What Is a Friend of the Court in Michigan and How Can They Impact Family Law Cases?
If you’re going through a divorce or custody case in Michigan, you’ll likely hear about the Friend of the Court, or FOC. FOC offices are unique to Michigan. They play a serious role in family law, and knowing what they do can help you prepare for your case and avoid surprises. What Is the Friend […]
Picking the Right Michigan Family Law Attorney: Qualities to Look For
Choosing an attorney you trust to represent your family in legal matters is an important decision. Many lawyers excel in their field, but that doesn’t mean they can provide excellent counsel in family law. Attorneys who focus on family law have the education, training, and experience needed to offer guidance through the ups and downs […]
How Is Alcoholism Proven in Child Custody Cases?
Drug and alcohol abuse can affect a person’s suitability to parent a child. Impaired driving crashes can injure or kill a child. The parent may leave the child unsupervised while using or drinking. A parent’s actions while intoxicated could leave the child physically or mentally traumatized. However, courts are reluctant to interfere with a parent’s […]
5 Steps to Take if Your Ex Is Violating Custody Agreements
Getting a custody agreement finalized can be a long, difficult journey. Watching your ex violate that agreement time after time only adds to your frustration. While successful co-parenting often depends on each parent’s willingness to be flexible, blatantly ignoring the rules set out in a custody agreement is another issue. Learn what to do when […]
Understanding Michigan’s Friend of the Court System
When disputes erupt during a divorce, the kids often get left by the wayside — confused, hurt, and sometimes not financially cared for. A unique century-old court program in Michigan called “Friend of the Court” has ensured that fewer children suffer when their parents split. History of Friend of the Court The roots of Michigan’s […]
Tips for Managing Joint Bank Accounts During Divorce Proceedings
For many couples preparing to divorce, managing the joint account in the final leg of a marriage can be thorny. How difficult it is depends on the state of the relationship when the couple reaches the divorce proceedings stage. You have a few options for managing a joint account while you wait for your assets […]
Can Text Messages Be Used in Court During a Michigan Divorce?
Texting is an easy, wonderful way to communicate, but some text messages can come back to haunt their sender. If you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to understand that text messages can be used in court, and they could impact the outcome of your case. Text Messages Can Be Used in Divorces For Certain […]
What Is Default Judgment in a Divorce?
If you’re reluctant to end your marriage, it can be tempting to simply do nothing with the divorce papers your spouse serves you. However, ignoring divorce papers or your hearing dates leaves you at risk of a default judgment, which means you surrender any say in the terms of your divorce. It doesn’t matter whether […]
Do I Need to Hire a Forensic Accountant for My Divorce in Michigan?
If you are going through a divorce in Michigan, you might need to complete a deep dive into your finances. And when presenting records of your finances to the court, you need to make sure that everything is accurate. In these situations, many people hire forensic accountants. Hiring a third party that specializes in thorough […]
A Guide to Post-Judgement Modifications in Michigan
Going through a divorce or dealing with certain aspects of family law requires individuals to settle various issues. After the parties involved reach an agreement, whatever terms they agreed upon must be approved by the presiding judge. In Michigan, once the judge decrees the terms are in effect, all parties must adhere to them or […]
Will Getting Remarried Impact How Much Child Support I Owe?
Blending families after a divorce and remarriage can be complicated, including considering how the family dynamic will change and which partner will be responsible for what expenses. A chief worry of people who wish to remarry is whether the action will affect their child support orders. The short answer is that remarrying likely won’t impact […]
4 Tips for Drafting a Declaration in a Family Law Case
If you’re filing or responding to a Request for Order in a family law case, you’re required to attach a declaration. A declaration is a written statement made under penalty of perjury that explains your request and provides facts to support its basis. The declaration will be read by the judge and potentially your spouse. […]