Parenting Time Issues in Michigan Divorces |
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Family law and divorce attorneys Henry Gornbein and Alisa Peskin-Shepherd discuss typical and alternative parenting time schedules and considerations for divorce settlements.
Henry: What about parenting time? Which if we were speaking 10 to 15 years ago was called visiting time, but now your not visiting your children your parenting them, but what are some issues you deal with in that area? Alisa: Again were dealing with labels so even just thinking of visitation versus parenting time it changes how people think about their situation, so some typical schedules are primary responsibility during the week between parents and alternating weekends, while some people like to separate their time more evenly, by alternating each day the child spends with each parent Henry: Which is really a 50/50 parenting time arrangement because each parent has 7 out of 14 days, you can schedule one week on and one week off, you know there are so many possibilities, and a lot depends on what were doing when were doing a divorce is what our clients needs are, and also the children’s needs. One schedule may make sense for little children, but teenagers are another story, and they sit where they stay, and really a custody battle involving teenagers revolves around Henry you take them, no, Alisa you take them. Those are the realities you know customizing parenting time there are important issues and it has to be done on a case by case basis. Alisa: Right and especially with parenting time which changes with the child’s needs, so what is good for a younger child might not be good for a older child and that child themselves, the teenager, or 2 teenagers are going to react very differently to where their needs are, and you really need to encourage your clients to take that into consideration Henry: Which brings up another important point, that if we don’t build into the divorce contract that the child custody time and plan can be changed depending on the child’s mind and age, it can really be a hassle to change that time, based on our current laws.
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