Ingham County Family Law Attorney

Michigan Family Law Firm Focused on the Best Interests of Children and Your Equitable Rights

One of the most tenuous issues involved in a divorce is child custody. Michigan courts, like those in all states, start with a presumption that it is best for a child to have frequent and continuing contact with both parents following a divorce, and judges will support joint custody arrangements if at all possible.

The exact child custody arrangement will be determined by the child’s best interests. There are two basic forms of child custody in Michigan, physical custody and legal custody.

Physical Custody

Physical custody is the place where the child is physically located. Parents may share physical custody and allow the child to spend equal time at each of their homes, or one parent can have primary physical custody, with the other having parenting time, also known as visitation.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to major life decisions that are made about a child’s life, such as where they attend school, medical care/medication/therapy/psychiatrist and/or evaluations, surgeries, piercing ears, nose and/or tattoos, having a child be in gifted class or skipping a grade in school, or any other major life decisions. The question is whether the parents can cooperate on child-rearing issues, not whether the parents necessarily get along. If they are able to communicate and come to an agreement on issues regarding their child, parents can share joint legal custody, or one party can be awarded sole legal custody.

Until the child reaches the age of 18, Michigan courts will determine custody, parenting time and child support. The court always begins with the established custodial environment and uses the best interest factors to determine if one parent or both parents have the established custodial environment and uses the best interest factors to determine custody, and parenting time. The child may give a preference but the court is to review all factors, not just where does the child want to reside.

Consult with Our Experienced Family Law Attorney Kristina Lyke Big Header

Are you facing divorce with or without minor children, or other matters such as custody, parenting time, enforcement of legal custody, change in school district, change in domicile, show cause matters, Personal Protection Orders, fair and equitable distribution of personal and real property, retirement, child support, spousal support or UCCJEA case if so, LYKE LAW, PLLC offers skilled legal services to families struggling with divorce and child custody disputes in Dimondale, East Lansing, Haslett, Holt, Lansing, Mason, Okemos, Stockbridge, or other areas located in Ingham County and throughout Michigan. Contact us online LYKELAW.COM or call 517.702.2000 to set up your initial consultation today.