Goldman & Associates Law Firm
Divorce, child custody, support, and family law
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Worried about time with your kids in Detroit? Michigan custody is governed by the Child Custody Act of 1970 (MCL 722.21 and following), and Wayne County cases are heard in the Circuit Court's Family Division. A judge weighs the twelve best-interest factors in MCL 722.23 and pays close attention to the established custodial environment — where the child has actually been living and looking for guidance, security, and care. Michigan splits custody into legal custody (who makes major decisions) and physical custody (where the child lives), and joint legal custody is common. Detroit custody lawyers typically charge $200–$400 an hour with a $2,500–$5,000 retainer, and the county's Friend of the Court office plays a real role in many cases.
Updated May 26, 2026
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Michigan separates custody into two pieces. Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about schooling, healthcare, and religion; physical custody is where the child primarily lives. Courts often order joint legal custody so both parents stay involved in big decisions, while physical custody and parenting time are set based on what works for the child. Wayne County divorce and custody cases run through the Circuit Court's Family Division.
Two legal ideas drive the outcome. First, the twelve best-interest factors in MCL 722.23 — emotional ties, each parent's capacity to provide, stability of the home, moral fitness, the child's school and community record, and any history of domestic violence, among others. Second, the established custodial environment: if a child has been living primarily with one parent and looking to that parent for daily needs, a court needs clear and convincing evidence before disrupting it. That concept often matters more than the factors themselves. Wayne County's Friend of the Court investigates, makes recommendations, and helps enforce parenting time and support.
Custody can be modified, but Michigan requires proper cause or a change of circumstances before a judge will revisit a final order, and a bigger showing if the change would alter an established custodial environment. Relocation has its own rule — a parent generally cannot move a child more than 100 miles without the other parent's consent or court approval. Most Detroit custody lawyers bill $200–$400 an hour against a retainer of $2,500–$5,000, and an agreed parenting plan costs far less than a contested trial.