why won't my lawyer let my 15 year old have a say about custody

Can an unemancipated 16 year old decide to get custody?

An unemancipated 16 year old does not have the legal ability to decide his own custody/visitation, but "forcing' the child to follow court orders is difficult and can create more division in your relationship. Try working through the other parent first. If that parent is not actively assisting in making sure you get your...

Why choose mymyers law firm for child custody?

Myers Law Firm has over 60 years of combined experience with family matters, including child custody cases. Our team can look at the details of your unique situation and offer assistance to address your circumstances and meets your needs.

Do you need a family law attorney for child custody cases?

Your relationship with your child is too important to risk letting that happen in a child custody case. To avoid that risk, you should look for an experienced family law attorney who can argue on your behalf in court and keep track of all the various filings, dates, and requirements.

Can a parent lose legal custody for no reason?

A parent who often, willfully violates the other parent's joint legal custody rights should lose legal custody under most circumstances. It is possible the violation was not willful and isolated. It is also possible the Court does not believe the violation was significant enough to merit a loss or change of custody.

At what age can a child say they don't want to see a parent in Florida?

However, most judges will take into account a child's preference around the age of 12 or 13, along with other factors such as the child's intelligence, maturity, child's experiences with each parent and whether the child understands the decision being made.

At what age can a child tell a judge who they want to live with in Michigan?

age 18In Michigan the child must be an adult, age 18, before he/she can decide with whom they will live.

At what age can a child refuse to see a parent?

Age 18Legally, Your Child Can Refuse Visitation at Age 18 When your child reaches 18, he or she is an adult. Adults can decide who they spend time with. You will not be able to force your child to continue to see you. A family law court will no longer be able to enforce any possession or visitation clauses over an adult.

Can child decide who they want to live with?

In law, there is no fixed age that determines when a child can express a preference as to where they want to live. However, legally, a child cannot decide who they want to live with until they are 16 years old. Once a child reaches the age of 16, they are legally allowed to choose which parent to live with.

Who Will Get Custody of Our Child?

The Michigan Child Custody Act presumes it is in the best interests of a child to have a strong relationship with both parents. Courts in Michigan...

What Is Joint Custody? What Is Sole Custody?

In Michigan, there are two types of custody: legal and physical.Legal custody is the ability to make important life decisions for your child, such...

If Both Parents Share Custody Does Anyone Pay Child Support?

Child support in Michigan is calculated using the Michigan Child Support Formula. This formula uses both parents’ incomes, the number of overnight...

Can A Parent Refuse to Allow Visitation If Child Support Is Not Paid?

No. Visitation and child support are separate entities. If you have not received a child support payment you should contact the Michigan Friend of...

When Can My Child Decide Which Parent to Live with?

A child’s preference can be considered when they are of the age and maturity the court finds sufficient to express a reasonable preference. Each ju...

Do Grandparents Have Custody and Visitation Rights?

Grandparents do not, by default, have custody and visitation rights. However, grandparents can petition the court for these rights in very limited...

What Is A Parenting Plan, and Do I Need One?

A parenting plan, usually called a parenting time agreement, is an agreement between parents and signed by the judge that dictates when each parent...

If My Separation Agreement Includes Custody/Support Can It Be Included in The Divorce Decree?

In Michigan a separation agreement is called a Judgment of Separate Maintenance (JSM). A JSM allows the parties to resolve the property, custody an...

What Can I Expect from Temporary Orders?

The most common temporary orders are for support (child or spousal) and for child custody. These orders are meant to give the parties and their chi...

When Will Child Custody Be decided?

An initial custody determination will be made by the Friend of the Court early in the case. The Friend of the Court will issue a recommendation bas...