Experienced Child Custody Lawyer

According to Michigan's custody guidelines, child custody is a term that "refers to the rights and responsibilities of each parent and child. Custody is not a term used to indicate ownership. Rather a determination of time a child is going to be with each parent. In addition to each parent's responsibilities to make decisions on behalf of the child."

Custody decisions are made in the Family Division of the Circuit Court and include:

• Physical custody: The parent has the child primarily physically present and living with him or her
• Legal custody: The parent has the right to make decisions about the child's life, including education, medical treatment and religious upbringing
• Joint custody: Allows both parents to share legal and/or physical custody of a child
• Sole legal and sole physical custody: When primary physical and legal custody given to one parent

The judge will also take into consideration other factors when making custody decisions that include:

• Reasonable preferences of the child
• Emotional ties between each parent and his or her children
• Parental capacity and abilities to give the child love, affection and guidance
• Ability to provide food, clothing and medical care
• Length of time the child has lived in a stable home environment
• Durability of the family unit
• Mental and physical health of the parents

While child custody may seem relatively simple, it can get complex when other factors and emotions come into play. That is where the skills and experience of a knowledgeable Taylor child custody attorney is necessary because John Danielski has been helping families like yours make these important decisions since 2000.