Hi there and welcome back to this discussion about the Michigan Supreme Court’s Parenting Time guidelines. As we explained in our previous article, our state Supreme Court compiled a very helpful and easy-to-use reference guide for divorcing parents full of sound advice and tips on how to deal with many different parenting situations. From the developmental needs of children at different ages, to pointers on how to communicate with your co parent after divorce, there is a lot of useful information. So we thought we’d give you a quick overview of some of their most useful tips. 

Long distance parenting time may require extra flexibility: 

Some parents will be fulfilling their roles as moms and dads from a distance some of the time. This could be because they’re serving in the military, or because their jobs require that they travel, or even because they’ve had to move away, and they now live in another town or state. When parents are unavailable for extended periods of time due to other commitments in life, the Supreme Court recommends that the parents be considerate of those obligations, and take them into account when creating a parenting time schedule. Being willing to work with a parent who is only available during certain periods ensures that your children still have an opportunity to spend time with their other parent, even if it’s less often than they’d like.

Kids need to maintain relationships with extended family as well:

Another point discussed by the Supreme Court in their guidelines for parents, is the importance of maintaining relationships with extended family members. Grandparents, uncles and aunts and cousins, all of these relationships are important to a child’s development, support, and emotional wellbeing. Parents are strongly encouraged by the Michigan Supreme Court to encourage their children to sustain relationships with extended family on both sides of the family, which means actively facilitating opportunities to see those family members.

Incarcerated parents have a right to a relationship with their children:

According to the Supreme Court’s parenting time guidelines, parents serving time in jail or prison may be unavailable to participate in the daily raising of their children, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to see their kids. Unless there’s a specific reason the court has forbidden contact (like a child abuse convition), Michigan law allows incarcerated parents to have supervised visitation with their children. The Michigan Supreme Court encourages the other parent to be careful of how they speak about the incarcerated parent in front of their children, and to encourage relationships with them that are positive and beneficial to both parties.

Setting up parenting time and custody requires finesse 

Workinging out child custody agreements and parenting time schedules can be a time consuming process for divorcing parents. If you and your spouse are getting divorced, and you need help figuring out a visitation schedule that works for everyone, call the experienced family law attorneys at The Kronzek Firm. We’ve spent decades successfully helping parents from all over mid-Michigan during their divorces. We handle everything, including parenting time schedules and child custody concerns. Call 866 766 5245 today to set up your free zoom or phone consultation.