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Sometimes judges in Michigan are forced to issue sole custody to one parent. This can happen as a result of a parent who is deemed unfit to adequately care for his or her son or daughter. When this occurs, the custodial parent is given the sole authority to make decisions on behalf of their child.
When a judge grants one parent sole physical custody of a child, the judge intends for the parent to have legal and physical custody of the child. This results in the other parent not having authority over decisions made about the child regarding matters such as medical care, schooling, living arrangements, etc.
Typically, judges recognize the benefit to the child to have both parents involved in their life, however, due to certain circumstances, the judge may determine that one parent is far more capable to handle everything related to the youngster while the other parent is either likely or capable of making decisions that would lead to the detriment of the child. It is important to note that at times, judges might issue “Parenting Time” to the non-custodial parent and the details of that arrangement would be made clear to both parents from the court.
Quite simply, the custodial parent is free to make decisions regarding the welfare of their child without input from the non-custodial parent. Whenever possible, it is best for both parents to work together, but sometimes that is not possible.
The compassionate lawyers at Bailey Smith & Bailey understand that custodial matters can be extremely difficult to handle. Our attorneys have years of experience with a variety of family law issues, and they have a proven record of success helping parents in custody matters. If you’re facing a difficult custody challenge, contact us today for a free consultation with one of our skilled attorneys.