Michigan Family Law Blog

As part of the divorce process, every aspect of one's family and financial life must be addressed.  This includes a long laundry list of potential issues including custody, parenting time, restrictions on parenting time, child support, alimony, division of debt, division of property, insurance - ...

Many couples that are going through a divorce continue to reside in the same home during the divorce process.  This can often be a very difficult situation for both parties, it is at the very least awkward and can lead to issues of harassment and even abuse.  Given that this is a very d...

The recent pandemic affected all Americans and Michiganites.  Many people were laid off from a variety of different industries but now many businesses are reopening and many people have the opportunity to return to work.  However, not all people are returning to work for a variety of reasons, som...

In most litigation in America each party or person involved in the litigation pays their own attorney fees.  This is true regardless of whether either side wins or loses, this is referred to as the "American Rule" when it comes to handling attorney fees.  This is often true in divorce cases, in m...

Divorces that involve families with minor children are often the most emotionally challenging and require the resolution of many issues.  The primary concern should always be the best interests and welfare of the children which requires careful consideration of custody (legal and physical), paren...

When spouses divorce, an individual may be required to pay spousal support to their partner. Spousal support is financial support to assist a spouse who may not have the financial resources to support themselves after a separation or divorce. Michigan's divorce statutes define when a spouse quali...

You have to follow the procedural and substantive laws in Michigan to get a divorce. Procedural rules deal with things like the number of days you have to do something. Substantive law has to do with things like how to calculate a parent's child support obligation. Working with a lawyer can help...

Living with a narcissist can be challenging, and divorcing one might push you to the limit of your patience. Knowing how to deal with narcissism could help you manage the situation a little better. We cannot promise that it will be easy to end a marriage with a narcissist, but a Michigan divorce...

There are several different types of retirement benefits that a person can have, including but not limited to annuities, pensions and 401(k), 403(b) or IRA's.  Pensions and annuities are slightly different but all of these types of retirement accounts are subject to division between the parties i...

This blog is dedicated to family law and divorce cases.  There are many issues that can lead to a divorce, one very common issue is family finance.  There are many aspects of family money management that can lead to serious problems and differences for married couples and frankly any couple in re...

ou and your spouse have decided to divorce in Michigan, but want to avoid litigating the matter in divorce court. Mediation is an alternative you might consider. Michigan divorce attorneys often encourage mediation as a cost-effective and time-efficient approach to divorce. Is mediation right f...

The National Coaltion Again Domestic VIolence reports that nearly 20 people in the United States are physically abused every minute by an intimate partner. Yet, for victims of abuse, fleeing domestic violence can be equally as terrifying as remaining with their abuser. Fears about where to go, h...

Do you fear battling your spouse in a Michigan divorce court? You may want to consider an approach apart from litigation. When consulting with a Michigan divorce attorney, ask what avenues are available for dissolving your marriage. Many couples have found that they can save themselves time, mo...

Facing a divorce or a separation is one of the more, if not the most, stressful and difficult events that a person will have to navigate in their life.  There are so many different issues that may arise including custody, visitation (or parenting time as it is called in Michigan), child support, ...

As a family law attorney (divorce lawyer) in Michigan, I handle all aspects of divorce, post-divorce and even pre-marriage issues.  One issue that is addressed in virtually every case is the division of property and debts.  The following provides an analysis of how property and debts are divided ...

People going through a high net worth divorce need to think about all the usual divorce issues as well as additional things that can be unique to this type of case. A Michigan divorce attorney can develop a strategy and advocate for you in a high net worth divorce. Here are three categories of ti...

High net worth divorces are often different from a typical divorce in several ways. It is more likely that a high net worth divorce will involve things like prenuptial agreements, business interests, multiple income streams, and inheritance issues. A Michigan divorce attorney can protect your man...

There are many issues that must be resolved when handling a divorce case in Michigan.  One issue that is often very difficult for the parties is how to handle the marital home.  The value in the marital home is often one of the biggest assets that a married couple may have.  In addition, there ar...

Going through a divorce can be filled with anxiety and uncertainty. You might feel as if you are not in control of your life or future. While it is true that some aspects of the divorce are not within your control, there are four ways you can help your attorney with your divorce case. A Michigan ...

In a Michigan divorce, marital property is subject to equitable division. The term “equitable” means that the property division should be fair. However, “fair” does not always mean equal. A judge may not order a 50-50 split of marital property. A Michigan divorce attorney can help you take steps ...

When you walk into a lawyer's office to get a divorce, you most likely dread having to tell the lawyer about things that do not portray you in a flattering light. By the time the divorce is over, you might feel stripped bare of your privacy if your spouse reveals highly personal information about...

The slow process of contested divorce cases in Michigan increases tensions among divorcing parties and often creates angst between clients and their attorneys. The high stress of divorce places people on a roller coaster of emotions, and involved parties may strongly question or disagree about st...

Michigan law allows you to agree with your spouse about the division of assets. A judge must approve of your proposed property distribution. If you cannot agree on who will get specific assets, like the home, a judge will have to make the decision for you after evaluating multiple factors. A Mich...

What happens to a person's 401(k) account when going through a divorce can determine whether they will have enough money when they retire one day. You need to make sure that you do not have to give your spouse more than his or her fair share of your account, and that you get everything that you d...

In Michigan, alimony is also known as spousal support.  Typically alimony is modifiable based upon a change in circumstances unless the divorcing parties have agreed in the judgment of divorce that it is not modifiable.  The matter of Anderson v Anderson, Michigan Court of Appeals Case No 349616,...