Royal Oak Child Custody Attorney

Fighting for custody can be one of the most difficult experiences for parents in Michigan. Unlike property division or alimony, this aspect of divorce involves much more than just financial matters. It involves something priceless — your children. Fortunately, you can fight for your rights as a parent with a Royal Oak child custody attorney by your side. But what do you need to know about this legal process in Michigan? How can you approach this situation with your best foot forward?

Fighting for Your Child’s Best Interests

The first thing you need to know about custody battles is that they revolve around your child’s best interests. Judges do not consider the needs or priorities of parents in these cases, and their focus lies entirely on the children. This means that if you want to win your custody battle, you must show that your child will benefit from spending more time with you as opposed to your ex. In order to build effective arguments, it helps to examine the factors Michigan family courts consider in regard to a child’s best interests:

• Emotional ties between the parent and child
• The ability of each parent to provide love, affection, guidance, and continued education
• The importance of maintaining the child’s current environment
• The importance of the family home
• The moral fitness of each parent
• The mental and physical health of each parent
• The child’s connection to their community and school
• The preference of the child (if they’re old enough)
• The ability of the parents to work together in the child-raising process
• Past instances of domestic violence
• Any other factor that the court thinks is important

Can I Still Get Custody if I Was Forced to Move Out of the Family Home?

The family home may play an important role in determining custody. As you might have guessed, family courts try to keep children in the same home after a divorce, as moving might result in unnecessary stress during this turbulent time. If you were forced to move out of the family home, your chances of a positive custody result may suffer. This is why it might be a good idea to fight for your home as much as possible – or at least push for the home to be sold in the property division process. This means that neither parent has an unfair advantage. 

Can My Child Express a Preference?

In Michigan, there is no specific guideline when it comes to children expressing preferences. While other states might provide an age at which children can express an opinion, Michigan law gives each judge discretion in this matter. The unwritten rule seems to be that if the child is 14, the judge will probably listen to their opinion. That being said, children as young as 7 may have their opinions heard if they are mature enough. 

Where Can I Find a Royal Oak Child Custody Attorney?

If you have been searching for a qualified, experienced child custody attorney in Royal Oak, look no further than Iafrate & Salassa, P.C. Over the years, we have helped numerous parents in Michigan fight for their custody rights. We know that the prospect of spending less time with your child after a divorce can be unthinkable. Book a consultation today, and you can get started with an effective action plan right away.