Discuss Child Custody and Visitation with a Michigan Attorney ♦ Macomb County, Oakland County
Child custody and visitation issues are an essential factor in a divorce or legal separation of parents with minor children. A child custody agreement must address issues of both physical and legal custody:
- Physical custody addresses the question of where children will reside. Children may travel between parents' homes, but usually primary custody refers to where they live the majority of the time and where they go to school if a joint situation is not in place, court ordered, or negotiated between the parties.
- Legal custody refers to the rights of parents to make decisions for their children. Parents with legal custody of children have the right to enroll them in private school, approve medical procedures, allow children to be photographed and open bank accounts, for example.
Normally, family law courts assume that children's best interests are served through ongoing contact with both parents. Parental rights and responsibilities are delineated in a child custody and visitation order, whether parents are divorcing or were never married.
Child Custody Negotiations, Mediation, and Litigation
While family law courts in the past tended to defer more often to mothers than to fathers in child custody matters, that is less often the case today. Many fathers have partial or full physical custody of their children after a divorce or separation. A child may spend alternate weekends at a mother's and a father's home. There are many other possible child custody arrangements. Through negotiations and/or mediation, most parents are able to arrive at a child custody and visitation agreement that will work for their particular family.
However, if needed, the Law Offices of Jeffery A. Cojocar, P.C. has the requisite experience and drive to provide its clients effective and zealous representation in contested custody or related matters. Our track record speaks for itself, as we have had numerous successes in obtaining sole physical custody for our clients, securing change of domicile for individuals moving out of state, modifying a former spouse's custodial or parenting time rights, and numerous other avenues. This is based upon the strong work ethic we maintain, and the collaboration we have with our clients in putting together the strongest cases and claims possible, depending upon each matter's individual circumstances.
At the Law Offices of Jeffery A. Cojocar, P.C., divorcing, separating or unmarried parents can count on experienced guidance through the process of arriving at a suitable negotiated or mediated child custody agreement to be formalized in a court order, or alternatively, to be zealously represented in contested custody proceedings.
When "Removal" or Change of Domicile is Pursued
On the other hand, it is becoming more and more difficult for an individual to change their residence or domicile with their children, depending upon the type of custody situation involved. We have extensive experience in this area of law, and have successfully litigated numerous such matters to our clients' satisfaction. Talk to a lawyer at our firm about your and your child's rights in a change of domicile situation, whether your divorce is still in progress or you are seeking a post-judgment modification.
Contact the law firm by phone or e-mail to schedule an initial consultation regarding a pending or anticipated divorce or legal separation. Call us to find out what you need to know about parenting plans, mediation in family law and other civil litigation matters.
