On June 26, 2015, in the landmark decision of Obergefell v Hodges, the US Supreme Court legalized “gay” marriage as a protected right under the US Constitution. It seems that since the Obergefell decision, the war on LGBT – or, as many of us like to think of it, human rights – is alive and […]
A few days ago, one of my esteemed colleagues commented on the role of a family law attorney by stating that it is our job to “stay neutral” and to not pass judgment on our clients. He asserted that he chooses to “not blindly accept allegations of one angry parent against the other” because, in […]
My son called me recently and asked “What do you know about Parental Alienation Syndrome?” (PAS) He explained that he asked because a friend is going through a divorce and is alleging that his estranged wife is attempting to turn the children against him. My son observed that he had often seen his friend with […]
One of the most challenging issues that can arise in a family law case occurs when the opposing party is self-employed. Simply put, throughout my career in family law practice, I can safely say that virtually every self-employed person in litigation reports a downturn in business that is coincident to the legal case, whether it […]
One of the most common legal disputes in family court that occurs after entry of a divorce judgment relates to a child’s extra-curricular activities. Invariably, a divorce client will return to my practice with one or both of the following common complaints: (a) the other parent has violated the divorce judgment by enrolling the […]
Warning: Non-pet owners come back for next week’s blog post, or spend the next few minutes rolling your eyes and shaking your head in bewilderment. If you don’t own a pet you will not understand what I am writing about this week! I have two large dogs. One is a labradoodle named Rosie, who was […]
pet custodyOn January 17th, I posted an article with answers to some frequently asked family law questions I receive. There is another frequently asked question that I could have included, but it is so significant that I felt it deserved an article all by itself. The question is: “Can my spouse and I use the […]
A divorce is the dissolution of a legal relationship and, perhaps equally as important, the breaking of emotional bonds between the spouses. If you read my November 15, 2015 blog on do-it-yourself divorces, then you know there are precious few divorces that should go forward without the benefit of an attorney representing your interests. […]
There are a number of questions that I frequently receive from potential clients. These are inquiries I have heard many times over the years and which are often based on assumptions that are usually invalid. The following are the top five questions, and the answers that often surprise the potential clients. Question No. 1 – […]
Michigan’s Child Custody Act mandates that courts must make custody decisions in the child’s best interests. The Act goes on to describe the analysis the court must apply to determine the child’s best interests. I was recently reminded that staying focused on the child’s best interests (rather than that of the parents) can be emotionally […]
best interests, children, divorce, legal custody, primary custody, step-parents