While bitter celebrity divorces often make the news, untying the knot doesn't always mean a knock-down drag-out fight for the rich and famous. And it doesn't have to be that way for people of more modest means either. Getting a divorce can be amicable.

After all, while there may be more marital property to divide for wealthier couples getting divorced, the more important issues of child custody, visitation, and support generally find parents willing to put what's in the best interest of their children before their issues as a couple. They do this in the spirit of attempting to co-parent successfully if only for the sake of their children.

After six years of marriage and three little girls, celebrity couple, Jack and Lisa Osborne are getting a divorce. To their credit, they reportedly agreed on many significant issues impacting their children including child custody and parenting time--sharing joint custody and “Jack paying ‘significant' child support and… [other] expenses including private schools and medical costs.”

When couples divorce, whether or not they have children, another factor to consider is spousal support or alimony as it's also called. Alimony is considered on a case-by-case basis and does not apply in every divorce situation. In a nutshell, alimony is paid by one spouse to the other as financial assistance to help preserve the recipient spouse's standard of living which they were accustomed to during the marriage. Rather than pay alimony on a monthly basis, Jack Osbourne reportedly denied spousal support and instead “gave [Lisa] a ‘sizable' up-front cash payout under the terms of the [divorce] settlement.

While it is refreshing as well as time- and cost-efficient for couples to work together with their divorce attorney in hammering out a settlement agreement they are both comfortable with, sometimes it is necessary to litigate when the parties can't agree on terms.

If you are considering filing for divorce or have been served with divorce papers and need representation, north Oakland Michigan family law attorney, Cameron C. Goulding, P.L.C. can help you. Contact the office today to schedule a consultation.

From our office in Rochester Michigan, we help clients throughout Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Livingston, Lapeer and Wayne Counties all family law matters. It's all we do.