We Know You Have Your Child’s Best Interest In Mind As A Parent. We Are A Rockville Family Law Firm With A Whole Hearted Commitment To Your Maryland Family. We Can Answer Your Questions About Child Custody (Access) And Our Child Custody Attorney Brings You The Necessary Guidance With Experience, Strength, And Peace Of Mind.
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Why Choose Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee, LLC?
Highly Reviewed & Rated
5 out of 5 Stars on Google. Highly rated on respected legal site AVVO.
Experienced
We have over 3 decades of Family Law experience. We use this to protect what matters most – your children, finances, and future.
Flexible Meeting Hours
To accommodate your busy schedule, we offer consultations on weekends, in evenings after business hours, and through Zoom.
Empathy & Understanding
With a background in Psychology and Counseling, we know how to facilitate healthy communication. We utilize this knowledge when creating your tailored divorce strategy. We also provide you the legal and emotional guidance you need in this difficult time.
Trusted Referral Network
We have an excellent network of trusted experts, ranging from financial advice, to parenting experts, to psychologists – for you or your child(ren). You don’t have to guess, or hope you’ve found the right one
Responsive Staff
Your case is the center of your world. We understand you don’t want to be kept waiting in the dark. We pride ourselves in answering your questions promptly, and fully.
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What Our Clients Are Saying
Former Client
“Ellen Lee is absolutely THE BEST!!! If you need someone who will fight for your rights you should hire Ellen. She will ALWAYS come to court very well prepared. She WILL resolve your issues in your best interest.”
Betty W.
“Ellen has been my attorney for 14 years. She did everything from custody to child support. Back then, all I did was cry “sorry, Ellen!”. Ellen fought hard for me, even when I was ready to give in. Year after year, Ellen was there. It got to the point where her continued presence dismayed my opponent. If you want a lawyer to hug you – that’s not Ellen. If you want someone who will win for you efficiently for a fair price – HIRE Ellen, do your part, take her advice, and you won’t regret it.”
Former Client
“Ms. Lee handled my divorce a few years ago and I remembered how she was thorough in her diligence and also made me feel like a valued individual. So when I had a child support & custody case, I re-engaged Ms. Lee. Again, she treated me as a person, not a case. She advised me on the merits and realities of my case, so I didn’t feel as if I were being “sold” a bag of services. Ellen is eloquent and personable, which is a winning combination for an attorney.”
Actual Words Our Clients Have Used to Describe Us & Their Experience
“Ellen’s advice and presence was a godsend to saving my sanity. She’s honest, direct, and comes out swinging for her clients,” “She is time-efficient, aggressive, & knowledgeable,” “Ellen and her staff made me feel completely comfortable from the get-go,” “I highly recommend her services,” “Ellen understood and resolved my issues in a timely and professional manner,” “Ellen is eloquent and personable, which is a winning combination for an attorney,” “She advised me on the merits and realities of my case, so I didn’t feel as if I were being “sold” a bag of services,” “If you want someone who will win for you efficiently for a fair price – HIRE Ellen, do your part, take her advice, and you won’t regret it,” “Ms. Lee handled my divorce a few years ago and I remembered how she was thorough in her diligence and also made me feel like a valued individual.”
Schedule Your Consultation to Help Your Family Today!
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Physical and Legal Custody in Maryland
The state of Maryland requires that a custody arrangement provide for both physical and legal custody of the child(ren). The parent with physical custody provides a home for the child and makes the day-to-day decisions on the child’s behalf. On the other hand, legal custody refers to the right to make the big life decisions concerning the child, such as those dealing with education, religion, and medical care.
Sole custody
In a sole custody arrangement, one parent is granted both physical and legal custody. The child lives with the custodial parent, and a visitation schedule is established to allow the noncustodial parent to spend time with the child.
Split custody
In families with more than one child, the parents may decide to split up the custody of the children, with one parent assuming physical and legal custody of some of the children and the other parent assuming physical and legal custody of the other children. Sometimes older children have a say in deciding with whom they live.
Joint custody
Joint child custody can be arranged in a number of ways. Parents may share legal custody while one parent has physical custody. Or they might share legal and physical custody equally or nearly equally. A combination that includes elements of joint and shared legal and shared physical custody may also be arranged to suit individual needs. Our family law attorney can devise customized arrangements that will accommodate what is best for your family.
In most situations, both parents share legal custody of the child(ren) and one parent is chosen for physical custody. This ensures both parents have a say in the significant decisions regarding the child(ren)’s lives.
How Is Custody Decided In Maryland?
Generally, if both parents can agree on a parenting plan, the courts will accept any plan within reason. If the parents cannot agree, or come up with a fair parenting plan, the court will have to take a more active approach. The court will take many things into consideration for your Child Custody case. These considerations can include:
– Each parents ability to provide for the child(ren)
– Which parent can provide less disruption in the day-to-day life of your child(ren)
– Depending on the age of your child(ren) their wishes may also be taken into account
Don’t leave your child(ren)’s well-being to chance. Protect your parental rights before and after separation by speaking with lawyers who can provide legal advice specific to your situation. We can help you protect your future and guide you through this sometimes stressful process.
About Child Support in Maryland
Child Support is often a point of contention for parents. The purpose of child support is for the non custodial (parent who does not have physical custody) parent to provide financial assistance to the custodial parent for their child(ren). The state of Maryland has it’s own formula for calculating how much child support is owed, which takes most of the guess work out of things. However, Maryland also often employs changes to their child support laws, making things a little less clear. We at The Law Offices of Ellen L. Lee, LLC have over 30 years of navigating these changes, and we are here to help you through.
What Comes Next?
We understand that custody battles can present a difficult transition period for most. Surely you have questions. We will take our time to compassionately answer them with our extensive expertise. Call us at to get the peace of mind that comes with knowing things are being done right. Your form comes directly to our office via email, and we will respond within 1 business day, or often within hours the same day. Everything you share with us is confidential.
Our Office
We serve Maryland families locally in Frederick, Columbia, Annapolis, Howard County, and Rockville, Montgomery County, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, and throughout Maryland.