Most parents will do everything in their power to protect their children. Unfortunately, during divorce, it can be hard to protect your child from the emotional challenges that come with watching their parents separate. However, when you work with an experienced child custody attorney serving Dearborn Heights and greater Wayne County, you can protect your child’s best interests and fight to remain a present and active participant in their life.
At Smith Law Offices PC, our child custody lawyers understand how challenging separation can be for you, your child, and your family. We want to work with you to achieve the most favorable outcome possible, protecting your and your child’s legal rights and helping you find legal solutions to your visitation and child custody issues.
Protecting your child matters to us. Contact our office today to arrange to meet with an experienced Michigan child custody lawyer about your case. We proudly represent families in the Dearborn Heights and Wayne County area.
Visitation and child custody are legal terms that refer to the court-ordered arrangement that outlines a child’s relationship with each parent following divorce or separation. Child custody is a broad term that can refer to any legal arrangement established by a Michigan court. Many families are confused by the generic phrase because it does not adequately describe the numerous custody arrangements that may impact your family. Understanding Michigan child custody agreements can help you and your attorney find the best arrangement for you and your child based on your circumstances.
Michigan courts recognize the value of allowing a child meaningful relationships with both parents, making joint custody an ideal arrangement. However, joint and sole custody can mean different things.
In Michigan, there is legal custody and physical custody of a child. Legal custody is the ability of a parent to make vital decisions on behalf of a child, such as medical care, education, religious affiliation, and other essential decisions that can impact a child’s well-being. Physical custody refers to a child’s primary residence or where that child lives most of the time.
Depending on the situation and the child’s best interests, the court can draft various versions of a custody arrangement that outlines which parent has physical and legal custody. Joint physical and legal custody may be ideal for some situations. However, if joint custody is not in the child’s best interests, a judge can draft an agreement that designates one parent as the decision-maker or the child’s primary custodian.
Divorce can be an emotionally taxing and challenging time for families. Some spouses can work together to agree on a mutually beneficial child custody or visitation schedule that works for them and their child, and a judge can ultimately approve it. In other cases, it may be too difficult for parents to reach an agreement, necessitating a Michigan court’s intervention.
Child custody decisions are not made lightly. A judge must consider numerous factors that impact the health and well-being of the child to come to a decision that is in the child’s best interests. The Michigan legislature outlines the factors for deciding what is in a child’s best interests to help the Michigan family court system issue rulings in child custody cases. Some specific factors can affect how a Wayne County judge rules in a child custody case, as outlined in the 12-factor test. The factors that a judge can use to help them determine what type of custody arrangement benefits a child include:
While the first 11 factors are self-explanatory, the final factor gives judges broad discretion to evaluate other issues that they reasonably believe could impact a child’s best interests.
Child custody and visitation are not areas of family law you want to manage alone. Your relationship with your child is at stake. That’s why you need an experienced child custody lawyer to help you manage the obstacles and complications of establishing a child custody arrangement.
Smith Law Offices PC serves families in Dearborn Heights and the greater Wayne County area. We aim to protect your and your child’s rights and find legal solutions that keep you in your child’s life. We carefully review your situation and seek ways to achieve the best possible outcome for your family. Our family law attorneys know what it takes to build a solid child custody case.
Creating parenting plans, visitation schedules, and a child custody arrangement with an ex-partner can be challenging. We advocate for you and your child and have the knowledge and resources to help you resolve custody issues that allow you to have a meaningful and loving relationship with your child and participate in their growth and development.
Smith Law Offices PC is a small firm specializing in family law and child custody matters. We devote all our time and effort to helping families like yours in the Dearborn Heights and Wayne County areas resolve their legal issues as favorably as possible. We take the time to get to know you and your child so we can develop a legal strategy that best addresses your needs and concerns.
Whether you are going through a divorce or need help modifying a current custody agreement, we are here to help. Contact our office today to request a confidential legal consultation with a compassionate child custody attorney serving Dearborn Heights and Wayne County.
