An attorney is suing a Michigan judge for $4.1 million, claiming he fathered two of her children then failed to take responsibility and provide for them. She alleges that she and the judge were engaged in a secret love affair that last nearly 20 years, but recently ended when the judge remarried. In addition to $100,000 for each year of…
Divorce can be a difficult process for both spouses, but it can be even harder on the children if there are any. While many children emerge from their parent’s divorces happy and unscathed, others may become overwhelmed with guilt, anger, fear and other emotions. This makes it important for divorced Michigan parents with joint custody of their children to evaluate…
Having gone through marriages that ultimately failed, divorced individuals often have some of the best advice for how to make a marriage work. Divorcees have a perspective that other people may lack, which can make them more attuned to common problems that plague wedded couples. A psychologist with the University of Michigan recently collected responses from individuals who have gone…
In recent years, courts in Michigan and across the United States have demonstrated a growing preference for awarding shared child custody between divorced parents. In many cases, such arrangements are seen as advantageous because they allow children to maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Some people have even called for laws requiring courts to always hand down such decisions, but…
A child custody case centered on a family from the TLC reality show “Toddlers & Tiaras” has pageant mothers concerned that their children’s participation in beauty pageants could cost them their custody rights. In the case, a 6-year-old girl’s father reportedly cited her child beauty pageant hobby as a reason why he should be awarded full custody, believing the pageants…
Recent collegiate research suggests that parents who are hostile and combative following a divorce can eventually work together to improve their co-parenting skills and better serve their children’s best interests. The study examined interview responses from 20 mothers who share physical child custody with their former partners, half of which reported having “contentious relationships” with the other parents. Most of…
While visitation is a child custody issue and therefore separate from child support, many custodial parents see them as intertwined. For instance, parents may think it is unfair that a parent who fails to make child support payments is allowed to spend significant time with his or her children and may be tempted to deny that parent their visitation rights.…
A recent decision handed down by the Michigan Supreme Court allows parents with delinquent child support payments to potentially avoid a felony charge by arguing that it is impossible for them to meet their obligations. The court upheld a lower court’s 2004 decision that it does not matter whether a non-custodial parent can afford to pay child support, but ruled…
How can you tell when your marriage is worth saving, or if a divorce is in your family’s best interest? It is important to assess the strengths and problems in your marriage before making this decision. Marriage counselors and attorneys in Michigan and throughout the nation can help a couple examine their marriage and the steps they should take for…
Post-divorce child custody agreements are often individualized to meet the needs of both parents and children. These agreements may also be modified throughout the children’s lives, so that both parents are able to spend important times with their children. A recent case highlights a very unusual custody agreement that may be precedent-setting for sports loving divorcees with children. It is…