Empowerment Through Education
Knowledge is power. When you are facing a Child Custody dispute, knowing what you can and cannot do may be the difference between your child being with you or the other parent. Many clients may be facing a former partner that was abusive and they become afraid for their children. We hear it all the time: other lawyers do not care about my children. At Revolution Law we know that your priority is your child and their safety and happiness. We also know that contacting a lawyer can be scary - but we are parents, too. We will do everything in our power to make sure you feel comfortable with how to move forward with your custody dispute and how to put your child first.
We know that a custody dispute is incredibly stressful and confusing. That's why we strive to provide you with knowledge, understanding, and guidance to give you the confidence to take back your power and protect your children.
Questions surrounding Custody Disputes are many and can be complicated. In most circumstances, the answer to your custody questions is 'It depends.' However, some of the most asked questions and answers can be found below. Contact us to fully discuss your matter. The phone call is free, and we are happy to give you as much information as possible to put your mind at ease and give you the knowledge to tackle your custody matter with confidence.
The short answer is Yes. However, when a parent moves before there is a Court Order in place, it is possible that the Court that has jurisdiction over your family could force your child to stay in the area you leave. This has the potential to cause significant issues for your case. While this won't always be a hard and fast rule, it is something that is important to consider before you take steps to move.
In MCL 722.23(i); and the case Flaherty v Smith, 87 Mich App 561, 274 NW2d 72 (1978), the opinion of a child that is old enough to express their preference must be taken into account by the Court in a custody dispute. While there is no law that says a child gets to decide once they become a certain age, as children get older their preference usually holds more weight with the Court's decision.
Child Support is calculated by the Michigan Child Support Formula, a complicated, lengthy mathematical formula that takes into account many factors including how many overnights your child is with you, how much money each parents earns, whether either parents has other children they care for, among many others. A parent will always have to have a child support order unless both parents agree and neither is on State Assistance. Whether or not you will have to pay, or will receive support is based on the factors above.