Nothing is more important to a parent than their children. Every parent wants to ensure that no matter what, their children’s best interests are always a top priority—and sometimes, that means getting help from a seasoned legal professional.
At The Smith Law Offices, P.C., our experienced child custody attorneys are proud to serve families in Livonia and throughout Wayne County. We take a focused and proactive approach to protecting your family and advocating for you and your children. We’ll take the time to listen to you, learn what is most important to your family, and find ways to resolve child custody situations with your family’s best interests in mind.
Whether you need help resolving a child custody case, parenting time issue, or visitation schedule, we want to hear from you. Contact The Smith Law Offices, P.C., today and book your free consultation with a child custody lawyer serving Livonia.
In 1970, Michigan enacted the Child Custody Act, which outlines the rights of minor children and provides guidelines for making custody, support, and parenting time arrangements in disputed situations. The legislation also helps clarify the types of parenting and custody structures a court may enforce to manage the child’s best interests.
Michigan courts recognize the value of allowing a child to build meaningful relationships with both parents and prefer to assign joint custody whenever possible. Joint legal custody in Michigan involves both parents sharing decision-making authority regarding the child’s best interests, including healthcare and educational decisions. There is a difference between joint legal custody—a parent’s decision-making rights—and joint physical custody. Joint physical custody is when the child’s living arrangements are shared between both parents.
Sole legal custody means only one parent is responsible for making decisions on behalf of a child. Sole physical custody means the child lives with only one parent. Sole custody situations may arise when there are issues of abuse, neglect, or violence, or when parents cannot work together or focus on their child’s best interests.
The Child Custody Act lays the groundwork for how Michigan courts determine custody arrangements. Like many jurisdictions, Michigan courts use the “child’s best interests” standard to evaluate which custody arrangement best serves a child’s needs, allowing them to grow, thrive, and build loving relationships with family members. Wayne County courts use the “12-factor test” to determine the best custody arrangement to meet the child’s needs. The 12-factor test allows courts to consider:
An experienced family law attorney can help you show the court that your preferred outcome is in the best interests of your child and work to advocate for you and your family.
If you have a child custody need in Livonia, your case will likely be heard by the Family Domestic section of the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan, located at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. Its address is 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48226.
Divorce and separation are not easy for adults, let alone children. It can be challenging for children, especially young children, to understand what it means when parents go their separate ways. During this emotionally charged time, it can be hard to advocate for yourself and your child. A skilled child custody attorney serving Livonia can help you seek a child custody arrangement that meets your and your family’s needs while protecting your legal rights as a parent.
Regardless of whether you and your co-parent are on good terms, the legal team at The Smith Law Offices, P.C., can carefully review your situation and outline the best path forward for you and your family. We can discuss appropriate child custody and parenting time agreements, your child’s best interests, and any unique circumstances that may impact your case. Our goal is to find legal solutions that help you and your child grow and build healthy parent-child relationships.
It may feel like a court-ordered child custody agreement is set in stone. However, life takes many twists and turns, and you may need to adjust visitation and custody arrangements. Our child custody lawyers can also help you when circumstances in your or your former partner’s life change, and you need to modify the terms of your current child custody arrangement.
Are you a parent in Livonia, Wayne County? Do you need help asserting your parental rights? If so, the legal team at The Smith Law Offices, P.C., wants to help you find solutions to your child custody case. We will listen to you and craft a strategic legal plan with your child’s best interests in mind. Your priority is our priority: a child custody arrangement that benefits your family.
Contact our office today and book a confidential legal consultation with a child custody attorney serving Livonia. We look forward to meeting you, hearing your story, and learning how we can help.
