In Michigan, you are automatically considered the legal parent to a child if you:
Give birth to the child
Are legally married to the person who gives birth to the child, even if you are not the biological parent
If you are the biological father but you are not married to the person who gave birth to your child, you may need to establish legal paternity in order to gain custody rights. This can be done via court order or affidavit of parentage.
While judges in Michigan typically grant 50/50 custody to parents, the ultimate decision is based on what is in the best interests of the child. Factors such as the child's age, relationship with each parent, and the ability of each parent to provide for the child's needs are considered.