Child Custody Lawyer Near Me

Legal and Physical Custody

There are two aspects to a child custody plan: physical custody and legal custody.

Physical custody is the responsibility to provide a home for one’s child. This includes providing meals, utilities, and household goods.

Legal custody refers to the responsibility to make critical decisions on the child’s behalf, such as the school he or she will attend, whether he or she will attend religious services, and the child’s medical care.

Joint and Sole Custody

Both types of custody can be held jointly or solely. When parents have joint custody, they both have the rights afforded by that type of custody to the child. For example, parents who have joint legal custody must work together to make decisions about their child’s upbringing. When a parent has sole custody, he or she makes all related decisions alone.

It is possible for a child to have a custody agreement that involves both joint and sole custody. For example, the parents might have joint legal custody while one parent has sole physical custody.

How is Child Custody Determined in Michigan?

When child custody is determined, creating an arrangement that suits the child’s best interests is the goal. To do this, the court works with a professional known as a Friend of the Court to gather information about the child’s personal needs and relationships with both parents. Information the court considers to make this determination includes:

• The child’s academic needs and each parent’s role in helping him or her thrive academically and intellectually;
• The child’s relationship with each parent;
• The child’s personal needs, such as access to specialized medical care;
• Each parent’s physical and mental health;
• Each parent’s income and ability to provide for the child financially;
• The child’s established routine and its value, such as attending church each week;
• Each parent’s history of cooperating with the court; and
• Any history of domestic violence or criminal activity in either parent’s household.

Work with an Experienced Clinton Township Child Custody Lawyer

As a parent going through a divorce, your child custody arrangement is probably one of your top concerns. To learn more about how child custody is determined in Michigan and how you can advocate for your rights and interests as a parent, speak with an experienced family lawyer. Contact our team at Iafrate & Salassa, P.C. today to schedule your free legal consultation in our office.