Tag: Child Custody
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Day Care Expenses and Child Support in Michigan
Parents of young children often have an important question during divorce or after separation: Who pays for day care? If both parents work, child care can be a significant expense. Parents may wonder whether those costs are already included in child support or whether they are handled separately. Under Michigan’s child support guidelines, child care…
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Stability and Permanence in Michigan Child Custody Cases: Two Important Factors: MCL 722.23(d) and (e)
When Michigan’s family courts decide child custody, the controlling question is always which arrangement serves the child’s best interests. Under our Child Custody Act, judges must evaluate the statutory best-interest “best interest factors” found in MCL 722.23 before entering a custody order. Two of the most significant factors are MCL 722.23(d) and MCL 722.23(e), both of which…
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When Can a Child Express a Custody Preference in Michigan? Clearing Up the “Magic Age” Myth for Mid-Michigan Families
Parents going through custody disputes in Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, and Jackson counties often ask if their child’s preference matters to the judge. A common misconception is that Michigan law sets a “magic age” when a child can choose which parent they live with. The truth is a little more complex. Michigan Law: The Child’s Preference…
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Understanding Discovery in Michigan Family Law Cases: A Guide for Mid-Michigan Families
To reach a fair outcome in any family law case, relevant information is key. The way that each party gains access to that information is through a process called discovery. In Mid-Michigan, including areas like Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, Charlotte, and Mason, you should work with your attorney during the discovery process to ensure they…
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How Do Michigan Judges Handle Parenting Time Violations During Holidays?
Holidays are traditionally a time for family, and often, each parent wants the children to be with them. In Michigan, holiday parenting time is scheduled through parenting time orders. A parenting time violation over the holidays can be devastating to the parent who is being denied their parenting time. If you live in Mid-Michigan, whether…
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If Both Parents Share Custody, Does Anyone Pay Child Support in Michigan?
Does 50/50 Custody Eliminate Child Support Obligations in Michigan? A frequent misconception among Michigan’s divorcing parents is the belief that a 50/50 physical custody arrangement—sharing parenting time equally—automatically negates the requirement for child support. As a matter of law, this is rarely the case. Under Michigan’s statutory framework, child support is not a “reward” or…
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Can a Parent Turn a Child Against the Other Parent in Michigan Custody Cases?
By Brandy J. Thompson When parents separate, children can feel pressure, confusion, and divided loyalties. In some Michigan custody disputes, one parent may interfere with the child’s relationship with the other parent. That conduct is often described as parental alienation, though Michigan courts usually focus on the behavior rather than the label. Judges are primarily concerned…
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Parental Alienation in Michigan Custody Cases: What Mid-Michigan Parents Need to Know
From Lansing’s premier family law attorneys. In Michigan custody cases, courts will be concerned if one parent interferes with the child’s relationship with the other parent. It occurs when one parent manipulates or pressures a child to reject or distrust the other parent. It can also manifest if a child is made to diminish the…
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How Michigan Courts Divide Child Support Among Multiple Families
Parents around Michigan counties like Ingham, Eaton, Clinton, and surrounding areas could find themselves in a situation where they have child support orders in different counties for children from different relationships. Our family law attorneys are asked how Michigan courts divide and allocate child support in these types of situations? Michigan law does not treat…
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Does It Matter If I Am the First One to File for Divorce in Michigan? A Question of Strategy
One of the most common questions we divorce attorneys hear is: Does it matter who files for divorce first? Many people think filing first gives them an advantage over their ex-spouse during disputes over custody and property division. In truth, it often doesn’t matter in terms of guaranteeing a certain outcome. However, in some situations,…