Lansing, Michigan Child Custody, Support, and Divorce Lawyers

When entering into a divorce, partners must consider the well-being of their children.  Child custody and child support disputes are some of the most time-consuming and emotional aspects of the divorce process.  It is generally the case that both parents feel they are entitled to have custody of their children, and except in cases where there is evidence of domestic abuse, this is generally true.  However, income, age, and ability of a parent to take care of the child or children must all be considered when litigating child custody disputes.  In Lansing, Michigan, the divorce and child custody lawyers at Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C. can help you and your family reach an agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. Contact our firm today to speak with a team of knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys who can help you.

Child Custody

Child custody disputes can be the most time-consuming part of the divorce process.  Unless one parent is clearly unfit (as could be the case if there have been prior domestic abuse charges), both parents have custodial rights over their minor children.  When considering child custody, there are several options our Lansing, Michigan child custody and divorce lawyers will discuss with you.  Legal and physical custody can both be split.  Whereas legal custody refers to the decision-making powers of both parents (for instance, decisions about health care and schooling), physical custody refers to the physical time shared between children and parents.  If parents share legal custody, they should work in conjunction with one another to make important decisions for their children.  Likewise, if parents share physical custody, the children may split time between two households to spend time with each parent.

When determining child custody arrangements, the following standards should be considered:

Joint Custody

True joint legal and physical custody refers to an agreement in which the children reside one week with one parent and one week with the other parent.  Although this is an ideal arrangement, it will not work in a majority of cases. True joint custody requires the parties to get along and communicate in a fashion which is consistent with a positive marital relationship. If the parties are having difficulty getting along such that they should get divorced, it would be an unusual circumstance for them to get along well enough to be the joint custodial parents of the minor children. This arrangement is, however, an objective that parties clearly can work toward and attempt to facilitate under the right circumstances.

Joint Legal Custody

This is the most common arrangement among parties.  The children live with one parent, while the non-custodial parent has physical visitation rights as well as joint legal custody of the children.  This arrangement requires the parties to continue to work together about making important decisions for their minor children, while the children reside with a primary party.

Custody / Visitation Rights

Visitation rights are awarded to the non-custodial parent, and traditionally include every other holiday, every other weekend, or other times that both parents agree upon. 

Our Lansing child custody lawyers can help you make an informed decision about the custody of your children and arrive at an agreement that will benefit everyone.

Determining Child Support during a Divorce

When joint legal custody with parenting time rights is agreed upon, it is generally the responsibility of one parent to pay child support to help with the financial aspects of raising a child.

Ideally, child support should be based upon the actual needs of the child and the relative ability of both of the child's parents to pay for the support of the child. The amount of support ordered by the court to be paid by one party to another is not intended to, nor should it, pay the whole cost of providing for the child. An appropriately established child support level should take into consideration the payer's ability to pay and the obligation of the custodial parent to participate in the financial responsibilities of raising the child. In Michigan, child support, both during the pendency of the divorce and afterward, are determined by application of a mathematical formula developed under the Michigan Child Support Guidelines. Your Sinas Dramis Family Law Attorney can help you with an explanation and understanding of the guidelines.

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Contact Our Child Custody Lawyers

Residents of Lansing and surrounding Michigan areas in need of skilled child custody and divorce lawyers, contact Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C.  Specializing in the litigation of both personal injury and family law matters, our attorneys have over 50 years of experiences and can help you and your family through this difficult time.