A majority of families in Michigan have a family pet like a dog or cat. These animals are often seen as members of the family and they are treated as such, many times lovingly referred to as “fur babies”. When a couple decides they no longer want to be married who gets the animals can be a contentious issue in…
Some people in Michigan who are getting a divorce might find themselves at an impasse with a spouse over property division or child custody. At this point, they may be facing a choice of whether to settle or go to litigation. There are a few factors to consider. Cost and time can both be significant. A divorce that goes into…
Michigan parents who are negotiating child custody might have to deal with a challenge if one of the parents claims parental alienation. While experts question its credibility, parental alienation is still being used and accepted in courts and can significantly impact the outcome of a child custody dispute. While most parents have the best interests of the child in mind…
Divorce is on the rise for older adults in Michigan and nationwide, and this can mean that they have accumulated a substantial amount of retirement savings. There are regulations around dividing retirement accounts in the process. In some cases, a document called a qualified domestic relations order is required. This is not necessary for an IRA, which only requires a…
Part of looking out for a child’s best interests when co-parenting involves creating an effective parenting plan. Michigan co-parents may be interested in learning about some basic guidelines on how to divide time between parents based on a child’s age. Babies and toddlers can easily be put in a state of distress when changes to their schedule occur. They need…
A prenuptial agreement can be a good idea for some Michigan couples. It can protect them in case they divorce and make the process of property division less difficult. However, it is important that both parties are involved in creating the prenup and that it does not leave either of them at a significant disadvantage. For one woman who was…
More people than ever are involved in international or cross-border relationships. People often travel the world for work or education, and they may fall in love and even marry and have children while living abroad. Others might develop a relationship with a foreign national in the United States. Divorce and separation can be complicated regardless of the nationalities of the…
Many challenges can arise when co-parenting children after a divorce in Michigan. However, communicating with an ex-spouse is crucial if one wants their kids to grow up to be well-balanced and healthy adults. This means that co-parents may need to sit down and discuss strategies that will encourage their children to cooperate with the parenting plan. To ensure that the…
Michigan parents who are divorced may struggle with the child custody and visitation schedule, but there can be additional challenges if the parent is long-distance. However, there are plenty of things parents can do to help maintain the bond even if they see their children infrequently in person. For example, parents can maintain regular communication with postcards, unscheduled phone calls,…
It seems that the divorce rate in the United States is slightly decreasing when it comes to younger couples, but it is on the rise for couples who are 50 years and older. One factor that contributes to some Michigan divorces is financial problems. There are several steps that individuals can take to reduce the financial fallout that comes from…