Visitation Attorney in Michigan

During divorce proceedings, some of the most difficult decisions for families to face are decisions related to child custody and visitation for each parent. Each party wants to spend as much time as possible with the child and it can be challenging to find a balance of time that works for both parents. Issues related to parenting time and custody can be hard to determine, and it is the job of the court to find the right balance for your child or children.

The court will work to act in “the best interests of the child” when deciding how visitation and custody is arranged. Our experienced visitation attorneys in Michigan can serve as your dedicated advocate for your parental rights throughout the proceedings.

Contact us online or by phone at (888) 211-5798 to schedule a free consultation. We have several office locations and serve clients and families throughout the state of Michigan.

Understanding the Child Custody & Visitation Process

Transitioning custody of children between parents can be a major change. Sometimes the court may have a temporary hearing to issue an order related to the care, custody, and support of children for the duration of your divorce case. Grewal Law PLLC can help you understand the timeline for your case and how temporary orders may impact your family.

Custody cases do not end when a divorce is finalized. If you have an existing child custody arrangement in place, it is possible to have modifications made to visitation and custody.

The court will allow you to represent yourself in these proceedings, but why leave such an important decision up to chance? Let the experienced legal team at Grewal Law PLLC represent you so you can work toward getting the best results for you and your family.

Types of Child Custody in Michigan

When first determining custody and visitation, there are several different types of arrangements that can be issued by the judge in your case. While working as your Michigan attorneys, the associates of Grewal Law PLLC will help you understand the different child custody and visitation arrangements that exist in Michigan.

The Child Custody Act outlines joint physical and legal custody options along with sole physical and legal custody options. Other types of custody which exist include primary physical custody and other forms of visitation as determined for individual cases.

The different types of sole child custody arrangements in Michigan include:

• Sole Physical Custody: Sole physical custody is where one party is charged with providing most of the day-to-day care of the child. The court may still allow the other party to have some parenting or visitation time with the child despite sole physical custody being given to the first parent.
• Sole Legal Custody: Sole legal custody allows the parent to make decisions regarding school enrollment, religion, medical treatment, and everyday activities of the child without the input of the other parent.

Often times the court may consider awarding some form of joint custody. There are two types of joint custody arrangements, including several variations a judge may award in a case:

• Joint Physical Custody: Joint physical custody is where parenting time is shared for children. Despite custody being shared, there is not a guarantee of an even split of time. Some arrangements may allow one parent to maintain more custody during the school year versus the summer, while others allow split time during the week throughout the entire year.
• Joint Legal Custody: Joint legal custody is where both parents share the ability to make decisions on the overall welfare of the child.

At Grewal Law PLLC, we can serve as your advocate and will work hard to have the court issue the best custody arrangement for your family.

Factors Impacting Custody & Visitation

Each divorce case is different, so our team of Michigan visitation lawyers can help you understand all the factors the court may examine in your proceedings.

Factors considered that may impact child custody and visitation include:

• The ability of each parent to provide clothing, food, medical care, and other day-to-day needs of the child
• The age of a child
• The willingness of each parent to continue a close relationship with the child
• The likelihood of abuse or neglect of the child during visitation with one parent
• The school, home, and community record of the child
• The preferences of the child (if appropriate)
• The physical and mental wellbeing of each involved individual
• The location where the parent and child will call home, along with the child’s school
• Past history of domestic violence, even if it has not been witnessed by the child

Determining Custody & Visitation Outside of the Courtroom

Child custody and visitation decisions are not always handled in the courtroom. Some families are able to come up with agreements on their own without having to have the court intervene in making a final decision.

Mediation is where parents work to develop a solution with the help of a trained mediator. Conciliation and joint meetings occur between the parents and staff at the Friend of the Court to develop a plan related to custody and visitation in a case before a divorce is finalized. Recommendations are then made to the court to issue a final order.