Proposed Michigan Child Custody Law Would Grant Joint Custody during Divorce Disputes
Michigan State Representative Glenn Steil Jr. has recently introduced legislation requiring judges to order joint custody during most child custody disputes in the state. Steil has said that parents are not treated equally in too many divorce cases and added that Michigan’s current policy in determining custody is outdated, wrongfully assumes that sole custody is in the child’s best interests, and does not promote the development of strong relationships with both parents.
Specifically, House Bill 4564 would order Michigan courts to grant joint custody unless:
• a parent is determined by a court to be unfit, unwilling or unable to care for the child; or
• a parent moves outside the school district where his or her child attended the previous year and is unable to comply with the child’s school schedule without interruption.
This proposed Michigan child custody law would mandate that children live with either parent for substantially equal periods of time. Parents would also share in important decision making regarding their child’s best interests.
A South Bend Tribune story said that current Michigan laws do not mandate joint custody and that these decisions are rather agreed upon by the parents. The story added that judges make final custody decisions during disputes by considering 12 factors, including the child’s school record, the mental and physical health of both parents, and their ability to provide a stable and loving environment.
Steil has championed this legislation based in large part on his own experience with joint custody. Steil came to a joint custody agreement during his divorce. While Steil is in favor of this proposed Michigan child custody law, others are worried about its possible ramifications. Some domestic violence groups have said that victims could be susceptible to more violence from an ex-spouse when picking up or dropping off their child.
With this legislation, Michigan joins Minnesota as Midwest states to recently consider granting joint custody to parents during divorce cases. We’ll keep you updated on the latest developments with these proposed Michigan and Minnesota child custody laws.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:59 am
I DO NOT AGREE THAT THE LAW OR A JUDGE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHATS BEST FOR A KID,WHEN THEY NEVER TALK TO A KID TO HEAR WHAT WOULD BE BEST FOR THE KID.WHEN A IS THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES REALLY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.THE LAWS AND JUDGES THINK KIDS ARE TO YOUNG TO KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM,BUT THE LAW OR THE JUDGE DONT EVEN MEET THE KID,SOHOW DO THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THE KID.HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A STRANGER TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO?A KID OGES THROUGH ENOUGH WHEN ONE PARENT LEAVES THEIR KIDS AND BREAKS UP THEIR FAMILY JUST SO THEY CAN BE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.SOMETIMES A KID GOES THROUGH SO MUCH,THAT THEY DONT WANT TO HAVE TO GO THRU ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY DONT LIKE.THE KIDS ARE NOT THE ONES WHO ASKED TO BE BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD,BUT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE BEING PUT THROUGH GOING THRU EVERYTHING.I KNOW HOW THIS EFFECTS KIDS IN THIS MESS BECAUSE I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD NEICE AND A 8 YEAR OLD NEPHEW,WHO CRY EVERY TIME THAT IT IS TIME FOR THEM TO GO TO THEIR DADS.THEIR DAD IS REMARRIED NOW AND HIS NEW WIFE IS TRYING TO CHANGE THEIR WHOLE LIFESTYLE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WAS USED TO AROUND THEIR DAD BEFORE SHE CAME ALONG.THEIR DAD TREATS THEM DIFFERENT NOW,BECAUSE HE LISTENS TO WHATEVER SHE TELL HIM AND THE KIDS TO DO.THEY ARE NOT BEING PHYSICAL ABUSED THAT WE HAVE EVER HEARD OF,BUT THEY SURE ARE BEING MENTALLY ABUSED.I THINK THEY LOVE THEIR DAD OR THEY USED TO ANYWAY,BUT THEY JUST DONT LIKE GOING WITH THEIR DAD.THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN THROUGH ALOT THRU OUT IT ALL WITH THEIR DAD LEAVING THEM AND THEN MOVING IN WITH THIS NEW WOMAN AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT THEY GOT MARRIED,BUT ON TOP OF ALL THAT THEIR DOG DIED,ANDTHEY LOST A GREAT UNCLE WHO THEY LOVED ALOT AND THEIR GREAT GRANDMA WHO THEY WERE VERY CLOSE TO .THEIR MOM AND THEM LIVED WITH HER FOR AWHILE AFTER THEIR DAD TOLD THEIR MOTHER SHE AND THE KIDS HAD TO MOVE BECAUSE HE WANTED THE HOUSE THEY JUST STARTED MAKING PAYMENTS ON THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BUY,BUT HE LEFT THE HOUSE SHORTLY AFTER THAT AND MOVED IN WITH HIS WOMAN.KIDS ARE SMARTER THAN WE THINK,TRUST ME I KNOW BECAUSE I HAVE A 4 AND A HALF YEAR OLD WHO IS DEALING WITH HIS DADS HEALTH OF HUNTINGTONS DIEASE,BUT IS SO SMART THAT HE PRAYS FOR HIS DAD EVERY NIGHT AND HE TELLS EVERYBODY THAT HE KNOWS THAT GOD CAN MAKE HIS DAD BETTER,BECAUSE GOD CAN DO ANYTHING.MY NEICE AND NEPHEW ALSO ARE PRAYING FOR THEIR UNCLE TO GET BETTER.THEY LOVE HIM ALOT AND HE IS ALWAYS TELLING ME TO BUY THEM STUFF,HE LOVES THEM VERY MUCH AND SO DO I .WE WORRY ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND THINGS THEY GO THRU EVERY WEEK WIN THEY GO WITH HIM THREE NIGHTS IN A ROLL EVERY WEEK.I JUST WISH THERE WAS SOMETHING I COULD DO TO HELP THEM.
October 28th, 2007 at 2:59 am
Computer Network Security…
I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…
June 27th, 2008 at 12:25 am
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