Child support is a court-ordered monthly payment that one parent pays to the other parent to aid in raising children. Parents who receive monthly payments recognize how crucial it is to receive payments consistently and on time. Under ideal circumstances, child support payments are automatically withheld from the payer’s paycheck. The Michigan State Disbursement Unit, part of the state’s child…
Adoption takes time and careful preparation. This is true even with stepparent adoption. It is a permanent commitment to the stepchild that comes with all of the rights and responsibilities of a parent, even in the event that the stepparent’s marriage with the child’s biological parent ends in divorce. Key requirements for stepparent adoption Stepparents who want to pursue adoption…
There are different ways that couples in Michigan earn money throughout their marriage. Sometimes both spouses work and earn money, sometimes only one spouse works. Also, some may be employees of another company or independent contractors. Others may be the owners of their own businesses though and earn their money through their businesses. However, owning a business also means that…
Once the divorce is final, the ex-spouses are free to move on with dreams of a new life, new relationships, and often new locations. According to the Census Bureau, most Americans move 12 times during their adult lives, and many of the re-locations happen before the age of 40. When children are involved, the parents usually wish to keep some…
Contrary to what many Michigan residents may think, a prenuptial agreement is not about staking a claim over one’s assets and it is also not about dooming a marriage even before it begins. As people grow older, they change and their circumstances change. As a result, couples grow apart and might not want to remain married to someone who no…
Like the vast majority of states, Michigan has a Child Support Formula that, with some exceptions, the judges of this state are expected to follow. But the fact this state has a set formula for calculating child support does not mean that there are never disputes about how much support a parent should pay. Indeed, there are many points in…
There are situations when Michigan parents need to move. Whether it be for a new job opportunity, a relationship, or just to experience a new town, moving may be a complicated endeavor for those who have a child custody arrangement. Many things are considered when a Michigan parent wants to relocate. If you’re co-parenting after a divorce you probably don’t…
The dividing of retirement accounts can be one of the most complicated parts of the entire process. Many people do not realize it, but your retirement account is often your most valuable asset. If you’ve worked for a long time contributing to a 401k, IRA or pension plan, chances are these accounts have significant value. There are also several unique…
There’s no doubt that divorce is an emotional process. This is especially true when your children are involved in any sort of custody dispute you might have with your spouse. In order to adequately fight for yourself and your children, you need to be able to take care of yourself. That might sound challenging as you struggle to untangle your…
Readers of this blog are likely thinking about divorce or in the divorce process. For these Michiganders with kids, they are likely thinking about what co-parenting looks like after the divorce. And, a buzz term in recent years is, nesting, also known as birdnesting. But, what is it, and how can it make a divorce easier on children? Nesting defined…