Michigan Family Law Blog

One issue that arises in almost every divorce case is the division of property, even in short-term marriages.  All property that comes to the marriage through the efforts of either party during the marriage is generally considered marital regardless of which party may have earned the income, purc...

There are two types of custody in Michigan, legal custody and physical custody.  Legal custody refers to decision making for the children such as religious upbringing, where the children attend school and immunizations.  Physical custody refers to with whom the children reside or spend more time....

This blog is about alimony.  In Michigan, we call it spousal support but it is the same thing.  There are different types of alimony that one might pursue in a divorce.  A Michigan divorce attorney can analysis the facts and apply the law to your case to determine whether you might be a good cand...

There are so many things to take care of when you are getting divorced. Understandably, a few things might fall through the cracks. However, updating your estate plan should not be one of the forgotten or overlooked tasks on your divorce to-do list. Working with your estate attorney and your Mic...

Judges in Michigan decide custody cases based on what is in the best interest of the child. The Michigan Child Custody Act of 1970 sets forth 12 factors for judges to use as they determine what is in the child's best interest. The factors cover a wide range of issues related to child custody. If ...

Divorce affects almost every area of your life, including your tax obligations. For some couples who have maintained virtually separate financial lives during their marriage, a divorce may not have a significant impact on their taxes. However, for the average couple who combines their finances wh...

There are many issues that one might face in a divorce, including but not limited to: custody, visitation, child support and alimony or spousal support .  However property division and division of debt are involved in almost every case.  This includes such things as the marital home, personal pro...

For some couples, it could take much longer to get a divorce than it did to plan the wedding and get married. Many factors impact the timeline for the divorce process in Michigan. Working with a Michigan divorce attorney can help speed up the process of obtaining a divorce. An attorney understan...

No-fault refers to whether a “ground” is required to obtain a divorce. Each state enacts laws that define the requirements for obtaining a divorce in that state. It is important to understand the divorce laws before proceeding to protect your best interests during the entire divorce process. A M...

When a person gets divorced in Michigan there are often many issues that may include alimony, child custody, parenting time and child support but almost every case requires a division of property and debt.  When dividing property; the court will first determine whether the property is marital or ...

Q: Do children of divorce get divorced more often than children of intact marriages? Couples considering getting divorced in North Oakland, Michigan or elsewhere understand that the divorce will be difficult on their minor children and likely expect initial transition difficulties. The disrupt...

Q: Can grandparents get visitation rights or be granted custody? If you're considering getting divorced in Michigan, and you have minor children, working out the physical and legal custody of the children can become contentious. At stake is not only how much physical time the child will live with...

Leaving an abusive relationship can be one of the best decisions you can make. However, you need to protect yourself before, during, and after the divorce from domestic violence. Telling an abusive spouse that you want a divorce could make the situation more dangerous. A Michigan divorce lawyer ...

Michigan is considered a no-fault state for divorce matters. In no-fault states, parties can obtain a divorce without proving grounds or “fault.” For instance, in some states, you must prove one or more grounds for the divorce, such as adultery, abuse, or abandonment. In Michigan, you only need t...

There are many issues that can arise after a divorce is finalized, these are called post-judgment issues by family law attorneys in Michigan.  When a post-judgment issue comes up, the most important thing to do is contact a divorce lawyer immediately to address the issues.  Judgments are not self...

There are many issues that can come up in any divorce case.  One issue that is sometimes overlooked, is what to do about the family pets?  There can be a very strong emotional bond between the divorcing couple and their dogs or cats.  If there are children, some couples try to keep the pets in th...

In some divorce cases, the court has to go through the parties finances with a fine-tooth comb in order to sort-out what is the appropriate income to use for calculating alimony or child support.  In the recently decided case of Eubanks v Hendrix, Michigan Court of Appeals No. 344102, May 23, 201...

Child support is determined by a formula.  Base child support takes both parent's incomes and the number of overnights each parent has with the child or children and plugs those numbers into a formula.  The formula then determines the base child support that one parent will pay to the other.  The...

When a parent is faced with a potential divorce, the biggest questions most parents have concern custody of the children.  However, the term custody has lost some of its meaning in Michigan.  Now the focus is more on what is called parenting time rather than custody. ​What is the Difference Betwe...

​How Do I Modify My Spousal Support in Michigan?  If you are paying modifiable alimony in Oakland, Michigan, you might have the ability to decrease or increase your income but you do not know if your case will qualify or how to go about getting it modified.  How do you know if you are paying o...

How is debt handled in a divorce? If you're considering getting divorced in North Oakland, Michigan, you might have an idea about the issues you need to work out with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, but there may be unexpected issues, too. Even if you don't have the added emotional burden of working o...

As a divorce lawyer, I recommend that everyone contemplating marriage should at least consult with a lawyer about getting a prenuptial agreement.  There are several reasons for this recommendation.  First, as part of the process the parties will have to disclose to each other their income, assets...

Bankruptcy and divorce can sometimes play out simultaneously in a person's life. Financial trouble is one of the leading causes of tension and arguments in a marriage. When a couple is contemplating both a divorce and a bankruptcy filing, which should come first? Unfortunately, some couples may f...

Both a divorce and an annulment are actions to end a marriage. However, the requirements for seeking an annulment are different from the requirements for seeking a divorce. A Michigan divorce lawyer can be extremely helpful if you do not know whether to file for divorce or request an annulment t...

Should I Be Worried About Abandonment if I Leave the Marital Home Before I File for Divorce? Michigan is a No-fault Divorce State  Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, which means that a person does not have to state a reason in order to obtain a divorce.  It does not mean that fault cannot play...