Although most child custody or visitation disputes can and should be resolved by the parents themselves through out-of-court negotiations, some unique and highly volatile child custody and access cases do require the court’s involvement. Often, these highly contested custody and visitation cases leave the children involved feeling confused, emotional, scared, angry, and lost in the process.
I have had a commitment to children’s well-being throughout my career both as a family law attorney and prior to that when I focused on children’s issues while obtaining my undergraduate degree in psychology. After representing parents in contested custody disputes for many years, I decided to be trained in representing children as well, and have gone on to represent many children ranging in age from the youngest being four years old to the oldest being seventeen.
Although representing children is challenging, it is highly rewarding work with a focus on assisting the court in making child custody and access decisions regarding the children I represent.
To find out how I can represent your children’s interests, call 410-357-1422.
There are three types of children’s attorney in Maryland:
- Child’s Best Interest Attorney
An attorney appointed by a court for the purpose of protecting a child’s best interest, without being bound by the child’s directives or objectives, and makes an independent assessment of what is in the child’s best interest and advocates for that before the court. - Child’s Advocate Attorney
An attorney appointed by a court to provide an independent attorney for a child, and who owes the child the same duties of undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and competent representation as are due an adult client. A Child’s Advocate Attorney should be appointed when the child is need of a voice in court, such as in relocation cases, when there are allegations of child abuse, or where the child is sufficiently mature and sees his or her interest as distinct from the interests of the child’s parents. - Child’s Privilege Attorney
An attorney appointed by a court in a case involving child custody or child access to decide whether to assert or waive, on behalf of a minor child, any privilege that the child if an adult would be entitled to assert or waive.
The appointment of a Child’s attorney is made by the court by way of an order, either by both parties submitting a joint request for an appointment, or by one party filing a motion for appointment of the Child’s attorney.
Contact Cynthia Batchelder, a family law attorney today at 410-357-1422. I serve the greater Baltimore area including Towson, Baltimore City, Harford County and the surrounding areas across Baltimore County, Maryland.
