Divorce Lawyers Washington Township

Child Custody in Washington Township

Ideally, parents will agree on child custody and parenting time matters. When the two spouses can do this, the courts will typically approve the agreement and make it a final order. In cases when the two parents cannot come to an agreement on their own, the court will make the final decision about custody and parenting time. A judge will take the child’s best interests into consideration when making a decision on child custody and parenting time. 12 factors in total help judges determine what is in the best interests of the child. Some of these factors include:

• School, home, and community history of the child
• How willing each parent is to encourage a relationship between the child and the other parent
• The moral fitness of the parents
• The health, both physical and mental, of each parent

In most cases, the courts will try to award both joint and legal custody to both parents.

Child Support in Washington Township

Like with child custody arrangements, the two parents can agree on child support payments. However, they are never under an obligation to sign off on it. Parents, on the other hand, cannot waive child support, or say that their spouse does not have to pay it because it is the legal obligation of each parent to provide financial support to their child. 

There is a formula the courts follow when determining child support matters. This formula takes into account the income of each spouse, how much time the child spends with each parent, and the expenses associated with the child including healthcare and childcare costs. 

Property Division in Washington Township

Other than child custody and child support issues, property division is the most contentious aspect of many divorces. Michigan is an equitable distribution state, which means that property in a divorce is divided fairly, although not necessarily equally. Separate property, which is property each spouse brought into the marriage with them, is not divided under equitable distribution laws. Only marital property, or that which was acquired during the marriage, is divided.

Our Michigan Divorce Lawyers can Help with the Terms of Your Divorce

If you are considering divorce, or have already started the process, call our Washington Township divorce lawyers at Iafrate & Salassa, P.C., today. We can explain all the terms of divorce that apply to your case, and how the law will impact them. We will also work diligently and quickly to help make your divorce a little easier for you and your family. Call us today or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.