McCarty v. McCarty
Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
807 A.2d 1211 (2002)
- Written by Robert Schefter, JD
Facts
Mr. McCarty (plaintiff) filed a custody motion against his wife, Ms. McCarty (defendant), seeking joint legal and physical custody of their three-year-old daughter, Jessica. Ms. McCarty filed a counter-complaint for sole legal and physical custody. The trial court awarded sole physical custody to Ms. McCarty, but delayed ruling on legal custody for six months and ordered the parties to work with a parent coordinator, Dr. Linda Gordon, to help determine if the parents would be able to communicate effectively in a joint legal custody arrangement. Although the parents had an “abysmal” communication history, after six months of counseling Dr. Gordon expressed optimism that the parents could resolve their differences and act together in the best interests of the child. The trial court, therefore, ordered joint legal custody. Ms. McCarty appealed and argued that she did not agree to joint custody and that she and Mr. McCarty could not communicate effectively with each other.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Moylan, J.)
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