Sterling Heights Child Custody Lawyer | Paternity

Child Custody & Paternity

Corrado Law Group, P.C. successfully helps the injured recover compensation they deserve.

Sterling Heights Child Custody Lawyer

Backed by years of experience, the attorneys at our firm offer the compassionate legal support you deserve as you go through a child custody or paternity issue. From your initial consultation to the conclusion of your case, we will work side by side with you every step of the way. We understand that a family law issue can be tremendously overwhelming; however, you do not have to go through this process alone. We are here for you and your family.

Different Types of Child Custody

People often think about custody in terms of legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody means having the right to make important decisions about your children, such as where they go to school, what religion they practice, and significant medical decisions. Physical custody refers to the child's living arrangements or where the child will reside.

How Is Custody Determined?

You and your co-parent may be able to work out custody and parenting time for your children outside of court. However, if you cannot agree, the court will decide custody and parenting time based on what is known as the child's best interests. There are 12 best interests factors the court will consider before determining. These factors are as follows:

Love, affection, and other emotional ties that exist between the parties involved and the child
Capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in their religion or creed
Capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, and medical care
Length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining this
Permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes
The moral fitness of the parties involved
Mental and physical health of the parties involved
Home, school, and community record of the child
The reasonable preference of the child
Willingness and ability of each party to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent
History of domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against or witnessed by the child

Modifying a Child Custody Order

The court will not modify a custody arrangement unless the party asking for the change shows there is either proper cause or a change of circumstances to consider the change. A reasonable ground or a change of circumstances is more significant than a typical life change. It must be something that has a substantial impact on the child. Only after the proper cause or a change of circumstances is shown can the court reconsider what custody arrangements would be in the child's best interests.

How to Establish Paternity

Before awarding custody to a father, paternity may need to be established. Unmarried parents can voluntarily establish paternity by agreeing to name the child's father when it is born. They could also ask the local family court to help establish paternity. This typically involves a DNA paternity test.

Parenting Time

A parenting schedule is generated to ensure both parents can spend adequate time with their children. You and your ex-spouse can draft this together. Otherwise, you will need assistance from the court. If a court orders specific parenting time, all the details are included in the court order. It may work best to have a specific parenting schedule if you and the other parent cannot talk to one another or agree on a parenting schedule.

Here are some factors that may impact a parenting schedule:

Age of the child
Parents’ schedules
Distance between the parent’s residences

Many family courts have a standard parenting schedule. A typical parenting schedule usually gives parents alternating weeks and weekends. Holidays are divided between the parents, and each parent will swap custody each year for major holidays.

What Are the 50/50 Custody Rules in Michigan?

In Michigan, 50/50 custody is also known as joint custody. 50/50 custody gives both parents the right to equally split custody of their child. Parents with joint custody often have shared physical and legal custody.

There are a few different ways to structure a 50/50 custody arrangement, such as:

Alternating weeks: The child would spend one week with one parent and the following week with the other.
2-2-5-5: The child would spend two days with one parent, two days with the other parent, five days with one parent, and five days with the other parent.
Split custody: The child would live with one parent during the week and the other on weekends.

Contact our office online or call us at (586) 554-2200 to learn more about our child custody and paternity services.

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