Michigan family law authorities adopt the common national stance that children in divorce are generally best served post-dissolution by continued meaningful contact with both parents.
Michigan statutory law underscores the possibility of joint parental custody, which one or both parents can request. A court will act on a motion following due consideration of a number of enumerated factors.
Linked with custody is the concept of parenting time, which centrally focuses on the legally allowed interaction that a noncustodial parent will be allowed to have with his or her children following divorce.
It is commonly the case concerning a parenting time schedule in Michigan that a mom and dad will seek to formulate a workable scheme in the first instance without court involvement. An in-depth online overview of the topic notes that, “The court will adopt whatever parenting time schedule both parents agree to, as long as it’s in the children’s best interests.”
If parents cannot forge a mutually agreed-to plan, a family law judge will provide them with a judicial blueprint.
In either case, a court will focus on a number of issues relevant to plan creation and execution. Those include consideration of these factors:
- Any history of family abuse or child neglect
- Any special needs a child might have
- Evidence pointing to parents’ ability or disinclination to work together in ways that promote a child’s best interest
- Effects that scheduling realities might have upon a child
Those bulleted points spell but a partial list of evaluative concerns. Every case will differ.
Questions or concerns regarding custody, parenting time or any other child-linked matter can be directed to a proven Michigan family law legal team.
