One of the biggest concerns people have during a divorce is what will happen to their property, finances, and assets. Many people assume that everything will be divided equally between the spouses. But that is not always how property division works in Michigan. Michigan uses equitable distribution. That means that marital property is divided fairly,…
Not every couple is ready to move forward with a divorce. For some, there may be religious beliefs that make divorce difficult. Other couples may hope for reconciliation but need time apart. In some situations, spouses want to address financial or parenting issues without permanently ending the marriage. If that sounds familiar, legal separation may…
Nobody gets married expecting to get divorced. But every year, individuals and families throughout Oakland County face these decisions about their futures. Whether the end of a marriage comes after years of growing apart or follows a specific event, divorce can bring a mix of emotions. If you’re considering divorce or have started the process,…
When the decision has been made to divorce or separate, one of the biggest questions is “Who gets what?” Many people think that property division in Michigan is a simple 50/50 split, but that is not always how it works. Under equitable distribution standards, marital property is divided fairly, but not necessarily equally. If you…
When a marriage starts feeling unstable, most people do not know about those next steps. Some couples want space, but they are not ready to make anything permanent. Others feel certain the marriage is over but still have questions about finances or children. When it comes to legal separation vs. divorce, which option is right…
Deciding to file for divorce is not easy. For many people, the emotional side is already difficult enough before the legal process even begins. Once paperwork, court procedures, and deadlines enter the picture, it can quickly start to feel a bit overwhelming. If you are considering divorce in Oakland County, you want to know how…
Separation, divorce, and annulment all seek to end a marriage in some way. Yet, each is uniquely different from the others in what they accomplish, how they are obtained, and their effects. Here’s what you need to know. Separation: To separate means to move apart, but not necessarily to officially end things. Separation in Michigan…
We’ve all heard of prenuptial agreements – agreements signed between two parties before they get married – but postnuptial agreements are a rare breed. They do exist, however, and are recognized in Michigan. They are essentially an agreement signed after the parties wed and are designed to protect property of an individual in the event…
You have been to mediation with your attorney. The mediator helped both parties reach an agreement on all the issues in the divorce case, including division of personal property, division of debt, determination on what to do with the marital home, and all issues involving the children. The first question asked by many clients is…
Children are often portrayed as the losers in divorce because the assumption is that they would be better off with two parents in the same household, rather than shuffling between homes, or worse, being used as a pawn in the larger divorce fight. However, it is possible for divorce to be beneficial for children. Here’s…
One of the most complicated aspects of divorce is the division of marital property. Michigan is an equitable distribution state, meaning that all qualifying property will be divided “equitably”, or fairly. It is important to remember that in this instance, “fairly” doesn’t necessarily mean “equally.” If the couple cannot come to an agreement regarding property…
On Tuesday, September 8th, I woke to discover that the right half of my face was losing its muscle tone. I did not know in the early morning hours that I was beginning to manifest physical signs of having Bell’s Palsy. I knew it did not look right. I quickly sent a photo to my…
During the divorce process, we tend to focus more on court dates, housing changes, and custody arrangements, seemingly losing ourselves to the onslaught of monotonous paperwork and meetings. But once the dust has settled and court hearings are a thing of the past, we tend to realize how raw our emotions still are. Learning how…
This past Sunday was the Mother’s Day. I recall how hard Mother’s Day was when I was divorced, especially when my children were little. They did not have the resources available or the ability at times to do anything special for me for Mother’s Day. After the children started school, Mother’s Day was about the…
When it comes to extracurriculars, one disagreement among parents is the number of activities. On occasions, parents present us with a schedule for their children that has them running from early in the morning until bedtime with no time for schoolwork.When this type of schedule is presented to our team, the question arises “How do…
Being a parent is hard. After nine months, we have a beautiful child placed into our arms and there is no instructional manual. We may have our spouse besides us encouraging us and give us needed breaks. But when couple divorces becoming a single parent is hard. There are feelings of failure or embarrassment. The…
When you are served with a motion from your ex-spouse after the entry of Judgment of Divorce, there are five action you need to make immediately to protect yourself. If you fail to make these actions, the judge or Friend of the Court Referee will make a ruling on the motion and typically grant your…
You made the decision to file for divorce or you just received divorce pleadings, what do you do next? While most people understand that the next decision should be to consult with an attorney, they forget the second step to take. That step is to take a vacation – from all social media accounts. Social…
The beginning of the school year can be an exciting time for children. They are excited to learn who their new teacher is and if any of their friends are in their class this year. They may look forward to the annual school clothes shopping sprees or want to pick out their new school supplies….
Marriage can be difficult in ways you may not have anticipated when you first said ‘I do’. The situation is compounded by the reality that there is no universal formula for a happy relationship or road-map we can use to successfully navigate through the difficult times. While some couples eventually move past periods of turmoil,…
Not only is it possible that at some point a divorce judgment may be modified, it is fairly likely. Parents may need to move for job changes, child support amounts may need to be amended depending upon the needs of the child or the circumstances of the parent, and parenting plans may need tweaking. All…
While divorce ends a legal marital status, it does not end the co-parenting relationship that exists between mothers and fathers. Understanding that your ex-spouse will still be involved in your life when you have children together can be the hardest thing for our clients to grasp. In all other aspects, divorce is about cutting the…
Even if you are not into annual resolutions, the new year is a great time to reorient yourself after a divorce. Not only can the new year bring new people and experiences into your life, it can help to provide some closure on what you have left behind. Here are 6 ways to use this time…
If you are getting divorced, you may assume that you will automatically receive or pay alimony, commonly referred to as spousal support in Michigan. Alimony is enshrouded in several myths and misconceptions. This article takes a close look at some of the most common fallacies and the actual facts behind each one. When you understand how…