Child Custody law and procedure varies greatly from state to state.

This information concerns Maryland custody law only.

The information on this page is general and is not meant to replace legal advice.

The Maryland Family Law court system is complex and Maryland Family Law requires judges to consider many variables and laws before making a decision in each Family Law case.   Individual laws cannot be fully comprehended without understanding how they interact with each other and within the elaborate Maryland Family Law Court system, and trying to interpret individual laws without understanding how they each interact with each other and within this system could lessen the chances of being able to win a case.

It is in your best interest to consult an attorney with experience in Maryland Family Law courts before agreeing to anything or signing anything regarding your Maryland divorce, custody, or domestic violence/abuse case.

In Maryland a material change in circumstances which relates to the welfare of the child is required for a change of an exiting Custody Order, and any such material change must be weighed with maintaining the stability of the child's life.

Stability is preferred, however, it is not the only reason for requiring proof of a change in circumstances to justify a modification of an existing Custody Order.   The other reason is to keep a litigious or disappointed parent from relitigating custody endlessly upon the same facts, hoping to find a judge sympathetic to his or her claim.

Maryland law is that an Order determining custody must be afforded some finality, even though it may subsequently be modified when changes so warrant to protect the best interest of the child.

A "material change of circumstances" is not required to change a Temporary Order for Custody.