When parents disagree about politics or religion, things can get a little heated. What starts as a disagreement between two adults can eventually spill over into questions about how a child is raised, what they are taught, where they attend school, or which religious traditions they follow. So, can a parent’s political or religious beliefs…
If you’re an Oakland County parent dealing with a divorce or custody dispute, you’ve probably heard about Michigan’s proposed 50/50 custody law. You might think that sounds great. Two parents, two homes, half the time with each. But family life doesn’t always fit neatly into a calendar. And despite what you may have heard, Michigan…
When it comes to holiday parenting time, there are only four holidays besides the Christmas break that are recognized in the State Court Administrative Office’s Michigan Parenting Time Guideline. Those holidays are Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving. There are also provisions for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. The guidelines state that parties are…
A child may bear a striking resemblance to a man and everyone can tell he is the child’s father, but unless that man was married to the child’s mother at the time of the birth or conception, the law does not consider the man to be the child’s legal father. Welcome to the world of…
Who owns the child’s clothing, toys, equipment, and personal effects? This is a question that is asked quite often. Arguments are made that the children’s property belong to the parent who purchased the items for the child. This is often followed up with statements that the purchasing parent can prohibit those items from being taken…
Parenting time is referred to as quality time spent between the child and a parent. Parenting-time orders are based either the parties’ agreement or the court’s determination of the best interests of the child. Under Michigan law, the presumption is that it is in a child’s best interests to have a strong relationship with both…
The legislature in Michigan recognized that the best interests of children living within the state who are affected by either the divorce or separation of their parents is best served by having and preserving a strong relationship with both parents. Children have a right to parenting time with both parents unless the court determines on…
When it comes to getting a divorce, there is difficulty in keeping the matter between the husband, the wife, their respective attorneys and the court. A divorce is a matter of public record. In addition, extended family and friends will soon realize what is happening, especially after one spouse leaves the marital home. However, there…
With the holiday season wrapping up, I wanted to take a minute to share with you some information on how to maintain family traditions during holiday parenting time and how to preserve the joy of holidays that your children have. This way your children can enjoy spending time with both parents in future holidays. The…
In our last few blogs, we have discussed what is holiday parenting time and what holidays are traditionally observed. But what happens if a holiday is important to your family and it is not listed in the holiday parenting time schedule. There are some holidays celebrated across the generations as part of one’s ancestral culture…
Occasionally, I have seen judgments that contain language for parenting time as being “reasonable and liberal upon agreement with the parties.” While the goal of this type of parenting is promotion cooperation in setting up a flexible parenting time schedule, it should only be agreed to under thoughtful consideration of several factors. The Four Factors…
This month Melissa Pearce & Associates is starting a new thing. I will be recording some video tips for our clients and prospective clients. On Mondays, I will share some co-parenting tips. The tip for today is very simple: find a way to communicate. You know you cannot co-parent with that other parent unless you…
School has started up again. But for many parents who share joint legal custody, the question is being brought up again on who determines which school the children will attend. Disagreements can arise over the ratings of schools, the quality of the courses offered, the cost of attending the school, or the distance that the…
If you are beginning the divorce process, the holiday season can bring up emotional stress. In the past, your family may have enjoyed holiday traditions as a family. However, things will change, and the holiday season will be spent without children present or celebrated on alternate days to accommodate parenting time schedules. Children will adapt…
The beginning of the school year can be an exciting time for children. They are excited to learn who their new teacher is and if any of their friends are in their class this year. They may look forward to the annual school clothes shopping sprees or want to pick out their new school supplies….