Caldwell v. Sutton

Sheila Caldwell v. Marquita Sharrice Sutton, No. 424, September Term, 2022. Opinion by Graeff, J. FAMILY LAW – CHILD CUSTODY – THIRD-PARTY CUSTODY OF CHILD – DE FACTO PARENTHOOD – CONSENT TO FORMATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF PARENT-LIKE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHILD – “GOOD CAUSE” TO AWARD CUSTODY PURSUANT TO MD. CODE ANN., FAM. LAW ART. § 9-101.2 A court order granting custody to a third party, by itself, does not terminate the biological parent’s parental rights or give the third party status as a legal parent in a subsequent custody dispute. When a legal parent, who consented to custody while the…