The Basics of Parental Visitation in Maryland

Published on
April 20, 2022
Written by
Angel Murphy
Category
Custody and Child Support

Many issues have to be resolved when you go through a divorce. For some, the separation may be relatively easy, but figuring out all the other issues is usually quite difficult. This is particularly true for couples who have children. Usually, when a couple has children, they must resolve child custody issues and determine visitation schedules. Developing visitation schedules in Maryland can be challenging because schedules often have to be crafted around hectic or unusual work routines. In addition, the court also has to determine whether the schedules align with the “best interests of the child”. In this post, we’re going to give a brief overview of visitation in Maryland. We will cover the four types of visitation schedules which can be developed and the factors involved in shaping each schedule.

Maryland Visitation Must Be Consistent with Best Interests of the Child

Divorced couples can develop their visitation schedules to ensure that these schedules don’t conflict with their other responsibilities. If couples elect to do this, they must still submit the schedules for approval by a Maryland judge. A Maryland court will impose schedules if couples don’t develop their own schedules independently. No matter what the specifics of the case, Maryland judges will always ensure that the visitation schedules reflect the child’s best interests.Using this standard means that judges will always conduct an independent analysis. If, for instance, a judge believes a parent’s past behavior may put the child in danger, then the judge can impose a “no visitation” schedule. If the parent is well-behaved and has a good relationship with his or her child, a judge can grant substantial visitation time to a non-custodial parent.

The Four Types of Visitation Schedules in Maryland

Visitation schedules in the State of Maryland fall into one of four distinct types or categories. The first category is referred to as “reasonable visitation.” This type of schedule is designed for parents who can still get along reasonably well after the divorce. The schedule provides for certain amounts of time for both parents but allows them to work out some of the details regarding visitation on their own. The parents don’t need supervised visits, and a fair amount of leeway is permitted.The next type of category is fixed visitation. It is much more thoroughly defined and attempts to minimize physical contact between former spouses. This is because former spouses often have difficulties communicating and coordinating with each other after divorce. Fixed visitation involves clear visitation rules; the court will give exact dates, exact times, and so forth.The next category is supervised visitation. A supervised visitation schedule requires that a third party actively supervises one parent during the time with the child. The court implements this whenever they believe private contact between one parent and the child could be dangerous. The reasons for this conclusion can be varied, but common reasons are past issues with drugs or violence.The last category is no visitation. This order is created whenever the court believes that contact with a certain parent would cause harm to the child, either in a physical or mental sense. There must be substantial evidence available to support this order because Maryland has a standing belief that, under normal circumstances, both parents should play an active role in their children’s lives.

Contact the Murphy Law Firm for More Information

This is merely an overview of how visitation works in Maryland. There is plenty more to know. If you would like to learn more, visit the Murphy Law Firm today by calling 240-493-9116.

Angel Murphy

Personable. Passionate. Persistent.

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