Category: Family Law
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Michigan’s Use of Videoconferencing in Family Law: What Parents Need to Know About Hearings on Zoom and MS Teams
Since COVID, Michigan courts have increasingly used videoconferencing in family law cases, including custody, parenting time, and divorce proceedings. In counties such as Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Jackson, and Ionia, videoconferencing has become a permanent and useful part of our family court system. Understanding how it works and how it can impact your case is important.…
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Can Spousal Support Be Modified After Retirement in Michigan?
Divorce settlements in Michigan often include spousal support (alimony), but what happens when the paying spouse reaches retirement age? Retirement typically brings a significant reduction in income, which raises the question of how this affects the spousal support obligation. Michigan Law on Spousal Support Modification Michigan law allows a court to “revise and alter” an…
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What the Friend of the Court Does (and Doesn’t Do) in Michigan – A Brief Overview
In Mid-Michigan, if you and your spouse have minor children when going through a divorce, chances are you’ll have some involvement with the Friend of the Court (FOC). The Friend of the Court is an arm of your circuit court created under the Friend of the Court Act, and it is there to assist the…
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Professional Degrees and Property Division in a Michigan Divorce
When couples here in Mid-Michigan divorce, the court must divide marital property in an equitable way under Michigan law. Courts must make a fair, not necessarily equal, division of marital assets. But what happens when one spouse has earned a professional degree during the marriage, such as a law degree, medical degree, or MBA? Degrees…
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Ex Parte Orders for Parenting Time and Custody in Mid-Michigan
In genuinely urgent situations, Michigan courts can issue what is called an “ex parte order” under the Child Custody Act to provide immediate, temporary relief. For families in Ingham County, Lansing, East Lansing, Eaton County, Okemos, St. Johns, Mason, Clinton County, Charlotte, Jackson County and throughout Mid-Michigan, understanding these orders can be critical. What Is…
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Reunification Therapy vs. Family Systems Therapy:
What Mid-Michigan Families Should Know Divorce and custody disputes can cause families in Ingham, Eaton, Lansing, Clinton, and Ionia counties to experience profound and long-lasting conflict and dysfunction. When these emotional challenges arise, therapy is normally recommended to help children and their parents begin the healing process and rebuild relationships. But there are different therapeutic…
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Is Your Spouse Hiding Assets During Your Divorce? Here’s What Mid-Michigan Residents Need to Know
Divorce is a difficult process. Alongside the emotional aspect, you must also handle complex legal issues. In Michigan, the law requires both spouses to disclose all of their assets and debts during the divorce process. Failing to do so can result in serious consequences. If a spouse is hiding assets or debts during a divorce,…
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How a Well-Written Collaborative Divorce Agreement Can Save You Time and Money in Michigan
Collaborative divorce is one option for couples in Mid-Michigan who wish to avoid high litigation expenses and dissolve their marriage in an amicable manner. However, one mistake in the settlement agreement can force everyone back to court. Here’s what you need to know about avoiding ambiguity in your Michigan divorce settlement agreement. Why Collaborative Divorce…
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Understanding the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
When parents live in different states, figuring out where a child custody case should be filed can quickly become confusing and stressful. For Michigan parents navigating divorce, separation, or establishing child custody, it’s important to understand how jurisdiction is determined in custody disputes—and why it matters. The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is…
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Grandparents’ Rights in Mid-Michigan:
A Legal Guide to Grandparenting Time For many grandparents in the Lansing area and all over Ingham County, Eaton County and Clinton County, maintaining a strong relationship with their grandchildren is deeply important. But when divorce, separation, death, or estrangement happen, grandparents may find themselves facing the possibility of losing those relationships. Fortunately, Michigan law…