If you have chosen to call it quits on your relationship, but you have children with your ex, there is a lot you will need to figure out when it comes to child custody. A custody order does not just state how often each parent will get time with the children; it can also include specific details as to how certain things are to be handled — such as the hand-off of children. Thankfully, a family law attorney can help parents in Michigan figure all this out so that their custody orders truly meet their needs.
When it comes to handing off children at the end or beginning of your time with them, there are a few ways you can go about this. For example, you can drop them off at your ex’s home, he or she can pick them up from your home or you can name a specific public place for the hand-off to occur — among other things. It all comes down to what you feel comfortable with.
Why does having specific hand-off instructions matter? Anything included in child support orders is enforceable. So, if you or your ex fail to follow the order as written, you or they can seek police and court assistance to have the order enforced. For example, if your child custody order states that your hand-off is to take place outside your local police station on Wednesdays at noon, and your ex, who currently has custody of your child, fails to show, you may ask the police to pay your ex a visit. If necessary, you may also petition the court to have your ex held in contempt for failing to abide by the custody order.
The custody hand-off process may seem like a silly thing to have to include in a custody order, but it does serve a valuable purpose. This is true for many other details you might not think to include in your official custody plan. At the end of the day, the more specific an order is, the better it is for everyone. A Michigan-based family law attorney can help you seek a custody order that includes the details you believe it needs to work. For more information about child custody orders and how legal counsel can assist you with yours, please take a moment and visit our firm’s website.
