How to Get More Parenting Time Under Michigan Law

There’s no better way to bond with someone than by simply spending time with them — and when that ‘someone’ is a child you love, there’s no such thing as ‘enough time.’ That’s one of the most painful aspects of divorce — losing access to your child for half or more of their lives. Any reasonable parent who has to deal with court-limited parenting time constantly strives to get more time with their kids, but if you’re the non-custodial parent, your ex- will have to consent to every individual extended visitation request you make. The only other option is to petition the court for more parenting time.

Here’s how.

Start by Following ALL the Rules
The number-one thing you can do in order to win a petition for more parenting time is by showing that you are willing and able to abide by the court’s current orders flawlessly. Be on time or just slightly early for every visitation you have scheduled; if you cannot be there on time, get in touch with your ex- and inform them politely about why you’ll be late and how late you’ll be.

Record Every Contact with Your Ex-
Keep copies of every interaction you have with your ex-, including audio recordings, written notes, whatever you can do. Once you ‘throw the gauntlet’ by opening a petition for more parenting time, it’s likely that you’ll get an entire Ford F-150 thrown back at you via trebuchet, because no custodial parent ever wants to give the other parent more parenting time. You’re going to want to have proof that you were polite, followed the rules, and that your ex- was the one who started trouble. (Needless to say, this means you actually have to be polite, etc.)

Learn the Legal Bases for Visitation
A visitation/parenting time agreement that has been court-ordered can be challenged at any time, by either parent — but most challenges are thrown out because they don’t have a good basis for seeking modification. Essentially, the spirit of the law is that you must show:

• That life circumstances have meaningfully changed for you, your ex-, or your child, and
• That that change in circumstance has impacts your child in a way that makes increasing your visitation hours in the best interests of the child.

That first bullet point is important, because it means that you cannot get away with a parenting time modification simply because you’ve realized some new way that your ex- is a total loser. There actually has to be a tangible change in your circumstances to warrant the petition. Also, it helps a lot to…

Hire an Experienced Family Attorney
There’s a good reason why lawyers exist — it’s because the law is often counterintuitive, courtrooms can be intimidating, and one mistake can actually change the direction and magnitude of your life. If you want more time with your child, and you’re currently limited to whatever visitation or parenting time the court allows, call Gucciardo Family Law today. We can get you on the road to being a more present parent.