Parents in Michigan need to make many tough decisions during a divorce. Making decisions regarding who will receive the home and other assets that they acquired during the marriage can be difficult. However, some of the most difficult decisions that they will need to make are the child custody and parenting time decisions. It is not easy to have to split time with their children and there are many emotions surrounding the determinations.
This can especially be true when each parent has a different parenting time style and the parents do not see eye-to-eye how the best way to raise their children. However, while both parents may be looking at what they believe is the best situation, ultimately all child custody determinations are based on what is in the best interests of the children and not the best interests of the parents.
Factors used to determine the best interests of children
Determining what is in the best interest of the children is not always easy to do though. In making this determination, there are a number of factors that the courts need to consider. These factors include, but are not limited to:
- The emotional relationship between the children and each parent
- The parents’ ability and willingness to continue provide for the children’s basic daily needs as well as the love and guidance the children need
- The children’s attachment to the school and community they lived in during the marriage
- The mental and physical health of the parents and their moral fitness
- The preference of the children if they are at an age and maturity level to make decisions
- Whether there has been domestic violence between the parents and/or children
Each marriage in Michigan is unique and how parents raise their children depend on a number of factors that are also unique. Since each situation is unique each child custody and parenting time decision is also unique. While the factors used to determine the children’s best interest are the same how they are applied will vary in each situation. Experienced attorneys understand how these determinations are made and may be able to guide one through the process.