Michigan Divorce Attorney Blog 
Michigan Family Law - Common Reasons for Divorce in Michigan
Friday, October 26th, 2012 at 2:53pm. 209 Views, 0 Comments.
Why Do People Get Divorced in Michigan?
You could fill a book with the reasons people file for
divorce. There's no set guidelines or
reasoning, and ultimately 
people can file divorce for virtually any reason they
like. Interestingly enough, in my time
specializing in family law I've also seen people avoid divorce for a number of
reasons. Most commonly is the economic
downturn our country went through over the last 5 years (starting in around
2008).
Many families simply couldn't afford divorce so they stuck it out - now that the economy is starting to crawl back to normal (slowly but surely) we're seeing some of the most common reasons for Michigan divorce begin to surface and grow in volume.
Divorce in Michigan due to…
Can I Date During a Divorce in Michigan?
Monday, October 15th, 2012 at 11:17am. 288 Views, 0 Comments.
Can I Date During a Divorce in Michigan?
With major life changes like a divorce in Michigan, some
people want to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Sometimes this means dating during a pending
divorce.
While dating other people during the divorce doesn't really create any legal issues, it can turn what could be a civil divorce case into something very ugly with a great deal of conflict. We've seen on a number of occasions where a spouse discovers the other is dating during a divorce case. As a result, they demanded discover information on what the relationship began among other information.
Now if you want to expand that relationship into a sexual one after a divorce case is filed, it's important to reference Knowles…
Filing Michigan Divorce - Reaching an Agreement in Mediation
Friday, September 7th, 2012 at 6:00pm. 182 Views, 0 Comments.
When you engage in mediation, the focus of that mediation
should be an attempt to reach a resolution and avoid the
financial, emotional
and psychological turmoil of litigation.
Consider that mediation by itself in a Michigan divorce case can be a
very long and trying process. Reaching
an agreement however typically tends to give people a sense of satisfaction.
A successful mediation ultimately allows you and your ex-spouse to come to an agreement that best fits the desires of the individual, tailoring the outcome so that everyone wins. This is opposed to litigation where the judge's order could lean more toward another party - resulting in lingering bitterness among other feelings.
It's important to note that not all Michigan…
US Census Bureau Compiles Data on Nationwide Child Support Payments and Obligations
Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 7:03pm. 359 Views, 0 Comments.
Parents dealing with child support issues post-divorce (and
during the process of establishing payments and custody) often wonder if the
payments they currently make - or will be making - are fair. It’s not uncommon to see an obligee asking
friends and family what they pay, or what people have to pay in other parts of
the country. Non-custodial parents going
through a Michigan divorce may be curious to know if their ordered support is
in line with other non-custodial parents in the same position.
The U.S. Census Bureau has taken a lot of the guesswork out of it after releasing a new report titled “The Survey of Income and Program Participation”. This report examines child support statistics gathered from around the United States - not…
Michigan Supreme Court Clarifies Child Support Ruling
Friday, August 3rd, 2012 at 3:29pm. 187 Views, 0 Comments.
The Michigan Supreme Court has recently clarified a child
support ruling regarding state laws that govern support. The
Michigan Supreme Court said that parents
who are criminally charged with failure to pay their child support must be
allowed to argue in court that their support payments are impossible to meet.
On Tuesday, the Court issues an opinion at a 4-3 vote to order a new trial for Selesa Likine. Likine was found guilty on November 18, 2008 in Oakland County Circuit Court after failing to pay child support for her three children.
According to documents used in the case, Likine had made only partial payments between February 2005 and March 2008. During that period, she claimed she remained unemployed and clinically disabled…
5 Things to Do Before Meeting a Michigan Divorce Attorney
Friday, July 27th, 2012 at 9:57pm. 247 Views, 0 Comments.
When marital counseling fails and irreconcilable differences surface, then it may be time to move beyond a trial separation. Speaking to a Michigan divorce attorney will help educate you about the steps you need to take in order to file for divorce in Michigan, what you can expect, how to prepare and the costs involved in filing.
When you meet with your divorce lawyer for the first time, you’ll likely have a lot of questions and you’ll be inclined to spill every detail about your marriage that led you to this point. Time is limited in your initial consultation, and beyond that first meeting you’ll be paying for the time. That’s why it’s important to be prepared.
Here’s a list of 5 things you need to do before you meet with…
Why a Forensic Accountant Could Help You During a Divorce in Michigan
Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 4:41pm. 276 Views, 0 Comments.
When you're going through a Divorce in Michigan, few things
(outside of matters relating to children) can be as 
maddening and frustrating
as feeling like the other party in the divorce is getting a "better
deal". In most cases this has to do
with financial inequality, where one individual often earned more than another
(sometimes significantly more).
This feeling of unequal treatment and lack of fairness can stem from one partner who earned less income, yet feels as though they contributed more to the relationship and are due compensation. This includes things like managing the home, caring for family like elderly parents or grandparents, raising children, etc.
It's also not uncommon to find one spouse hiding assets…
Michigan Divorce - I Can't Afford a Divorce Lawyer
Friday, July 13th, 2012 at 3:45pm. 351 Views, 0 Comments.
With the down economy, it's not uncommon to get calls from
potential clients during the week seeking help filing a Divorce in Michigan -
but they state they're unable to pay for an attorney. Even in areas like Oakland County there are
plenty of people hit hard by economic downturns. Not only does this take a toll on a marriage
but it makes it extremely difficult to pay out of pocket for a Michigan divorce
attorney.
In many cases, a lot of these calls focus on the inability to hire an attorney, yet those clients call looking for direction or "tips to figure out how to handle the divorce". While most divorce and family law attorneys in Michigan (and elsewhere) provide free consultation, it makes me wonder how many other…
Michigan Family Law - What if You Can't Afford Child Support
Monday, July 9th, 2012 at 12:56pm. 244 Views, 0 Comments.
Last fall the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parents who fail
to pay their child support are not automatically entitled to an attorney for
protection in court. This is based on
the case Turner V. Rogers, where the father in the case claimed that he was
unable to afford his child support payments and also could not afford an
attorney to defend himself in the case against him. Despite the claims he made, Mr. Turner was
given a year in jail for "civil contempt".
A jail sentence is a common situation placed on parents who are required to pay child support but fail to actually pay. This type of sentence is only appropriate in situations where the parent has the ability to meet his obligation, but fails to pay. It's not applicable to…
5 Big Mistakes You Can Make During a Michigan Divorce
Friday, June 29th, 2012 at 3:11pm. 265 Views, 0 Comments.
Going through a divorce in Michigan can be one of the worst
experiences for most couples. You’re
mourning the loss
of a serious relationship you have invested a great deal of
time in. Not only are you stressing over
finances but your mind is racing with starting over, the upheaval in your
family, how it’s affecting your children and more.
With all the chaos, you may find it difficult to set yourself in a specific direction and hold to it. It’s not uncommon for newly divorced couples, or those entrenched in a long legal battle, to make decisions that could be potentially damaging to themselves and their family. Hindsight is always 20/20, and looking back you may realize that something was a terrible situation. Unfortunately, it’s…