The Merits of and Problems with Presumptions for Joint Custody
The Merits of and Problems with Presumptions for Joint Custody
The Merits of and Problems with Presumptions for Joint Custody
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Children & <strong>The</strong> Law<br />
Features<br />
4 <strong>The</strong> Kids Are Not All Right<br />
By Judith A. Wolfer, Deena Hausner <strong>and</strong> Sue Brown<br />
12 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Merits</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Problems</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Presumptions</strong><br />
<strong>for</strong> <strong>Joint</strong> <strong>Custody</strong><br />
By Dorothy R. Fait, Vincent M. Wills <strong>and</strong> Sylvia F. Borenstein<br />
18 <strong>The</strong> Truancy Reduction Pilot Program·<br />
By <strong>The</strong> Honorable Leah f. Seaton <strong>and</strong> Master Robert E. Laird, Jr.<br />
24 <strong>Custody</strong> <strong>and</strong> Visitation Cases; How to Serve the<br />
Child's Best Interests<br />
By <strong>The</strong> Honorable Diane 0 . Leasure, Alisa Gross Cummins <strong>and</strong> Keith N. Schiszik<br />
32 Iron Fist in the Velvet Glove<br />
By Teja Rau<br />
40 Growth Spurt Hits International Law Related To Children<br />
By Hadrian N. Hatfield <strong>and</strong> Melissa A. Kucinski<br />
48 Same-Sex Couples <strong>and</strong> <strong>Custody</strong> <strong>and</strong> Visitation<br />
By Toni S. Boettcher<br />
54 <strong>The</strong> Muddle <strong>of</strong> Determining Moral Turpitude<br />
After Silva-Trevino<br />
By Eric H. Singer<br />
Departments<br />
58 Ethics Docket<br />
1 Ethical Requirements Pertaining to Targeted Mail Advertising<br />
62 Attorney Grievance Comission<br />
<strong>The</strong> Relationship<br />
January 2012 MARYLAND BAR JOURNA L 3
he erits (If <strong>and</strong><br />
I f@b e10S <strong>with</strong><br />
1 resulnpti(lns f(lr<br />
JcJint Cust(ldJ<br />
By Dorothy R. Fait, Vincent M. Wills<br />
<strong>and</strong> Sylvia F. Borenstein<br />
FOR MANY YEARS. a bill has been introduced in the<br />
legislature that would create a presumption <strong>of</strong> joint<br />
legal <strong>and</strong> joint physical custody in every custody pro<br />
ceeding. Proponents <strong>of</strong> the joint custody presumption<br />
state that the bill recognizes both parents' natural <strong>and</strong><br />
constitutional rights to participate in the rearing <strong>and</strong><br />
custody <strong>of</strong> their child after divorce or if the parents<br />
have never married or cohabited together. Proponents<br />
<strong>of</strong> the presumption support their proposition <strong>with</strong> one<br />
sided. heart-w renching stories <strong>of</strong> parents who have<br />
limited access to their children: they also cite Md. Code<br />
Ann .. Fam. Law§ 5-203 (a)(l) (2006. Repl. Vol.). which<br />
states that the parents are the joint natural guardians<br />
<strong>of</strong> their child. In addition. proponents reference statis<br />
tics regarding the Mprevalence- <strong>of</strong> joint custody in other<br />
states. While the stories are an un<strong>for</strong>tunate reality <strong>for</strong><br />
noncustodial parents. the <strong>of</strong>t-cited statistics are gener<br />
alized. exaggerated. or misleading.<br />
January 2012 MARYLAND BAR JOURNAL 13
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