A court must consider the best interest of the child when making determinations regarding custody and parenting time. The best interest factors are 12 factors outlined in MCL 722.23.

A. The love, affection and other emotional ties existing between the parties
involved and the child.

B. The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love,
affection and guidance and the continuation of the educating and raising of
the child in its religion or creed, if any.

C. The capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with
food, clothing, medical care and other remedial care recognized and permitted
under the laws of this state in place of medical care, and other material
needs.

D. The length of time the child has lived in a stable satisfactory environment
and the desirability of maintaining continuity.

E. The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home
or homes.

F. The moral fitness of the parties involved.

G. The mental and physical health of the parties involved.

H. The home, school and community record of the child.

I. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of
sufficient age to express preference.

J. The willingness and ability of each of the parents to facilitate and encourage a
close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other
parent.

K. Domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against,
or witnessed, by the child.

L. Any other factor considered by the court to be of relevance to a particular
child custody dispute.