Protecting Your Child And Family In Custody Matters

Last updated on August 28, 2026

Your children are the most important part of your life. When it comes to child custody, the outcome will affect their lives and well-being for a long time to come. So you don’t just need answers; you need the right answers and from someone you can trust. Contact an experienced child custody lawyer.

When you work with Lisa Stern, you are working with a child custody lawyer who has been protecting families and children in the metro Detroit area and throughout Michigan for 30 years. This experience means that she has seen nearly every type of child custody situation imaginable and can offer you time-tested advice about how to accomplish your goals and give your children the best possible chance to succeed in life.

What To Expect When Filing For Child Custody In Oakland Or Wayne County

Initial custody orders in Oakland and Wayne counties may take six months to over a year to resolve. Contested disputes can take considerably longer. Here is what the process looks like:

• File your petition: Submit a custody petition to the family division of your county’s circuit court in Pontiac for Oakland County cases or Detroit for Wayne County cases
• Attend a Friend of the Court conference: An FOC representative meets with both parents to discuss custody and parenting time before the matter reaches a judge
• Appear at your court hearing: If the conference does not produce an agreement, a judge holds a formal hearing and issues a custody order

Knowing these steps early gives you a meaningful advantage.

Lisa D. Stern’s Child Custody Practice

In addition to answering questions about your specific situation, Lisa D. Stern can provide you with information about child custody-related topics such as:

• Understanding how custody issues are decided: The firm can help you understand how a court will look at a situation and how it will apply the best interests of the child test.
• Working through various custody options: When it comes to sole and joint custody, myths abound. Joint custody, for example, does not mean that you will automatically split parenting time 50-50. Learn more about the shared custody options that may be available to you.
• Developing a parenting plan: Lisa can help you craft a comprehensive and creative plan that takes all considerations into account, including school and work schedules, extracurricular activities, logistical concerns, holidays and other details.
• Determining how child support fits into the picture: Lisa D. Stern has a long history of helping parents receive or pay a fair amount of child support based on their financial means and the needs of their children.
• Navigating potential changes in custody and support arrangements: When life changes – for example, because of a job loss, relocation or remarriage – you might need to modify an existing order. Lisa can help, whether you are seeking or opposing a potential modification.
• Establishing or contesting paternity: Legal parenthood is at the foundation of child custody and support cases. If paternity is an issue, Lisa can help you resolve it.

Lisa D. Stern also handles cases involving domestic violence or Child Protective Services. The well-being of the children is paramount in these situations. However, sometimes false or exaggerated allegations can end up depriving parents of valuable time with their children – time that’s ultimately irreplaceable. You can rely on Lisa to address these sensitive matters with care and discretion.

Your Family Is Unique

Lisa D. Stern recognizes that families come in all shapes and sizes – and that no two families are alike. When you work with Lisa D. Stern, you can expect attentive and tailored guidance based on your unique goals, needs and priorities.

Lisa understands the challenges and nuances of custody situations involving:

• Divorce and separation
• Unmarried parents
• Grandparents and other relatives
• LGBTQ+ couples
• Special needs children

Types Of Custody Arrangements In Michigan

When parents separate or divorce in Michigan, they face important decisions regarding the care and upbringing of their children. One of the most significant decisions involves determining the custody arrangement that best supports their child’s needs and well-being. There are several possible child custody arrangements in Michigan, each with distinct characteristics and implications for both children and parents.

Sole Custody Arrangements

In a sole custody arrangement, one parent gains the exclusive right to make major decisions about the child’s life, including those related to education, health care and religion. This parent is known as the custodial parent. This arrangement doesn’t mean the other parent loses all parental rights. Instead, it indicates that the custodial parent has the primary responsibility for the child’s day-to-day needs and major life decisions. The noncustodial parent often has the right to spend time with the child, known as parenting time. Courts usually grant sole custody when they believe this arrangement serves the child’s best interests, especially if they deem that one parent is unfit or unable to care for the child.

Joint Custody Arrangements

Joint custody involves both parents sharing the responsibilities and decision-making for the child. In joint custody arrangements, parents must communicate and cooperate in making decisions about their child’s welfare. It requires a high level of cooperation and communication between the parents to ensure they can meet the child’s needs effectively. This type of custody can take two forms: joint legal custody and joint physical custody. Here’s how they differ:

• Joint legal custody: Joint legal custody allows both parents to have an equal say in making significant decisions about the child’s life. These can include decisions about the child’s education, health care and religious upbringing. In joint legal custody arrangements, neither parent’s decision-making rights are superior to the other’s. This means parents must discuss and agree on these major decisions, requiring them to work together and communicate effectively.
• Joint physical custody: In joint physical custody arrangements, the child lives with both parents at different times. The time split can vary, but the goal is to provide the child with substantial and frequent contact with both parents. This arrangement requires careful planning and scheduling to manage the child’s time between two households. It’s important to note that joint physical custody does not necessarily mean a 50-50 time split. It’s more about ensuring the child has meaningful and consistent interaction with each parent.

Factors Judges Consider When Determining Child Custody

In divorce cases involving children, judges must approve any child custody plans to make them enforceable. The judge’s primary focus is on the child’s best interests. This means they must carefully evaluate factors like the following to ensure the arrangement supports the child’s overall well-being:

• Each parent’s ability to offer a stable, loving environment
• The child’s physical and emotional needs
• The child’s age and health
• Any history of domestic violence or abuse
• Each parent’s mental and physical health
• The child’s established living pattern (school, home, community)
• Each parent’s willingness to facilitate the child’s relationship with the other parent
• The ability of each parent to provide the child with food, clothing and medical care
• Each parent’s ability to offer the child guidance and support
• The child’s preference, if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to form an opinion
• Any other factors the court considers relevant

A child custody attorney in Michigan can make a big difference in your child custody case. The firm has a deep understanding of custody and experience in cases similar to yours. Lisa D. Stern, a child custody attorney in Detroit, can draft a custody agreement that reflects your child’s best interests and your wishes. She can also represent you in court, argue on your behalf and strive for a favorable outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody In Michigan

Child custody disputes raise serious questions. Below are direct answers to what parents in Oakland and Wayne counties ask most.

How do Oakland County judges view relocation if I want to move out of Bloomfield Hills with my child?

Oakland County judges do not automatically approve relocation requests. Michigan law requires court approval before moving a child’s legal residence if the other parent objects or if moving over 100 miles away, unless you have sole legal custody. The relocating parent must show the move offers a meaningful improvement to the child’s quality of life. The court also weighs how the move would affect the other parent’s relationship with the child.

If we are unmarried in Detroit, do I automatically get custody as the mother?

In Michigan, an unmarried mother holds initial sole custody at birth until paternity is legally established, but that is not permanent. A father can establish paternity by signing an Acknowledgment of Parentage or through a court-ordered DNA test. Once he establishes paternity, he has the right to file for custody and parenting time in Wayne County family court. The court then evaluates the case under the best interest of the child standard.

Can my recent social media posts be used against me during our custody dispute?

Yes, judges can consider your social media posts in Michigan custody cases if they relate to parenting fitness or judgment. Judges and opposing counsel heavily scrutinize daily conduct, texts and digital evidence during custody disputes, and your online activity is no exception. Knowing what could hurt your case in a child custody battle, from event photos to private messages, is critical from the start. Consider limiting your social media activity immediately.

Speak Directly With A Child Custody Lawyer

Call the firm at 248-973-7842 to speak with child custody lawyer Lisa Stern about your child custody case. You can also contact her online. Based in Bloomfield Hills, the firm serves clients throughout the Detroit area and statewide.

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