The idea of marriage has lost some of its luster in modern society. With relatively high divorce rates and fewer legal benefits derived from marrying, many couples choose to avoid marriage. They may have children together or buy a home together without involving the...
Family Law
Tips for effective communication when co-parenting
Divorce can be turbulent for any family, especially when children are involved. While deciding to part ways might be the best choice for some couples, it’s essential to remember that children are often caught in the crossfire of emotions and decisions when parents...
How unmarried couples protect themselves from messy breakups
The decision to forego marriage doesn't necessarily translate into people bypassing romantic partnerships. It has just become less common for those who are sharing lives and resources to legally formalize their romantic relationships. Not getting legally married means...
Can a prenup determine child custody?
Traditionally, a prenuptial agreement is simply used as a way to divide assets prior to a marriage or a divorce. The process of crafting a prenuptial agreement helps to define which assets belong to which people and to set financial expectations for the union in...
How a prenuptial agreement can help you protect your business
There's a saying that in marriage, each spouse should have something of value to bring to the table. However, it is common for one spouse to have more resources or to have become more financially established than the other before marriage. That doesn't mean the...
Can your inheritance be considered marital property in a divorce?
If you are going through a divorce in Michigan, you will have to contend with your property being divided between you and your spouse. Of course, there is a difference between property you owned before your marriage and property you acquired after. You may wonder what...
Michigan updates child support formula for 2021
Every parent knows that the cost of raising a child goes up from time to time. Costs of childcare rise, as do grocery costs, medical costs, clothing costs and housing costs. So, every four years, Michigan updates its child support formula for parents. For 2021, the...
LGBTQ and traditional divorces: How do they differ?
LGBTQ marriages continue to be performed throughout the nation, but the laws behind these new marriages are often not clear enough or simply incomplete. One of the most common issues people face in an LGBTQ marriage is when they decide that divorce is the best option...
Supporting children through infidelity and divorce
Young Michigan children and preteens are still developing strategies for handling their emotions. When their parents clash with accusations of infidelity, kids frequently internalize their reactions. Children bear no responsibility for their parents’ decisions to...
What factors are considered when setting child support
Filing for divorce can be a complicated process, especially when there are children involved. Matters of determining child custody and setting child support are necessary to include in the final divorce settlement. Child support is designed to minimize the effect...