In custody proceedings, Michigan courts will decide on two types of child custody. The first is legal custody, which gives a parent the right to make major life decisions for the child. These include decisions about the child’s education, religion, and medical care. The court can award sole legal custody to one parent, or joint legal custody to both. The courts typically try to award joint legal custody.
Physical custody will determine who the child will live with. When joint physical custody is awarded, the child will live with one parent a majority of the time, and the other parent will have parenting time. If the court awards sole custody to one parent, the child will only reside with that parent. The non-custodial parent may or may not be awarded parenting time.