Everyone hopes for the perfect family, but sometimes life works out a different way and people, both fathers and mothers, find themselves in a situation where custody of the child becomes an issue. Each state has its own laws regarding custody matters from establishing parentage or custody  to support and parenting time, and navigating these laws can be confusing. Ensuring your rights and what is best for your child is important and a qualified family law attorney in Gaylord can be the solution to both of these issues.

In Michigan, The Michigan Child Custody Act presumes that generally speaking, what is best for the child is to have a relationship with both parents. Michigan Courts begin the process of determining custody by using 12 factors to determine the custody arrangements.

1. The love, affection, and other emotional ties existing between the parties involved and the child
2. The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in his or her religion or creed, if any
3. The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, and medical care or other remedial care recognized under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material needs
4. The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining continuity
5. The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes
6. The moral fitness of the parties involved
7. The mental and physical health of the parties involved
8. The home, school, and community record of the child
9. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court considers the child to be of sufficient age to express preference
10. The willingness and ability of each of the parties to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent or the child and the parents
11. Domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against  or witnessed by the child
12. Any other factor considered by the court to be relevant to a particular child custody dispute

Though these may be the basis for determining custody, they are not all that is considered. Each family is unique and so is each set of circumstances. Do not assume that just because you are the father or have some less than common circumstance, you will lose out. Contact Harris Law, a family law attorney in Gaylord MI and find out how they can help you deal with your family law issue in Grayling, Gaylord and Atlanta.

Serving Crawford County, Otsego County and Montmorency County, Harris Law specializes in all types of family law , probate law as well as criminal law . If you have a case you would like to discuss and are looking for a family law attorney in Gaylord MI , Harris Law offers a free initial consultation up 1.5 hours. If you need a help, contact Harris Law at 231.347.4444 or fill out a Free Consultation form on our website.