Hello,
I am currently awaiting the court date for my custody battle with my ex girlfriend. I am requesting sole physical custody, with joint legal custody. Currently we have joint legal, she has sole physical. The case is being heard in Michigan.
I filed the petition based on abuses of the child by the stepfather, his brother, and failure to provide for his needs by the mother. Now I can add withholding visitation to her list of accolades.
The abuses include his being grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground by his stepfather, his brother chasing him around with kitchen knives/hammers/ etc threatening to kill him, and various verbal abuses. The “neglect” comes in the form of despite the large amount of child support I pay, he is dressed in used clothes only slightly better than rags, has a very damaged winter coat that will not zip up, and no eyeglasses despite them being doctor-prescribed. He has also requested, rather vehemently, to come live with me.
His mother denies none of these allegations, but says they are no big deal, or I’m over-reacting.
Now she is also restricting my visitation. We do not have court set visitation, it is defined as what we decide. Unfortunately, she has decided this means her word is law, and she gets to decide when and if I see him. She has now decided that one night per week and every other weekend is excessive visitation, and that I am seeing him too much.
My questions are:
What are my chances at winning custody?
Should I hire a lawyer for this hearing?
How much does my sons opinion count?
Can I request a home evaluation of both of our homes?
How much visitation can I get court ordered if I don’t win custody?
Thank you for all of your help!

