When a marriage is filled with anger, dysfunction, conflict, and even hate, it seems plausible and even reasonable that it should and will end in divorce. After all, marriage is a relationship built on love and respect that lasts until the end of time. Or at least until the love and respect run out and[…]
A bevy of emotions unleash during the process of separation or divorce … and rarely do any of them feel peaceful, settled or anything other than exhausting. Many people at this point consider taking a trip – however long or short – as a means of clearing their minds and bringing focus to their next[…]
When it comes down to divvying up the possessions you and your spouse accumulated over the course of your marriage, it may be pretty clear as to who wants what. You might love that comfy family room couch, while your spouse has always been smitten by the antique armoire. Whatever the case, you likely know[…]
If you are a parent of a special needs child, you already know how much more challenging your days are providing care, education, treatments, and socialization for your child. Divorce is often an emotionally charged event for a couple with no children, quite a bit more so for a couple with children, and exceptionally challenging[…]
Alimony in Michigan When every dollar counts, paying (or not paying) taxes on alimony can be a big deal. Under Michigan law, “Alimony” is the same as “Spousal Support” and are payments made to support a spouse after divorce. The primary factors in determining an amount of alimony are the age, education, length of marriage[…]
Mind Blowing Michigan Divorce Statistics. Divorce is nothing new, nor is it something that rarely happens anymore. Everyone knows someone who has divorced. And, that is just as true here in the state of Michigan. Take a look at these mind-blowing Michigan Divorce Statistics. All stats here refer to the year 2015 unless noted otherwise.[…]
Where can you file a Michigan divorce? I was recently approached by the editors of the Michigan Family Law Journal to write a monthly column on Michigan Divorce and Family Law. The Michigan Family Law Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and serves as “Family Law Council’s forum to[…]
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently decided a case involving dental hygiene to change custody, affirming the trial court’s decision that there was neither proper cause or a change of circumstances sufficient to warrant a change of custody. In the case of Kelly v. Johnson, Michigan Court of Appeals Case No. 334144, the father was[…]
People often say that they should have seen the signs of a deteriorating marriage sooner. It’s hard to notice subtle changes in everyday behavior, though, but you might notice persistent behaviors that just don’t quite add up. We combed many sources and found several recurring themes on this topic. Here are a few common red[…]
The 2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual (“MCSFM”) The new Michigan Child Support Formula Manual has arrived. The last time the Michigan Child Support Formula Manual was updated was 2013. The major changes to the 2017 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual are set forth on pages “i” and “ii” and are restated below. You can[…]
Moving forward with your life is so hard when your marriage is ending. It can be really hard to stay focused and get anything done at home, work, or school. There are some little things that you can do to regain some of that focus and stay productive when you just want to curl up[…]
On of the most prolific family law topics relates to child custody and in this article, we will cover more Michigan Child Custody Laws than anyone. Everything from the basics, to the complex. In this post we will review everything we have published on the topic of Michigan Child Custody Laws. Michigan child custody resource[…]
After you and your spouse have separated, divorced, or found yourselves somewhere in between, you might find yourself in the position of finding a new love interest. And, if you already have kids, you might be wondering when the right time will be to share the news about your new partner with your kids. According[…]
It seems that there’s a coach for everything these days, and that includes divorce, too. While your Findling Law lawyer is your most trusted expert when it comes to all of the legal and strategic aspects of your divorce, you may find that you could use some other types of support during this challenging time. That’s[…]
Chances are, you’ve got a smartphone and that you’ve taken some photos with it. You might even have taken a selfie or two, at least to send to your mother or to create a profile picture for your social media accounts. You may even have taken some selfies along the course of your divorce, to[…]
When is a deal a deal? Settlements. I was recently approached by the editors of the Michigan Family Law Journal to write a monthly column on Michigan Divorce and Family Law. The Michigan Family Law Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and serves as “Family Law Council’s forum to[…]
You’ve probably heard of co-parenting, a term used to describe the situation in which a child’s parents are no longer married or living together. These parents are no longer together as a couple, but they work together to parent the child. But, what happens when the conflict between the parents is really high? They really[…]
It’s called parenting guilt, and all parents feel it at one time or another. In fact, the best of parents in the most secure relationships with excellent financial and emotional security can feel it. So, if you’re in the process of divorce or are newly divorced, it’s not unusual to feel like a parenting failure.[…]
When Circumstances Change I was recently approached by the editors of the Michigan Family Law Journal to write a monthly coulmn on Michigan Divorce and Family Law. The Michigan Family Law Journal is a publication of the State Bar of Michigan Family Law Section and serves as “Family Law Council’s forum to share ideas; review, evaluate,[…]
On topic that seems to come up more than any is the notion of physical custody. Unlike legal custody, which awards a parent with access to the educational, medical, religious and other pertinent records of the child. Physical custody in Michigan is not easily defined. In fact, the Michigan Child Custody Statute MCL 722.26a does not[…]
The Brady Bunch got it right when they sang the once well-known verse of their hit single: “When it’s time to change, you’ve got to rearrange.” However, in custody cases, change does not always come easy. In fact, Michigan custody modification law makes it difficult to “rearrange” custody if the change is really big. By[…]
Couples consider their finances and investments very carefully when deciding whether to divorce. In fact, some couples intentionally avoid starting the divorce process despite being miserable together. Why? Because they believe that the home they own together is keeping them from moving forward. In a past article, we tackled the question of who gets to[…]
Resolving your holiday visitation and custody schedule is yet another element of separation and divorce that needs to be settled, and survived. In a recent article, we explained how holiday visitation is resolved in Michigan. The holiday custody schedule might end up being very different from what you were expecting. How can you cope when[…]
This article on where to find divorce help in Oakland County was inspired by the Oakland County Friend of the Court handout with the same title and I felt sharing it worth sharing with our audience. Divorce help in Oakland County at Findling Law While I recognize I may be stating the obvious, you can[…]
The Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwannzaa . . .) holidays give plenty of reasons to be stressed out. Add a holiday visitation dispute to the season and the stress level can reach epic proportions. Holiday visitation in Michigan is governed by Michigan Compiled Laws section 722.27a which provides that visitation shall be granted in accordance with the[…]