Birmingham Child Custody Attorney

Birmingham Child Custody Attorney

If you are facing a divorce that involves shared children, child custody is an important term of the legal process. There are, however, other instances in which child custody concerns commonly arise, including post-divorce modifications and instances in which children’s parents are not married. If you have a legal concern related to child custody, turn to the professional legal counsel of an experienced Birmingham child custody attorney. 

Child Custody in the State of Michigan

In Michigan, child custody is broken down into the following:

• Legal custody
• Physical custody and parenting time

Legal custody determines who takes on the primary responsibility of making important decisions on your children’s behalf, and the options include:

• You and your children’s other parent share the responsibility (one of you may have tie-breaking authority for those instances when you’re unable to reach an agreement).
• You and your children’s other parent split the responsibility according to the category of decision that needs to be made.
• One of you makes the decisions on your own (sole legal custody). 

The kinds of decisions involved include:

• Those related to your children’s schooling
• Those related to your children’s health care
• Those related to your children’s extracurricular activities and travel
• Those related to your children’s religious upbringing

Physical custody, on the other hand, determines how you and your children’s other will parent divide your time with the kids between you. Your options include:

• One of you becoming the primary custodial parent and the other having a parenting time (or visitation) schedule
• Both of you splitting your parenting time more evenly 

Child Custody Modifications

Often, child custody cases involve post-divorce modifications. The schedule by which you and your ex shared your children in the past may have adequately addressed your family’s needs then, but this can change over the course of time – and this is why Michigan courts regularly address the matter of child custody modifications. Your original child custody orders remain in effect throughout your children’s childhoods unless you modify the terms through the court. This means that, even if you and your ex agree to new terms between yourselves, the court – if it is called upon to weigh in – can find you in violation of its orders (if, for example, your ex changes his or her mind midstream). If you have reached a modification agreement between yourselves, however, the court is almost certain to accept the changes. If, on the other hand, you cannot come to an agreement, you’ll need the court to make a determination on your behalf.

Turn to an Experienced Birmingham Child Custody Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Are Looking For

If you have a legal concern that involves your children, it’s a serious concern that you are well-advised to seek legal guidance regarding. Because your parental rights are paramount, the trusted Birmingham child custody attorneys at the Law Offices of Robbins & Licavoli are standing by to skillfully advocate for your case’s favorable resolution. To learn more about how we can help, please don’t wait to contact us today.