Family Law Representation for Unmarried Parents
Under Michigan law, unless there is a court order, the two parents listed on a birth certificate have equal rights to their child, even if they were never married. Therefore, either parent has the right to take the child on extended vacations or move out of state. Neither parent is obligated to pay child support. As you can imagine, this can create fear, confusion and tension between unmarried parents as they try to balance the joy of raising their child.
When parents are finding it hard to work together, at Spindler, Nausieda & Associates we work with our clients to enter a child custody and visitation or child support agreement in court. Our objective is to create a plan that allows and follows the laws of the State of Michigan and fulfills the needs of our client. Both parents will want to have an opportunity to be involved in the child's life, while implementing some structure and guidelines to ensure the best interests of the child.
Milford, Howell, and Brighton, Child Custody Lawyers
As with parents going through a divorce, there is no one-size-fits-all custody plan that works for unmarried parents. The plan needs to be as unique as the individual circumstance. When a child is born, the mother may need primary custody so she can nurse the baby. Accommodating school schedules is a concern with older children. Holiday and vacation schedules need to be considered if one parent lives out of state.
At our firm, we will always take your situation into consideration when creating a child custody and parenting time plan. This means talking to you about your needs and helping you understand all of your options so you can make informed decisions.
Similarly, we make sure an appropriate child support amount is determined based on an accurate calculation of your income and other child support factors.
Contact Us
If you are an unmarried parent and do not yet have a court order or agreement in place, contact our family law attorneys to discuss your child custody and support issues today. Let us handle the worry, so you can handle your life. Our law offices are located in Milford and Hartland, Michigan.
