Bloomfield Hills Child Custody Lawyer

One of the most difficult aspects of a divorce or legal separation in Michigan is the custody of minor children. As parents, we want to always act in the best interests of our children, but emotions can grow tense in these cases, and it is all too common to lash out. When you are facing a case of child custody, whether you live by Vhay Lake or have children attending Cranbrook Schools, an experienced Bloomfield Hills child custody lawyer can support you.

Consult Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach, Buiteweg & Solomon, P.C.

For countless years, Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach, Buiteweg & Solomon, P.C., has worked to protect parental rights at the Oakland County Circuit Court and the court’s family law division, located in Pontiac. We have seen firsthand how this court system works, so our attorneys can use this knowledge to your advantage when seeking to maintain or gain custody of your children. We know this is a difficult time for all involved, so we offer the legal services you need.

Whatever your child custody case might entail, our attorneys can provide you with the compassionate legal care and counsel that is so necessary at this time. While every child custody case is different, our main goal remains unchanged. We’ve helped locals from Berkley to Birmingham across Michigan. No matter what, we can resolve your child custody issue through determined and experienced legal representation. Our team can make sure your parental rights remain intact.

Defining Child Custody in Michigan, Oakland County, and Washtenaw County

Across the United States, family law courts see a total of 3.8 million cases a year, many of which involve issues of child custody. When facing a child custody battle in Bloomfield Hills, it is important to understand how Michigan child custody laws define it. Whether you are in the midst of a divorce, beginning a legal separation, simply no longer in a relationship with your co-parent, or dealing with paternity issues, the two main forms of custody remain the same. They include:

Legal Custody

This refers to the right of each parent to make necessary and crucial decisions about their child, such as those concerning their education, religious upbringing, and medical care. Legal custody can be further broken down as joint legal custody, where both parents share these decision-making duties, or sole legal custody, where only one parent is given the right to make these decisions.

Physical Custody

This form of custody determines the physical location where the child will primarily reside or, in more general terms, which parent’s household will primarily serve as the child’s home. Physical custody can also be broken down into two further forms. Joint physical custody means the child can spend time with both of their parents, whereas sole physical custody means the child mainly lives with one parent.

If you have questions as to which, if not both, forms of custody you could petition the courts for, Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach, Buiteweg & Solomon, P.C., can provide answers. You can trust a Bloomfield Hills child custody attorney from our firm to assert your parental rights while also protecting the best interests of your children.

Factors Affecting the Best Interests of the Child in Child Custody Cases

Michigan sees a current divorce rate of around 2.2 cases per 1,000 residents. In these cases, along with legal separation or paternity actions, when parents cannot reach a resolution on their own regarding custody, they will need to look to the courts to make this decision for them. The courts will base their ruling on what they believe to be in the best interests of the child. Judges will take the following factors into account:

• Any history of abuse or neglect
• The parenting abilities of both parents
• The home environment of both parents
• The emotional ties between the child and each parent and the reasons why

Also, Michigan courts will consider a child’s reasonable preference in custody cases if they’re of sufficient age and maturity.

FAQs

Q: How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost in Michigan?

A: The cost of hiring a child custody lawyer in Michigan can vary, depending on a wide range of factors present in your case. These can include the duration and complexity of your case, along with the skill level of your attorney. If you and your co-parent can reach an agreement quickly and amicably, the costs will be less than if you and your co-parent must undergo a lengthy court battle. Sometimes, hiring a seemingly more expensive lawyer can actually save you money.

Q: What Is the Biggest Mistake in a Custody Battle?

A: Several mistakes can be made during a custody battle, and each should be avoided. These include:

• Talking badly about your co-parent to or in front of your children
• Seeking sympathy from your children
• Looking to your children for help with things your spouse previously did
• Refusing to communicate with your co-parent
• Refusing to follow any existing custody orders
• Posting details of your custody battle to social media

All these actions can harm your rights to custody.

Q: Can I Seek a Custody Modification in Michigan?

A: Yes, certain circumstances might call for the modification of a child custody order in Michigan. Examples of proper reasons for modification include:

• A parent is regularly absent from the home.
• One parent has started to abuse alcohol or drugs or resumed doing so after a period of sobriety.
• A parent has begun to abuse or neglect their child.
• One parent is continuously not providing their child with objectively proper care.

Q: Do LGBTQ Parents Face Challenges in a Custody Battle?

A: Yes, LGBTQ parents who were unmarried when their children were born may face unique challenges when seeking child custody in Michigan, particularly in this political climate. They may need to navigate conscious or unconscious bias from courts and deal with outdated legal precedents or prejudices that question their fitness as parents. While research shows LGBTQ+ parents are just as effective as heterosexual parents, legal hurdles persist, emphasizing the need for experienced attorneys and compelling documentation of parental commitment.

Hire a Child Custody Lawyer Today

If you find yourself in the midst of a child custody battle, it is essential that you hire a child custody lawyer as soon as possible. At Nichols, Sacks, Slank, Sendelbach, Buiteweg & Solomon, P.C., we understand how emotional and challenging these legal scenarios are. Whether you live in Clawson, Oak Park, or the surrounding neighborhoods, we make it our priority to represent you in a way that protects you, along with the rights and interests of your children. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.