[[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"If parents share legal custody of a child after a divorce, the parent with physical custody can move up to 100 miles away from their location when the Judgment of Divorce is finalized. If the parent wants to move any farther than that, they\u2019ll need to petition the courts.","name":"How far can a parent move with joint custody?","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"By default, an unmarried mother will have sole legal and physical custody of her child unless the father files a paternity action in court and is successful. Once the father has established paternity, he can file for shared or sole custody of the child.","name":"How does child custody work for unmarried parents?","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer1"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","text":"To obtain sole custody of your children after a divorce, you will have to provide a reason why the court should not award custody to the child\u2019s other parent. This generally means demonstrating that the child would be in danger if the other parent were to have custody.","name":"How do I get sole custody in Michigan?","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer2"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"What rights do fathers have to child custody in Michigan?","text":"When couples are married, Michigan\u2019s child custody laws do not explicitly favor the mother or the father. The idea is to create an arrangement that best suits the needs of the child. That said, fathers do sometimes encounter unfair discrimination in custody cases. A lawyer can help ensure your rights are upheld while you petition for custody.","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer3"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Answer","name":"What rights do grandparents have?","text":"There are a few circumstances in which grandparents can petition for custody of or visitation rights with their grandchildren, such as: The grandparents have acted as caregivers for the child within the past year. The child\u2019s parents are currently divorcing or separated, or have already divorced or separated. The child was born to unmarried parents, and the parents don\u2019t live together. The father has been legally recognized and pays child support. The child is not living with their parents, or the parents do not have custody of the child.","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer4"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How far can a parent move with joint custody?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Question"},{"@type":"Question","name":"How does child custody work for unmarried parents?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer1"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Question1"},{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I get sole custody in Michigan?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer2"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Question2"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What rights do fathers have to child custody in Michigan?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer3"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Question3"},{"@type":"Question","name":"What rights do grandparents have?","acceptedAnswer":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Answer4"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Question4"}],"name":"Child Custody Attorney in Traverse City","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#FAQPage"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"LegalService","datePublished":"2021-07-28","description":"If you are a parent going through a divorce, one of the most important questions to be settled is how child custody will work. Michigan family law generally prefers that parents share custody and split parenting time after a divorce, but this isn\u2019t always in the child\u2019s best interest. A Traverse City child custody lawyer from Alward Fisher can help you reach an agreement that best meets your child\u2019s needs. With more than 100 years of combined experience, the family law attorneys at Alward Fisher have the knowledge, skills, and resources to advocate for you and your children. At Alward \u2026 Continue reading \u2192<\/span><\/a>","url":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/","dateModified":"2025-11-16","name":"Child Custody","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":1200,"height":630,"url":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Child-Custody-Attorney-in-Traverse-City.jpg","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Child-Custody-Attorney-in-Traverse-City.jpg"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#FAQPage"},"address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"412 S Union St","postalCode":"49684","addressRegion":"Michigan","addressLocality":"Traverse City","addressCountry":"http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q30","telephone":"+1 (231) 346-5400","name":"Postal Address - Traverse City","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/#PostalAddress-Traverse-City"},"@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#LegalService"},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"Organization","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":288,"height":103,"url":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo-fisher.png","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/logo-fisher.png"},"name":"Alward Fisher","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#Organization1"}],{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Child Custody","item":"https:\/\/nmichlaw.com\/child-custody\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]