You have likely also heard the terms “joint” and “sole” with regard to custody. Simply put, joint physical custody means the child takes turns living with each parent. Joint legal custody means both parents must work together to make important decisions. Sole physical custody implies the child lives with one parent only, whereas sole legal custody is when one parent (usually the custodial parent) is afforded the right to make all legal decisions pertaining to the child.
What factors determine child custody?
The courts will use several factors to determine the best custody arrangement for the child. Some of the factors taken into consideration include:
- Best interest of the child
- Established custodial environment
- Capacity/disposition of the parties to give the child love, affection, and guidance, and to continue the education and raising the child in its religion
- Length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity
- Permanence of the existing or proposed homed
- Moral fitness of the parties
- Mental and physical health of the parties
- Home, school, and community record of the child
- Reasonable preference of the child
- Willingness of parties to facilitate/encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship
- Domestic violence
- Ability of parents to cooperate and generally agree concerning decisions affecting the child’s welfare
- Criminal sexual misconduct
What is a reasonable parenting time schedule?
Every case is unique. One of the greatest benefits of hiring a skilled Lansing custody attorney includes helping advocate for the best parenting time schedule for your family. The days of the standard every-other-weekend arrangement are quickly coming to an end, so our attorneys help parents come to a reasonable agreement that best serves the children and offer tips for meaningful co-parenting.
Jackie understands that at the heart of your family law case is your children. As such, she diligently and skillfully works with parents to create a custody arrangement that focuses on the child’s needs. This way, everyone wins.
After graduating from MSU with double majors, Jackie attended and graduated from Michigan State University College of Law. She then joined Sinas Dramis Law Firm in Lansing and excelled at family law, which is now the sole focus of her career. While she primarily works out of the Lansing office, she serves clients throughout the state of Michigan.
Jackie works closely with Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, serves as a board member of the Young Lawyers Section of the Ingham County Bar Association (ICBA), and Ingham County Bar Association named her a “Top 5 Under 35” in 2017.
Still not sure if you actually need a skilled custody lawyer for your family law matter? Here are six signs that you need to contact us right away:
- Your ex-partner has retained an attorney.
- Your case is complicated by factors such as interstate co-parenting.
- You believe your child is in danger.
- Your ex-partner is preventing you from seeing your child.
- Your ex-partner is unreasonably limiting your time with your child.
- You cannot come to a child custody agreement with the other parent.
