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Family Law

Unfortunately, half of all marriages end in divorce, and it is a painful process for anyone to go through. Your divorce attorney takes on many roles: advisor, counselor, confidant, and advocate. Your divorce can have profound effects on your finances and relationships for the rest of your life. Choosing the right attorney is absolutely essential. If you are facing a divorce, custody, or paternity case, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you and make a joint decision as to whether I am the right attorney for you. The consultation is free. Here are some important aspects to consider in your divorce or family law case.

CUSTODY: Parents who split up are suddenly faced with the challenge of how their children will be cared for. Often times, they have vastly different ideas of what is best. The court considers the “Best Interest Factors” in determining custody and parenting time. They are:
  • Love, affections and other emotional ties existing between the parties involved and the children 
  • Capacity and disposition of parties involved to give the children love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the children in their religion or creed
  • Capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the children with food, clothing, medical care 
  • Length of time that the children have lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and desirability of maintaining continuity
  • Permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed home 
  • Moral fitness of parties involved 
  • Mental and physical health of parties
  • Home, school, and community record of the children 
  • Reasonable preference of the children, if court deems them to be of sufficient age to express preference
  • Domestic violence

These are clearly not black and white standards. Your attorney can help you navigate these factors and work toward a resolution that will serve your children’s best interests.

CHILD SUPPORT: Child support is determined by the Michigan Child Support Guidelines. These guidelines determine how support is calculated by looking at parents' incomes, health insurance costs for the children, child care costs, and custody/parenting time.

SPOUSAL SUPPORT: The need for, length and amount of spousal support (frequently called “alimony”) is determined by a number of factors, notably: length of marriage, work history of each spouse, and health, education, and ability to work of each party. Alimony can profoundly affect the financial future of both spouses. Your attorney can advocate for you to make sure you are treated fairly whether you are the recipient or payer of alimony.

PROPERTY DIVISION: Michigan is a “no fault” divorce state and provides for “equitable division” of marital assets. Your attorney is necessary to ensure that all assets are accounted for, properly characterized, and valued in order for you to be confident that you receive a fair settlement.

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