Child Custody and Parenting Time

When your children’s future is at stake, the right guidance matters. Custody and parenting time disputes can be some of the most emotionally charged and high-stakes issues parents face. Whether you are navigating a divorce, a separation, or a dispute with a parent you’ve never been married to, one thing is certain—your child’s well-being and your relationship with them are paramount.

At Alane Family Law, we are committed to protecting your children’s best interests while safeguarding your role in their lives. We have helped hundreds of Michigan parents resolve custody and parenting time issues by explaining the law, exploring creative solutions, and providing strong, informed advocacy. We start by listening—understanding your circumstances, concerns, and goals—so we can build a strategy that protects what matters most to you and your child.

To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, contact Alane Family Law today.

Understanding Child Custody and Parenting Time in Michigan

In Michigan, “custody” actually covers two separate but equally important areas:

• Physical custody — where your child physically lives. Parents often share physical custody, but not necessarily on an equal basis.
• Legal custody — the authority to make major decisions about your child’s life, such as education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Joint legal custody is common in Michigan.

But the part that affects day-to-day life the most is parenting time. Parenting time is related to physical custody, but it goes further: it is the actual schedule that dictates when your child spends time with each parent. Parenting time defines where your child spends school nights, how weekends are divided, how holidays are shared, and how routines are structured. This is the most important area of negotiation when it comes to “physical custody.”

For example, two parents may be “joint physical custodians,” but the parenting time schedule determines whether that means alternating weeks, splitting weekdays and weekends, or another arrangement, even a non-equal one. Even in cases where one parent is the “primary” or “sole” physical custodian, it is the parenting time schedule that defines when and how often each parent has time with the child.

Because parenting time controls the rhythm of your child’s daily life—who they visit when, where they sleep, how holidays and summers are divided—it is often the most meaningful and contested aspect of a custody case.

If you and the other parent can agree on legal custody, physical custody, and parenting time, the court will usually approve your agreement. Even if you can’t agree on your own, you may be able to resolve disputes with the help of attorneys or a mediator. Since no one knows your child better than you and their other parent, a customized parenting time plan is almost always best.

If you don’t reach an agreement, the court will decide these issues based on “the best interest of the child.” Michigan law lists 12 factors the judge must consider:

• The love affection, and emotional ties between the parties and child
• The capacity to provide the child with guidance and care
• The ability to provide food, clothing, medical care, and other material needs
• The stability of the child’s current home environment and the desirability of continuity
• The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home
• The moral fitness of the parties
• The mental and physical health of the parties
• The home, school, and community record of the child
• The child’s reasonable preference, if mature enough to express a preference
• Each parent’s willingness to facilitate the child’s relationship with the other parent
• Domestic violence, whether or not experienced or witnessed by the child
• Any other factor the court considers relevant.

Many of these factors are highly subjective, which means the quality and presentation of your evidence makes a significant difference. At Alane Family Law, we are known for our thorough preparation and ability to build persuasive cases—whether in negotiations, mediation, or trial—to protect both your rights and your child’s best interests.

How Alane Family Law Helps

Child custody and parenting time disputes are some of the most difficult challenges a parent can face—because nothing matters more than your child’s well-being. High emotions and conflict can easily take over, but that kind of strain isn’t healthy for you, your children, or your co-parenting relationship moving forward.

That’s why we work to resolve custody and parenting time issues outside of court whenever possible. When you have a voice in shaping the agreement, you are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome, and the process is often far less disruptive for your family than a courtroom battle.

If litigation becomes necessary, we approach your case with strategy, preparation, and respect—protecting your rights while minimizing stress for you and your children. And because custody orders sometimes need to change over time, we also handle modifications and enforcement actions to ensure your arrangements continue to meet your family’s needs.