Michigan Families Deserve Better
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Family Court Basics
Q: What does the Friend of the Court do?
A: FOC helps manage custody, parenting time, and child support. They make recommendations, but judges make the final decisions.
Q: What do “best interest factors” mean?
A: Michigan judges use 12 factors to decide what arrangement supports a child’s well‑well-being.
Q: Why do cases move slowly?
A: High caseloads, limited staff, and multiple steps in the process cause delays.
Custody
Q: What’s the difference between legal and physical custody?
A: Legal custody = decision‑making. Physical custody = where the child lives.
Q: Does joint custody mean equal time?
A: No. Joint custody does not guarantee a 50/50 schedule.
Parenting Time
Q: How is parenting time decided?
A: Michigan does not have a standard schedule. Judges decide case‑by-case.
Q: What does “reasonable parenting time” mean?
A: It’s vague. It means the court expects parents to work it out unless conflict makes that impossible.
Q: Why does “reasonable parenting time” mean?
A: Michigan uses an older model that hasn’t been modernized like many other states.
Parental Alienation & Grooming
Q: What is parental alienation?
A: When one parent influences a child to reject the other parent without a valid reason.
Q: What does grooming look like in family court?
A: Subtle behaviors that manipulate a child’s feelings or beliefs about the other parent.
Q: What can parents document?
A: Dates, messages, missed parenting time, and changes in the child’s behavior.
Friend of the Court (FOC)
Q: Can FOC make final decisions?
A: No. They make recommendations. Judges decide.
Q: What if I disagree with FOC?
A: You can file an objection and ask for a hearing.
Court Process
Q: What is mediation?
A: A meeting where parents try to reach an agreement with a neutral mediator.
Q: What does a referee do?
A: Referees hold hearings and make recommendations to the judge.
Q: Why do cases get delayed?
A: Scheduling conflicts, missing documents, or requests for more information.
Financial Questions
Q: How is child support calculated?
A: Michigan uses a formula based on income, overnights, and certain expenses.
Q: What is imputed income?
A: When the court assigns income to a parent who is unemployed or under‑employed.
Safety & Legal Boundaries
Q: Is this legal advice?
A: No. This page provides general information only.
Q: Can attorneys on “Ask the Family Court” give legal advice?
A: No. They provide general educational insight, not case‑specific guidance.
Q: What if I need legal help?
A: You should contact a licensed Michigan family law attorney.