Michigan’s Child Custody Act declares that when parents live apart, parenting time shall be granted in accordance with the child’s best interests. Usually, it’s preferable for the parties in a divorce to reach agreement on legal authority, residential custody and visitation. Each situation is unique however, and sometimes, parents cannot achieve consensus on a parenting time plan. In those cases, courts examine a variety of factors when issuing an order, including any likelihood of abuse or neglect, whether the parties will abide by the parenting time schedule and any special circumstances that might exist.