Franklin Child Custody Attorney

In a divorce between parents, child custody is an important issue to work out. Custody refers to how parenting duties are split between the parents, including where a child will live. Custody arrangements can have a big impact on the role each parent will have in their child’s life in the years following a divorce. To protect your rights as a parent and your relationship with your child, it is highly recommended that you work with a knowledgeable Franklin child custody attorney to resolve any disputes regarding custody.

How Child Custody is Determined in Michigan

Ideally, the parents will work out a plan for how to share parental duties on their own based on the needs of their family. However, if this isn’t possible, custody arrangements will be determined by the court. To determine the most appropriate parenting plan, courts consider a set of factors focused on what is in the child’s best interest. These factors include, but are not limited to: 

• The child’s relationship with each parent
• The child’s special medical, physical, or social needs
• The child’s access to academic and other resources in each household
• The parents’ incomes and financial ability to support the child
• Any history of domestic violence in either parent’s household
• If the child is mature enough to express a preference, it may be considered. This cannot be the single factor that determines a parenting plan.

Parenting Time

Previously, the time a non-custodial parent spent with their child was known as “visitation.” Now, the time each parent spends with the child is known as “parenting time.” The amount of parenting time a child has in each household factors into any child support orders. To understand how these factors will impact your custody and support orders, consult a Franklin child custody attorney.

Parental Responsibilities

Parental responsibilities include more than just parenting time. They include the right to make decisions on the child’s behalf regarding their medical care, education, and lifestyle. This can include access to certain extended family members and the child’s religious upbringing. Parents can share parental responsibilities, or one parent can hold them solely. In either case, the parents may share parenting time, or one parent could have the child full-time. 

Modifying a Parenting Plan

When an established parenting plan no longer suits a child’s needs, one or both of the parents can request to modify it. When parents agree to a modification, they can easily submit their changes to the court and start parenting according to these changes. When one parent does not agree to the other’s proposed change, the parent seeking the change must demonstrate how the proposed new plan is in the child’s best interest. 

Work with an Experienced Franklin Child Custody Attorney

If you have children, their custody after your divorce is likely a hot-button issue for you. It’s essential to remember that you don’t have to face this challenge alone.

To learn more about establishing, enforcing, and modifying a parenting plan in Michigan, contact an experienced Franklin child custody attorney at Robbins & Licavoli today to schedule your initial consultation with us.