of law, so you have backup when you need it. Our paralegals are highly trained and have lots of experience. Plus they are unfailingly nice & pleasant to work with. You will love working with them!
Kathryn Lawryszek, Attorney
Child Custody Attorney
Kathryn Lawryszek is an Associate Attorney at Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett. She is our primary family law attorney. Nasheia Smith also helps managing the family law cases, due to her years of experience. Dave Gormley as helps manage the cases with his 30 years of experience.
Together, they are your family law team. Our family law team has decades of experience handling family law cases, including divorce, child custody, child support, and adoption cases.
Kathryn came to us after law school. She also worked in financial services for 2 years. Those financial skills have proven invaluable in cases she has handled.
Nasheia worked for a non-profit agency before she joined our firm, where she represented thousands of family law clients. During that time she developed a passion for family law issues, and gained the skill of cultivating positive relationships with clients to counsel them through difficult, emotional issues
Learn more about Kathryn here, and learn more about Nasheia here.
What Do Parents in Southern Maryland Need to Know About Child Custody?
As a parent, dealing with child custody issues can be challenging in a number of respects. Not only are Maryland’s child custody laws complicated, but the process of securing or enforcing child custody rights can be emotionally charged as well.
While you want what is best for your child, your child’s other parent probably does too. Unfortunately, your opinions about what is best might not necessarily align.
Seeking Custody or Visitation Rights in Maryland During a Separation or Divorce
A significant portion of our child custody practice at Southern Maryland Law involves representing parents during separations and divorces. If you have children, establishing custody and visitation is a mandatory part of the process.
When establishing child custody—whether through informal negotiations, in mediation, or in court—the “best interests” of the child always govern. Under Maryland Law, the following factors must be considered in determining what is in the best interests of the child (or children) involved:
- The fitness of each parent;
- The character and reputation of each parent;
- The quality of each parent’s relationship with the child;
- Each parent’s desire to have custody or visitation rights;
- Each parent’s ability to maintain normal family relations for the child;
- The child’s age, health, and gender;
- The child’s preferences, if he or she is of sufficient age to express an informed opinion;
- Any material opportunities that have the potential to impact the child’s future;
- The location and proximity of the parents’ homes;
- The length of separation of each parent from the child (if applicable); and
- Whether either parent has voluntarily abandoned the child.
Depending on the circumstances involved, post-divorce and post-separation parenting arrangements can range from one parent having primary custody and the other having visitation every other weekend to both parents spending equal time with their children (or even continuing to spend time together in a “coparenting” arrangement).
At Southern Maryland Law, our Waldorf child custody lawyers can help you explore all your options and seek a child custody arrangement that fulfills your needs and wishes.
An important fact to keep in mind when seeking child custody or visitation rights in Southern Maryland is that the law does not inherently favor either parent over the other. Likewise, working full time is not necessarily an impediment to securing primary custody. In fact, no single “best interest” factor will be determinative in any scenario.
When you choose Southern Maryland Law, you will work closely with your Waldorf child custody attorney throughout the divorce or separation process to ensure that you have every opportunity to secure the parenting rights you desire.
Modifying Your Existing Custody and Visitation Schedule
Is your child custody arrangement no longer working for you? If this is the case, you may be able to seek a modification in court. The Maryland courts allow for modification of child custody arrangements when there has been a change in circumstance and the modification is in the best interests of the child (or children) involved.
Our child custody lawyers in Maryland can determine if you are eligible to seek a modification. If you are, we can handle the entire process on your behalf.
Enforcing Your Custody or Visitation Rights in Southern Maryland
Is your former spouse or partner consistently violating the terms of your child custody arrangement? The Maryland courts treat this as a serious matter, and violating a child custody order can have severe consequences. Our Waldorf child custody attorneys can help you decide what to do, and if necessary, we can seek appropriate legal remedies in court on your behalf.
What do I do next?
If you need to speak with a trusted Southern Maryland child custody attorney, you can contact us directly to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced lawyers. You can also read our Child Custody and Support Legal Guide for some important tips.
At Southern Maryland Law, our Waldorf child custody lawyer offers flat fee initial consultations for a reason: If you have questions or concerns, we want you to seek help. You should never be deterred from speaking with a child custody and visitation rights attorney in Maryland due to financial considerations. We want you to have the information you need to make the right decisions for you.
Too often, people let family-related legal issues linger. They don’t want to deal with the stress, they feel like they don’t have the time, or they assume (or hope) that the issue will eventually go away on its own. Unfortunately, this passive approach often proves costly. Many issues can become more challenging to resolve if they are not addressed promptly.
During your initial consultation, you will speak with our Waldorf child custody attorney one-on-one. Everything you say will be held in strict confidence, and you will not be under any obligation to pay for additional advice. If you decide that you would like our help, we will clearly explain our fees so that you will know exactly how much you can expect to pay.
Our experienced attorneys also handle other types of family legal matters cases, including:
We serve family members throughout Southern Maryland. We are currently conducting initial consultations by phone and Zoom for individuals who prefer these options. To schedule an appointment, contact us today.
Why Choose Southern Maryland Law?
We are your community law firm
We have been a vibrant part of Waldorf for over 60 years. Waldorf has been very good to us, and we try to repay that kindness with community service. We believe giving back to our Waldorf community is part of our job.
Large enough, yet small enough
We are large enough to provide full service, but small enough to focus on you. The large firms that have satellite offices in Waldorf have dozens of attorneys who don’t live here. They use case managers to handle their clients. At Southern Maryland Law, you will be a name – not a number.
The senior law firm in Waldorf
We are the oldest law firm in Waldorf, and the 2nd oldest in all of Southern Maryland! We have stayed busy because we get results and treat our clients right. We would never have lasted this long if we did not.
Not your grandfather’s law firm
While our firm has been around a long time, we are not what you think lawyers are like. We pride ourselves on being a little more approachable, a little more casual, and a little more likeable than the average lawyer. We are real people with real solutions to your real problems.
