• Blending families – Straightforward Answers For a Complex Issue 5

      Blending two families, if done the right way, can be a source of great joy and strength. Improperly handled, it can bring enormous pain and misery to everyone involved. Here in this series we are covering the basics. Topics like taking your time, how to approach the issue of discipline and handling the “other”…

  • Blending Families: Straightforward Answers For a Complex Issue (Part 4)

      Blending families is a time consuming and delicate process that needs to be handled correctly if you hope to be successful. Here in this series we are addressing some of the bigger issues that come up during the process of uniting two families. In this segment we are going to be talking about the…

  • Blending Families: Straightforward Answers For a Complex Issue (Part 3)

      In the previous two articles in this series we covered the first two topics in a list of items that we believe to be critical to the success of blended families, namely time and discipline. In this next segment we are going to be addressing the third issue on that list – relationship building,…

  • Blending Families: Straightforward Answers For a Complex Issue (Part 2)

      In the previous article in this series we talked about the importance of taking time and being patient while your newly blended family adjusts. In this segment we are going to address the next major issue on the list – discipline, as it seems to be the one that causes the most issues in…

  • Blending Families: Straightforward Answers For a Complex Issue (Part 1)

      Being a parent is a very involved and often highly pressured situation. But remarrying another parent after a divorce, and blending two pre-existing families into one cohesive unit, can feel like rocket science by comparison.   However, complex and challenging as it may be, blending two families doesn’t have to be a source of…

  • Divorce Coaching: What Is It, And Is It For You?

      Most people these days have heard of life coaching, which deals with unlocking personal potential. Another common one is career coaching, which focuses on finding the ideal new career for someone looking for a change in the workplace. Though there’s a much more recent addition to the coaching options available nowadays. Curious? It’s divorce…

  • Should Michigan Reform Its Custody Laws?

      There is currently legislation underway in Michigan to change the existing custody laws. What’s that you say? Change Michigan’s custody laws? Well, isn’t that a good thing? After all, the Michigan Child Custody Act of 1970 is decades old. Surely it could use a revamp, right? Well, that depends on who you ask…  …

  • Can You Give Up Parental Rights to Your Child in Michigan?

    As family law attorneys that have represented thousands of clients over the decades, we get asked a lot of difficult questions. Occasionally, we are asked whether or not a parent can “sign off” on their parental rights to their child. This is often due to a parent wanting to avoid child support payments or parent…

  • How To Tell If Your Child Is Struggling With Your Divorce (Part 2)

      In the previous article we introduced the subject of how a parent could tell if their child is struggling with their divorce. Although children are often very adaptable and resilient, they sometimes have difficulty adapting to change that affects them emotionally and psychologically. And their suffering can sometimes go undetected.   In part one…

  • How To Tell If Your Child Is Struggling With Your Divorce (Part 1)

      Children are incredibly adaptable. Their willingness to embrace change and flexibility in the face of upheaval is often quite inspiring. However, just because they can “go with the flow” in many instances, doesn’t mean that a divorce isn’t going to present them with some serious challenges.   Another issue that parents need to keep…