Norton Shores Child Custody Lawyer - Kraayeveld Family Law

Your relationship with your children is one of the most important things in your life, and the team with Kraayeveld Family Law wants to help you protect it. Whether you’re going through a divorce, need assistance with child custody for unmarried parents, or have questions about how to file for custody in Michigan, we can offer you the support and guidance you deserve.

Our family law firm has developed a reputation for over 30 years of securing positive outcomes in custody challenges, providing top-quality service, and ensuring our clients’ needs are met. Contact us now for an initial case review with a child custody lawyer in Norton Shores, MI, and let’s discuss your concerns in detail.

How Kraayeveld Family Law Can Help with Your Norton Shores, MI, Child Custody Case

Are you struggling with the stress and uncertainty of a child custody issue? Don’t make the mistake of confronting it alone. Instead, protect your parental rights with help from Kraayeveld Family Law. We understand Michigan’s child custody rules and family law courts and can provide you with legally sound support regarding the following:

Establishment of custody arrangements
Modification of existing arrangements
Parental relocation

When you meet with us, we will:

Discuss your goals and concerns with you and explain what to expect in the child custody process
Advise you on the best steps to take to improve your position in your custody matter
Investigate your family’s circumstances to obtain evidence for building a compelling case
Review existing and new Michigan custody laws that may work in your favor
Advocate on your behalf should you pursue mediation of your custody dispute
Present a persuasive argument to the family court if your case ends up going to a hearing
If necessary, file an appeal for your child custody matter

In our 30-plus years in handling child custody matters, we know how high tensions can run. You will have pressing questions, so our lawyers and legal support staff prioritize responding promptly to your calls and emails. With our one-business-day guarantee, you won’t have to wait longer than necessary for us to get in touch with you about your inquiry.

What Are the Different Types of Child Custody in Michigan?

State law recognizes two types of custody: physical and legal. Physical custody in Michigan refers to a parent’s right to have their child reside with them and to make the day-to-day decisions raising a child. Legal custody in Michigan refers to a parent’s right to discuss and make decisions regarding their child’s upbringing, including education, healthcare, or religious/moral instruction.

Courts can grant parents joint or sole custody. In Michigan, joint custody means both parents get to exercise physical or legal custody, whereas sole custody means only one parent has physical or legal custody.

What Must Judges Consider in Michigan Child Custody Cases?

Under Michigan law, courts must decide child custody cases based on the child’s “best interest.” Michigan custody factors include the following:

The love, affection, and emotional ties between each parent and their child
The capacity and disposition of each parent to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the child’s education and religious/moral upbringing
The capacity and disposition of each parent to provide the child with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and other material needs
The length of time that the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining that environment
The permanence of the family unit in the existing or proposed custodial home
The parents’ physical/mental health and moral fitness
The child’s home, school, and community ties
The willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the child and their other parent
Any history of domestic violence in the family
The child’s preference, if the court finds the child has the maturity to express a reasoned preference

In addition to the statutory factors, Michigan child custody laws also allow courts to consider additional circumstances, such as the parents’ criminal histories (if any), the state or safety of each parent’s home, and the family’s economic situation.

Can I Have My Child Custody Agreement Modified?

Over time, your family’s changing circumstances might make your original custody arrangement more of a burden than a benefit for you and your children. If this happens, you can file a motion with the court to modify your arrangement. For the court to accept your motion, you must show that circumstances have substantially changed since the issuance of the current custody order and that your proposed modified custody arrangement serves your child’s best interests.

Here are some events that might necessitate a change to a child custody or parenting time order:

Changes to children’s school
Changes to parents’ work schedules
A parent’s relocation
A parent’s failure to exercise parenting time
A parent’s refusal to discuss or agree upon decisions regarding children, such as education, healthcare, or religious/moral instruction
A parent’s loss of stable housing
Incidents of domestic violence or child abuse/neglect
A parent developing physical/mental health problems or severe disability

How Can I Improve My Chances of Securing My Desired Custody or Visitation Rights?

Michigan law does not inherently favor one parent over the other. Having said that, taking the following steps can help you make a solid case for your preferred custody or visitation arrangement:

Document your involvement in your child’s life. The more examples of your participation in your child’s day-to-day life, the stronger your relationship will look to the court.
Attend your child’s games and recitals, maintain regular communication with your child’s teachers, and keep up to date with your child’s healthcare.
Focus on creating a stable environment, including by establishing stable housing and employment. If possible or applicable, try to stay in your child’s current school district.
Work on developing an amicable, productive, co-parenting relationship with your ex. Avoid directing hostility toward your ex or badmouthing them in front of your child. Instead, focus on encouraging your child’s relationship with their other parent.
Consider what kind of custody arrangement your ex might ask the court for. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to help build a case strategy around it.

How Long Can a Child Custody Case Take in Michigan?

Michigan child custody cases can take up to a year or more to resolve, depending on whether the parents can agree on a custody arrangement or whether the court has concerns about one parent’s fitness to care for their children. Having a Norton Shores, MI, child custody lawyer to handle your case can expedite this process and help you pursue a favorable resolution as quickly as possible.

Do I Need a Lawyer Even If My Co-Parent and I Agree on How to Share Custody?

In many cases, separated or divorced parents can come to an agreement on their own about how to share child custody. However, even if you and your ex have settled your custody dispute between yourselves, you should still consult with a Norton Shores, MI, child custody attorney.

Your lawyer can help you put the terms of your custody agreement into a consent order, which you can present to the court for approval. If granted, the agreement becomes an enforceable order. This can protect you if your ex changes their mind about your agreement or stops following its terms.

How Far Can a Parent Move with Joint Custody?

In terms of how far a parent can move with joint custody, Michigan has a 100-mile rule for parental relocation. Under this rule, a parent in a joint custody arrangement may not change the child’s legal residence with the parent to a location more than 100 miles away from the current legal residence, unless the child’s other parent consents or the court approves the move.

In approving relocation requests, courts will consider factors such as:

The child’s best interests
Whether the relocation may improve the child’s and relocating parent’s quality of life
Whether each parent has complied with and utilized their parenting time under the existing custody arrangement
Whether the relocating parent has proposed relocation to defeat or frustrate the parenting time schedule
Whether the court can order a modification of the parenting time schedule following relocation that provides an adequate basis to preserve the relationship between the child and both of their parents, and whether each parent will comply with such a modification
Whether a parent opposing relocation does so to gain a financial advantage for a support obligation
Whether there is any history of domestic violence in the family

The 100-mile rule does not apply to relocations where the parents currently live more than 100 miles apart or the proposed relocation will move the parents’ residences closer together.

Furthermore, parents can only relocate outside Michigan with a child subject to a custody order with the other parent’s consent or the court’s approval, even if moving less than 100 miles.

Contact Our Norton Shores, MI, Child Custody Lawyers Today

Nothing is more important than your relationship with your children, which is why you need experienced legal representation to protect your parental rights. If you’re dealing with a custody dispute in Norton Shores, trust Kraayeveld Family Law’s 30-plus years of tenacity in the courtroom and compassion for our clients.

Discover how a Michigan child custody lawyer can make a difference. Contact Kraayeveld Family Law today to schedule a confidential consultation.