Child Custody & Child Support Attorney Serving Oakland and Wayne Counties, Michigan
When children are involved, the stakes in any legal matter could not be higher. Custody and support disputes are among the most emotionally charged cases in family law, and the decisions made now will shape your children's lives and your relationship with them for years to come.
Emily K. Catania is a Birmingham-based litigation attorney who represents parents throughout Oakland and Wayne Counties and surrounding Michigan communities in child custody, parenting time, and child support matters. She brings a direct, strategic approach to every case, advocating fiercely for your parental rights while keeping your children's best interests at the center of everything.
Child Custody in Michigan
How Michigan Courts Determine Custody
Michigan courts base all custody decisions on the best interests of the child standard. Judges evaluate a series of statutory factors, including the emotional bond between each parent and the child, each parent's ability to provide a stable environment, the child's established school and community ties, and each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent.
Michigan's custody laws are gender neutral. Neither parent has an automatic advantage based on their sex. What matters is the evidence, the arguments presented, and the quality of your legal representation.
Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody
There are two distinct types of custody in Michigan:
Legal custody refers to the right to make major decisions about your child's life, including education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Legal custody can be joint (shared by both parents) or sole (granted to one parent).
Physical custody refers to where the child primarily lives. Physical custody can also be joint or sole, with the non-custodial parent typically receiving parenting time.
Joint custody arrangements are increasingly common in Michigan and are often in the best interests of the child when both parents are capable and committed.
Sole Custody
In cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse, neglect, or a parent who is consistently unavailable or unfit, sole custody may be appropriate. Emily has the litigation experience to present the evidence and legal arguments necessary to pursue sole custody when the circumstances warrant it.
Parenting Time
Even when one parent has primary physical custody, the other parent generally has the right to parenting time. Michigan courts strongly favor arrangements that allow children to maintain a meaningful relationship with both parents. If your co-parent is interfering with your parenting time, Emily can help you take swift legal action to enforce or modify your existing order.
Custody for Unmarried Parents
Custody disputes are not limited to divorcing couples. Unmarried parents have the same rights and responsibilities under Michigan law. If you are an unmarried parent seeking to establish or modify a custody arrangement, Emily can guide you through the process from start to finish.
Custody Modifications
Life changes, and so can custody orders. If there has been a significant change in circumstances, such as a parent relocating, a change in the child's needs, a new safety concern, or a substantial shift in either parent's situation, you can petition the court to modify the existing arrangement. Emily handles both initial custody determinations and post-judgment modifications throughout Oakland and Wayne Counties.
Child Support in Michigan
How Child Support is Calculated
Michigan uses the Michigan Child Support Formula (MCSF) to calculate support obligations. The formula takes into account both parents' net incomes, the number of overnights each parent has with the child, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. The goal is to ensure both parents contribute proportionally to their child's needs regardless of their relationship status.
Understanding how the formula works, and knowing where there is room to negotiate, can significantly impact the amount of support ordered. Emily helps clients present their financial circumstances accurately and advocates for outcomes that are fair and sustainable.
Child Support Modifications
A child support order is not permanent. If there has been a material change in circumstances, a job loss, a significant increase or decrease in income, a change in custody, or a change in the child's needs, either parent can request a modification. Emily handles support modification cases throughout Oakland and Wayne Counties and surrounding Michigan communities.
Child Support Enforcement
If the other parent is failing to pay court-ordered child support, you have legal options. Michigan enforcement tools include wage garnishment, seizure of tax refunds, suspension of driver's and professional licenses, and contempt of court proceedings. Emily can help you pursue enforcement quickly and effectively to ensure your child receives the financial support they are entitled to.
Additional Expenses — Extracurricular Activities & Medical Costs
Base child support covers a child's fundamental needs, but extraordinary expenses such as uncovered medical bills, extracurricular activities, and educational costs are typically addressed separately. Many parents negotiate cost-sharing arrangements for these expenses as part of their overall support agreement.
Serving Parents Throughout Oakland County and Michigan
Emily K. Catania represents parents in Birmingham, Troy, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Pontiac, Waterford, Clarkston, Rochester Hills, Novi, and throughout Oakland and Wayne Counties and the greater Metro Detroit area. Both in-person and virtual consultations are available.
Why Work With Emily K. Catania?
Emily understands that custody and support matters are not just legal disputes. They are deeply personal situations involving your children and your role as a parent. She takes the time to understand your family's specific circumstances and develops a legal strategy tailored to your goals.
Recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2019 and by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2026), Emily combines litigation experience with genuine commitment to her clients. Whether your case can be resolved through negotiation or requires a courtroom fight, she is prepared to advocate for you every step of the way.
Your Children Deserve the Best Possible Outcome
Don't leave custody and support decisions to chance. Contact Emily K. Catania today to discuss your case and learn how she can protect your parental rights and your children's future.