Family Law

  Domestic violence is a serious issue that complicates divorce proceedings in Michigan for several reasons.  First, the abusive spouse usually exerts a disproportionate amount of influence over the victimized spouse due to emotional manipulation, financial...

  A parenting time order granted by the circuit court may be revisited by the parties involved because the needs of the child and the desires of the parents change over time.  As children get older, parenting time is generally more beneficial with fewer but...

  On December 13, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Respect For Marriage Act (H.R. Bill 8404)(“RFMA”) into law.  This landmark federal legislation repeals the remnants of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and requires the U.S. government and all states and...

  When someone files for divorce, he or she is initiating a lawsuit against their own spouse who becomes the defendant.  As a formal court action, this means that the divorce documents must be properly served upon the other spouse as specified under Michigan...

  By default, parties to litigation in the United States are generally responsible for their own attorneys’ fees and expenses under the “American Rule”, unless specific authority is granted by statute, court rule or agreement to assess them against the other...

  Divorce can be a long and expensive process between attorney’s fees, court costs and time spent dealing with litigation.  One of the most frequent sources of divorce expense is one spouse engaging in discovery to figure out the marital assets in the control of...

  Michigan law provides that, after a divorce action is filed, the spouses must wait a minimum of 60 days (or 180 days if there are minor children involved) before the court can finalize the divorce.  This is true even if the parties file for divorce together and...

  Getting divorced can be a stressful process.  A court proceeding to dissolve a marriage moves along like any other lawsuit where, if the parties are unable to agree and settle the issues, a trial will take place and a judge will render a verdict deciding all of...

  A parent’s obligation to pay child support in Michigan “may include expenses of medical, dental, and other health care, child care, and education, necessary medical expenses incurred in connection with the mother's pregnancy or the birth of the child, and the...