Michigan Guides
General Resources
These guides work no matter where you live:
Articles for Michigan
Alternatives to Hiring a Michigan Family Law Attorney for Custody
Compare seven alternatives to full attorney representation for Michigan custody cases — from free court resources to guided self-preparation and limit…
Best Michigan Custody Planning Tool for Self-Represented Parents
Find the best custody planning tool for Michigan parents representing themselves — compare free resources, guides, apps, and attorney options by cost …
Can a Child Choose Which Parent to Live With in Michigan?
Whether a child can choose which parent to live with in Michigan — factor (i) of the best-interest test, judicial interviews, age considerations, and …
Established Custodial Environment in Michigan
What Michigan's Established Custodial Environment (ECE) means for custody cases — how courts determine it exists, why it shifts the burden of proof, a…
Ex Parte Custody Order in Michigan
How emergency and ex parte custody orders work in Michigan — when courts grant them, what you need to show, and how temporary orders shape the rest of…
FOC Mediation in Michigan Custody Cases
How Friend of the Court mediation works in Michigan — when it's required, what happens during the session, and how FOC recommendations affect your cus…
FOC Michigan: What the Friend of the Court Does in Custody Cases
What Michigan's Friend of the Court (FOC) does — custody investigations, child support enforcement, mediation, parenting time disputes, and how to opt…
Grandparent Visitation Rights in Michigan
When Michigan grandparents can petition for visitation or custody — legal standing requirements, the DeRose presumption, and what courts consider unde…
How to Build a Custody Case During Michigan's 180-Day Waiting Period
Use Michigan's mandatory 180-day waiting period to build your custody case — document the 12 best-interest factors, protect against an unfavorable ECE…
How to File for Custody in Michigan
Step-by-step process for filing a child custody case in Michigan — required forms, filing fees, the 180-day waiting period, and what happens after you…