A divorce is, for all intents and purposes, a lawsuit. One spouse pays a filing fee, submits a summons and complaint, acquires the designation as the “plaintiff”, and then causes the court paperwork to be served on the other spouse. That other spouse acquires...
Family Law
What Is Michigan’s Safe Delivery Of Newborns Law?
Parents have a legal duty to care for and protect their children. However, very young parents might be frightened or overwhelmed by the responsibility and may contemplate abandoning a newborn before anyone detects the connection. If the pregnancy was secret,...
What Happens If A Spouse Does Not Disclose All Of His Or Her Assets During A Divorce Proceeding In Michigan?
Michigan is an “equitable distribution” state where divorce courts may distribute marital assets of spouses in a manner that they believe to be fair and equitable. MCL 552.401. This means that assets will be divided in a manner that is fair under the facts...
How Does Marijuana Use Affect Custody And Parenting Time Decisions In Michigan?
In Michigan, there are two major statutes that give individuals the privilege of possessing and using a limited amount of marijuana. The Michigan Medical Marihuana Act of 2008 allows the medical use of marijuana and provides protection from qualifying patients...
Can A Minor Obtain An Abortion Without Parental Consent In Michigan?
An unplanned teen pregnancy can be a very traumatic time that leaves the prospective young mother with a major decision to make. The teen parent may decide to give birth and raise the child herself, or she may decide to release the child for adoption. ...
How Do You Petition For A Name Change In Michigan?
There is a legal process in Michigan for anyone who wishes to change their name (or that of his or her minor child) provided that the proper statutory procedures are followed and the circuit court, in its discretion, finds there is a legitimate reason to do so....
Can Parenting Time Be Withheld If The Other Parent Fails To Pay Child Support In Michigan?
It is extremely frustrating for a parent to deal with unpaid child support. An increased burden to provide material support is thrust on the custodial parent without any consequences to the other parent that refused to pay. Frustration can turn to anger. ...
Can A Parent’s New Live-In Partner Affect Child Custody And Parenting Time In Michigan?
When parents separate or divorce, they are free to pursue other romantic relationships with different partners while still retaining their parental rights to their children. These other relationships may develop into a serious committed relationship that can...
Who Gets To Decide Which School District The Child Attends In A Custody Case In Michigan?
When parents separate or divorce, it may lead to their children having a legal residence in different cities. This can lead to disputes regarding which school district that the child will attend. The issue becomes even more contentious when a parent decides...
Who Has The Legal Right To Select The Child’s Surname When Born To Unmarried Parents In Michigan?
In most of the English-speaking world throughout history, a child born to married parents inherits the surname of his father. A child that was historically born to unmarried parents was considered “illegitimate” and usually took the surname of the mother...
