Category: Finances
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Can Child Support Be Changed After a Job Loss in Mid-Michigan?
A Guide for Parents around Ingham County, Clinton County, Lansing, and Eaton County Facing Financial Changes Losing a job is already stressful and scary. You are rushing to apply to new companies and waiting for interviews without knowing how you will provide for yourself in the meantime. Unemployment can be even more complicated when you…
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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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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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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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Child Support Modifications in Mid-Michigan: How to Adjust Your Support Order When Life Changes
Child support plays a vital role in maintaining a child’s care after a divorce or separation. But when jobs change, children grow, and financial circumstances shift, your child support order may no longer fit your situation. Michigan law provides a process for modifying it to fit a family’s evolving needs. If you live in Mid-Michigan—whether…
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Selling the Marital Home During Divorce in Michigan: What You Need to Know
If you are going through a divorce in Michigan, understanding how the sale of real estate is handled during the divorce can help you avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary conflict. Below are some frequently asked questions about navigating the home sale process during a Michigan divorce. Can the Marital Home Be Sold Before the Divorce…
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Asking the Court to Make Spouse Pay Attorney Fees in My Divorce Case in Ingham, Clinton, Eaton, Jackson, Ionia, or Shiawassee County?
In our more than 30 years of business practicing family law in Lansing and throughout Mid-Michigan, we are often asked if a spouse can be ordered to pay the other’s attorney fees in a divorce case. Usually, Michigan uses the “American Rule” where each party pays for their own lawyer. However, Michigan family law has…
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If I Earn More Than My Spouse, Do We Still Split Everything Equally in a Michigan Divorce?
The Importance of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in Michigan Divorce Cases It is a common misunderstanding that if one spouse earns more, they should receive a larger share of the marital assets. This belief was more common in past decades, especially when men were predominantly the breadwinners of the household. However, as times have changed,…
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Hidden Assets in Divorce Pt 2: How Do I Discover Hidden Assets In A Divorce? And Then What?
Your soon-to-be ex-spouse (STBX) may think they are being sneaky about hiding their assets from you, but there are many ways to find out about these hidden assets. If your spouse obtained any assets while you were together, it is your right to have them considered in your divorce, unless of course there was a…
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Does my Spouse Get to Keep Part of my Inheritance if We Get Divorced in Michigan?
For a married person that loves their spouse, sharing the windfall of an inheritance seems like a really good idea. After all, if you’re in this together for the long haul, it only makes sense to share the wealth. But for a divorcing couple, nothing could be more frustrating than knowing you came into a…