Child Custody Archives | DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

August 12, 2015January 7, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

Lament of a Divorced Parent

Lament of a divorced parent? It’s true. Firsts are always memorable, especially the first time that a newly divorced parent sends the children off with the “ex”. The finality of no longer being parents in the same household becomes “reality”. For most parents, it is a very emotional experience; the first time you are home alone, and your children are with the “other” parent. You wonder if the children are ok? Did dad or mom remember that Susie was allergic to peanuts, that Jimmy needed his ADD meds in the morning? And, that each child needed a ride to a sports activity.

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January 30, 2015January 7, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

How to Explain Custody to Children

Divorce is a traumatic process not just for parents but also for their children. To help children cope with the changes in their living arrangements once the courts have determined who will have custody of the children, parents can do the following:

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November 25, 2014January 8, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

Explaining Shared Custody to the Kids

When the court awards shared or joint custody during a divorce settlement it means that the children will divided their time between both parents. Once this has been determined the parents will need to work through the details and logistics of works, school, sport and other schedules.

As parents, you will also need to explain the situations to their children. Here are some tips from www.parents.com that can help parents going through this situation.

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July 24, 2014January 8, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

Child Visitation: When There Are Problems

After two parents’ divorce, visitation schedules for the children involved are meant to be, as legal doctrine states, “…in the best interest of the child…”(www.divorcesupport.about.com). But they don’t always work smoothly in the day-to-day lives of divorced families. One issue parents might face is when the kids don’t want to visit the other parent. This article contains insights for “ironing out” child visitation problems.

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November 21, 2013January 8, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

What to do When Divorced Dad Spoils the Kids

A friend asked me a question about her ex-husband treating the children to lavish gifts and trips when he has them, while she is struggling financially. She knew she should not say anything negative to her children about her ex, but she was finding it difficult in the face of her circumstances. She wanted my opinion about what can she do.

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October 22, 2013January 8, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

What Can I Do if I’m Being Denied Access to My Grandkids?

Grandkids bring a unique kind of joy to life, and to be denied time with them can be heartbreaking. The State of Michigan has some protection in place for grandparents who are not being given time with their grandkids.

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June 21, 2011January 8, 2020 by Rachel Frawley

What Will the Court Consider When A Party Seeks Modifications to Parenting Time and/or Child Custody Arrangements?

In family law matters, the past behavior and practices of the parties will always be examined whenever change is sought. Michigan law in this area is well established and courts are continually bombarded with parents asking for modifications to child custody or parenting time arrangements. One common mistake that many parents make, is that they assume past indiscretions or old issues can be brought up when seeking modification of prior orders. When asking the court to change an existing custody and/or parenting time arrangement, a court will only consider occurrences in the time period after the last court order was made.

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