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Plymouth Custody Attorneys

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Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC Attorneys Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC
Home | Michigan Family Law Firm | Plymouth Custody Attorneys

You have invested love, time, and effort into raising your child and helping them grow. Now you’re getting divorced, or your child’s other parent isn’t complying with a custody order. How do you preserve the relationship with your child and ensure you remain a part of their life? You hire a Michigan child custody lawyer who understands your goals and needs.

As child custody lawyers serving Plymouth, the team at Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC, knows how stressful these cases are and is committed to protecting your role in your child’s life. While we’re based in Oakland County, we serve families throughout the state, including Plymouth and Wayne County. We have decades of courtroom experience and aren’t afraid to take your case to trial. We’re equally comfortable with mediation and other, less confrontational settings. We’ve received many honors for our advocacy, including awards from Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

The sooner you speak to our attorneys, the greater your chances of achieving your custody goals. Call now or complete our contact form for a consultation.

What Our Child Custody Attorneys Serving Plymouth Can Do for You

Plymouth child custody disputes are often overwhelming, as you’re likely facing stress over where your child will live, how the courts make custody decisions, and how to keep your child’s life stable. On top of that, the legal process can be confusing and time-consuming, especially when emotions are running high. Missteps—like missing a deadline or saying the wrong thing in court—can hurt your chances of reaching your preferred outcome.

At Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC, we understand how deeply personal these cases are. When you work with us, we’ll listen to your concerns, explain your options, and help you find a clear path forward. While you focus on preparing for your life’s next stage, we can handle all the paperwork, court filings, and negotiations with the other parent and their attorney. If necessary, we can represent you in court and present a compelling case to the judge.

Whether you’re seeking sole custody, joint custody, or need to modify an existing agreement, our goal is to protect your interests and make sure your child has the emotional and financial support they need. Let us advocate for a parenting arrangement that reflects your child’s best interests while giving you peace of mind.

Core Legal Concepts in Plymouth Child Custody Cases

Knowing some core concepts in Plymouth child custody disputes can help you understand your options, your preferred outcome, and how to achieve it. Here are some critical concepts and terms to know:

  • “Best interests of the child” – This is the standard judges must use by law when making custody decisions. Judges consider factors like each parent’s relationship with the child, the child’s school and home situation, any history of abuse, and how well the parents can cooperate with each other. The court’s goal is to create the most stable, healthy environment possible for the child.
  • Physical custody – This term refers to where the child lives regularly. A parent with physical custody takes care of the child’s daily needs, like meals, bedtime, and transportation. Parents can share physical custody, or the courts may award one parent sole custody if they deem that approach best for the child.
  • Legal custody – Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to make vital decisions for a child, such as choices about the child’s education, medical care, and religion. Like physical custody, parents can share legal custody, but one parent may receive sole custody if the courts deem the other parent unfit to make decisions for the child.
  • Joint custody – Joint custody can refer to joint physical custody (the child spends time living with both parents), joint legal custody (both parents make key decisions for the child together), or joint physical and legal custody. This approach works best when parents can communicate and cooperate without getting angry. Michigan law presumes that a strong relationship with both parents is in the child’s best interests. However, joint custody is not always practical or the best approach for a child’s development. Parents often share legal custody after a divorce while dividing physical custody according to their and the child’s individual needs and schedules.
  • Sole custody – When one parent has sole custody, they have most or all of the rights and responsibilities for raising their child. In sole physical custody, the child lives primarily with one parent. In sole legal custody, one parent makes all major decisions without input from the other. Typically, courts only award sole custody when there’s compelling evidence that the other parent is unfit or unable to care for the child.

What Factors Influence Custody Disputes in Plymouth?

Michigan law lists several factors judges must consider when deciding what custody arrangement best suits a child’s needs, including:

  • The emotional bond between each parent and the child
  • Each parent’s ability to give the child love, support, and guidance
  • Each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s basic needs
  • How long the child has lived in a stable and satisfying home environment, and whether it makes sense to keep that stability
  • The strength and permanence of the family home that each parent offers
  • Each parent’s moral character
  • Each parent’s physical and mental health
  • The child’s performance and involvement at home, in school, and in the community
  • The child’s preference, if the child is old enough and mature enough to express one
  • How willing each parent is to support a strong, ongoing relationship between the child and the other parent
  • Any history of domestic violence, whether or not the child was directly affected or witnessed it
  • Any other factor the judge believes is relevant to the case

The Basic Steps in a Michigan Child Custody Dispute

If you’re involved in a child custody dispute in Michigan, it helps to understand how the process typically works. 

While every case is different, most follow a similar series of steps:

  • Filing a custody petition – One parent starts the case by filing a petition with their family court, either as part of a divorce or as a separate custody action.
  • Serving the other parent – The other parent must receive official notification of the petition (usually from a law enforcement officer or court official) and have a chance to respond.
  • Court hearings and conferences – The court may schedule hearings or meetings to identify the main issues in the case and encourage cooperation between the parents.
  • Friend of the Court involvement – In many cases, the Friend of the Court office will investigate the case, make recommendations to the judge, or guide parents through mediation.
  • Mediation or negotiations – Parents may try to reach an agreement with the help of a mediator, their attorneys, or both.
  • Trial (if needed) – If the parents can’t agree, a judge will hold a trial and decide on the custody arrangements based on the evidence and the child’s best interests.
  • Final custody order – Whether the case goes to trial or the parents resolve their differences outside court, the case ends when the judge issues an official order laying out the custody arrangement. Both parents must follow this order.

Is It Possible to Modify a Child Custody Order in Michigan?

Either parent can request the courts to modify an existing order, but they must demonstrate a substantial change in their circumstances or the child’s needs to justify the change. Parents should follow the existing custody order while the change is pending to avoid legal penalties or losing custody.

Contact Our Child Custody Lawyers Serving Plymouth, MI

Don’t risk your future relationship with your child by not getting the legal support you need for your Plymouth custody dispute. Call Eisenberg & Spilman, PLLC, now or complete our contact form for a consultation.

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