Category: Child Custody
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When the “Fun Parent” Costs You: Disney Dad Behavior in Michigan Divorces
Divorcing with children in Mid-Michigan cities like Lansing, Okemos, DeWitt, Jackson, Charlotte, St. Johns, or Ionia often comes with emotional mind games. One of the most common? The “Disney Dad” act. There is also the “Disney Mom” game. Your ex-spouse may be suddenly handing out expensive gifts, planning lavish vacations, buying new electronic devices, or…
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How a Nasty Divorce Can Hurt the Child: Attorney Charles M. Kronzek Explains
In Mid-Michigan, particularly within the Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, and Jackson circuit courts, family court judges are increasingly losing patience with “high-conflict” litigation. A recent appellate affirmation highlights a growing trend: the court will rescind a parent’s decision-making authority over the child not as a punishment for being “bad,” but as a logistical necessity when communication…
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Choosing the Right School When You Share Custody in Michigan
By Attorney Brandy Thompson In Michigan, the law encourages both parents to participate in major decisions affecting their child’s education, especially when joint legal custody is in place. When parents live in different school districts, selecting the right school for their child can become one of the most difficult decisions they face. So, how do…
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Divorce and Bankruptcy in Mid-Michigan: What Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, and Ionia County Residents Need to Know
By Attorney Brandy J. Thompson Divorce and bankruptcy are very stressful legal experiences in a person’s life. Unfortunately, some people find themselves experiencing them at the same time. If you are juggling both cases in Mid-Michigan, whether you live in Lansing, Jackson, Charlotte, St. Johns, or Ionia, understanding how these cases interact with each other can…
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What Happens If a Child Refuses Parenting Time in Michigan?
Many issues arise during a divorce and persist even after the divorce case is finalized. One common issue family law attorneys encounter is disputes over parenting time. One question that frequently arises is: What happens if my child refuses to attend court-ordered parenting time with the other parent? Sadly, there is no simple answer. Michigan…
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What the Friend of the Court Does (and Doesn’t Do) in Michigan – A Brief Overview
In Mid-Michigan, if you and your spouse have minor children when going through a divorce, chances are you’ll have some involvement with the Friend of the Court (FOC). The Friend of the Court is an arm of your circuit court created under the Friend of the Court Act, and it is there to assist the…
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Ex Parte Orders for Parenting Time and Custody in Mid-Michigan
In genuinely urgent situations, Michigan courts can issue what is called an “ex parte order” under the Child Custody Act to provide immediate, temporary relief. For families in Ingham County, Lansing, East Lansing, Eaton County, Okemos, St. Johns, Mason, Clinton County, Charlotte, Jackson County and throughout Mid-Michigan, understanding these orders can be critical. What Is…
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Reunification Therapy vs. Family Systems Therapy:
What Mid-Michigan Families Should Know Divorce and custody disputes can cause families in Ingham, Eaton, Lansing, Clinton, and Ionia counties to experience profound and long-lasting conflict and dysfunction. When these emotional challenges arise, therapy is normally recommended to help children and their parents begin the healing process and rebuild relationships. But there are different therapeutic…
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Understanding the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
When parents live in different states, figuring out where a child custody case should be filed can quickly become confusing and stressful. For Michigan parents navigating divorce, separation, or establishing child custody, it’s important to understand how jurisdiction is determined in custody disputes—and why it matters. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is…
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Grandparents’ Rights in Mid-Michigan:
A Legal Guide to Grandparenting Time For many grandparents in the Lansing area and all over Ingham County, Eaton County and Clinton County, maintaining a strong relationship with their grandchildren is deeply important. But when divorce, separation, death, or estrangement happen, grandparents may find themselves facing the possibility of losing those relationships. Fortunately, Michigan law…