The parents of any child are rightfully concerned with the decisions of any issue that impact their child, especially larger decision with long-term effects. That concern does not diminish following a divorce, whether a parent retains physical custody of the child or not. Join legal custody In most divorces, Michigan courts will award joint legal custody to a child’s parents.…
Noncustodial parents often feel like they’re placed on the backburner when it comes to developing and fostering a relationship with their child. In many of these instances, the custodial parent is to blame. Parental alienation is real, and heated child custody and visitation disputes can lead to some sly tactics that may threaten your ability to have meaningful contact with…
Child support is a central part of many divorce settlements in Michigan. In many cases, the child will reside with one parent for the majority of time with the other parent paying child support. Child support serves the main purpose of helping to support the child’s daily needs such as food, clothing, school, and routine medical expenses. A parent who…
In Michigan, parenting is not limited to a biological link between parent and child. In many cases, a stepparent has served as a child’s parent and provided support, nurturing, care, and a positive environment that adheres to the child’s best interests. To ensure that the relationship is viewed as one that legally links that parent and child even if they…
When Michigan parents have separated, they often have to work through a child custody agreement. The agreement is almost always led by keeping the best interests of the child in the forefront. The term “best interests of the child” has a particular meaning in family law cases. According to the Michigan Child Custody Act of 1970 there are 12 factors…
Your future is at stake in a divorce case. Post-divorce life might look quite different than married life, no matter how long the marriage lasted. How can you prepare for a potentially drastic life change? For those who are going to be in a high-asset divorce case, focusing on property and debt could be crucial. Preparation and focus is the…
In Michigan, child support is one of the most important aspects of family law. Because children are often innocent bystanders in their parents’ marital problems, they do not deserve to be penalized as part of the case. Still, there can be issues that arise with their care. One that can cause severe problems is the failure to provide and pay…
The relationship between stepparents and stepchildren can be complicated. Even when there is love and respect, there can be conflicts and questions about what rights the adults have to care for and discipline the youths. For some Michigan families, stepparent adoption is the right step to clarify familial connections and create legal bonds. Before an individual can adopt their stepkids,…
There are times when a Michigan parent wants to move out of the state due to a new job opportunity or other reason. While the majority of people can just pack up their bags and move out of state, this is not the case for parents who are separated or divorced. In these situations, the parent who wants to move…
The emotional upheaval of divorce can cloud the cut-and-dried financial details that are a large part of both ending a marriage and setting a course for the future. With the median cost of divorce at $7,500, the cost of the split can potentially be high in other ways as well. As Michigan is an equitable division state, the judge will…