Michigan Child Custody Lawyer

We are experienced Custody Attorneys in Michigan and Family Lawyers in the Metro Detroit area (Macomb county, Oakland county and Wayne county). Few matters are as personal and as vital as child custody. The outcome of a custody dispute will forever impact your life and your relationship with your children. For nearly 25 years, the attorneys at Goldman & Associates have aggressively fought for the rights of their clients and their client’s children to ensure that awards of custody serve their best interests.

The attorneys of Goldman & Associates understand the difficulties that come along with child custody cases for all parties involved, and we truly aim to make the transition as easy as possible for our every client. Our lawyers are experts in providing solutions and outcomes that our clients desire, and we can assist you with the following in your child custody case:

• Establishing custody or visitation schedules
• Child support payment calculation
• Explanation of processes
• custody modification
• mediation
• for military personnel

What is Child Custody?

Child custody is a legal term sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and child. This includes the parent’s right to make decisions on behalf of the child, as well as their duty to provide for the child.

Child Custody In Michigan

Establishing child custody in Michigan is ultimately decided upon by a judge, though he or she will take your pleas into consideration along with a number of other items, such as best interest of the child, wishes of the parents and children, home environment stability, income level, employment stability, and ones ability to provide for and take care of the children.

Having custody of your child can mean legal custody, which is the right to make important decisions that affect your child’s life such as religious affiliation, medical care and education, or physical custody, which is the actual possession and control of your child, or both. Joint custody can mean either joint legal custody, where the parents share decision making power, or joint physical custody, where the child divides his or her time between each parent’s home, or both.

In Michigan, the court determines custody based upon what it determines is in the best interest of the child. In making this determination, the court considers any factor relevant to the custody dispute, including: love, affection, and other emotional ties between the parties and the child; the ability of the parties to provide the child with love, affection, and guidance and to raise the child in his or her religion; the ability of the parties to provide the child with food, clothing, medical care, and material needs; the time the child has lived in a stable environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity; the permanence of the custodial home; the mental and physical health and moral fitness of the parties; the child’s home, school and community record; the child’s preference (if the court determines that the child is old enough to express one); the willingness and ability of each party to encourage a continuing relationship with the other parent; and domestic violence.

We Can Help

Although Michigan courts are required to take each of the above factors into consideration when awarding custody, the laws governing child custody are very general. The wide-open nature of the custody process requires experienced attorneys to fight for your rights, address any complications that may arise and ensure that you are afforded the opportunity to foster a healthy relationship with your children now and into the future.

The success or failure in child custody cases often boils down to preparation, planning and knowledge. At Goldman & Associates, our attorneys are well-versed in Michigan’s custody statutes, legal opinions and judicial decisions regarding going back decades. As dedicated family law attorneys, we have the knowledge, experience, computer software, research abilities, and other resources critical to a successful child custody outcome.

Contact A Detroit Child Custody Attorney Michigan Today at (877) 737-8800 (toll-free)

If you are dealing with child custody matter in Southeast Michigan, contact one of our experienced and compassionate Detroit attorneys today for a free, confidential consultation.

Michigan Child Custody Law Facts

In evaluating child custody, Michigan courts attempt to ascertain what is in the child’s best interest. These considerations are meant to help them decide what sort of environment would be most conducive to the child’s further development and well-being. These factors include the mental and physical health of the parties and the preference of the child, amongst many others. It is important to note, however, that the factors are weighed holistically, and that different ones may be worth more or less in particular circumstances.

If you have additional questions, please visit our Michigan Child Custody FAQ page.