Michigan Family Law Blog

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,...

Many people do not realize the impact that divorce can have on their ability to move if they have minor children. Michigan law usually requires you to get the approval of a judge, whether you have joint custody or sole (primary) custody, to move with a minor child who is the subject of a custody ...

Custody and parenting time are always modifiable in Michigan, even after a divorce, until the children reach the age of eighteen (18).  While it is unfortunate, there are sometimes reasons that one parent may not be able to continue to handle parenting time as ordered in the Judgment or that the ...

Navigating a divorce is difficult under the best circumstances; it is an extremely taxing life event, emotionally, physically, and financially. Seeking wise counsel, establishing a strong support system, and taking extreme self-care are critical to managing the stress of divorce. Fast forward to ...

Divorce is a complicated process, especially when trying to navigate child custody concerns. Michigan divorce attorneys find that most parenting questions during divorce arise from confusion surrounding custodial rights, specifically joint vs. sole custody and physical vs. legal custody. For a be...

Michigan law requires courts making decisions about child custody to put the child's well-being first, over the wishes of the parents. Judges accomplish this goal by using the “best interests of the child” standard. Before a court can enter an order of custody or visitation, it must make a findin...

Getting a prenuptial agreement that will stand up in court is a multi-step process in Michigan. These agreements, also called antenuptial agreements, control what will happen to the assets of the two people who are about to get married if the marriage terminates by divorce, separation, or annulme...

When you need legal help to get or keep custody of your child, you might be worried about how you will pay the legal fees for the court battle. Depending on the issues of your custody dispute and how litigious the other parent is, the cost of fighting your child's other parent could be substantia...